Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
ELI
I ambled into the conference room, my eyes immediately drawn to the dual windows framing the azure waters of the Florida Keys.
Located in the same hallway that housed Jules’s and Harper’s offices, the aged wood floor creaked under my feet, giving the space a warm, inviting feel despite the serious nature of our gathering.
We’d had to delay the meeting twice due to last-minute scheduling conflicts, but two weeks later, we were ready to hear about the future.
From my best friend, which was weird.
The long oak table dominated the center of the room, its uneven surface showing that it needed revarnishing.
Worn, high-backed chairs lined either side, a contrast to the casual beach vibe that permeated the rest of Sunset Siesta.
A flat-screen television hung on the wall at one end, with a collection of AV equipment below.
My eyes immediately found Jules across the table, her black hair twisted into that severe bun she favored at work. God, how I wanted to unravel it. She glanced up, those emerald eyes flickering with our shared secret. I couldn’t help the tiny smile that escaped as I slid into a chair.
“Well, well, look who decided to grace us with his presence,” Braden drawled as he relaxed in his chair.
His hair was darker than mine but only because he didn’t work outside in the sun all day.
His blue eyes lifted to the wall clock. “And a few minutes early, no less. Did you finally learn how to tell time, big brother?”
I pressed my hand to my chest in mock offense. “I’ll have you know, I’ve always been punctual. It’s just that my watch runs on island time.”
Jules’s lips twitched, fighting a smile. My heart did a little flip—I loved making her laugh.
The door swung open, and Chase strode in, all six-foot-two of him radiating architectural professionalism and confidence. His gray suit and yellow tie cemented the image, and I straightened instinctively, like a student called to attention.
“Afternoon, everyone,” he said as he set his briefcase on the table.
A chorus of murmured greetings went around the room. As Chase unpacked his briefcase, his gaze landed on Harper. They exchanged a friendly smile. Then she fiddled with her hair as he moved to set up his presentation on the flat screen.
I leaned forward, elbows on the table. “So, Chase, what’s the verdict? Are we destined for financial ruin, or is there hope for us yet?”
Chase’s lips twitched as he passed around spiral-bound booklets to each of us, Sunset Siesta Renovation Plan and Proposal printed on the cover page. “Love your optimism, Eli. Let’s get started, shall we?”
As he began his presentation, I dutifully opened my booklet to find a detailed table of contents followed by page after page of detailed plans. I snuck another glance at Jules, who was bent over the proposal and inspecting it closely. I tore my eyes away from her mouth.
Chase’s voice snapped me back to attention as he advanced to a new slide on the monitor. “Let’s start with the positives. Braden, Tidal Hops has been a consistent bright spot. Revenue’s up fifteen percent from last year, and you bring in tourists and locals alike.”
I tried not to smirk as Braden grinned like the teacher just awarded him a gold star.
“What can I say? People like good beer.”
“And, Ben,” Chase continued, “your landscaping work has significantly improved the resort’s curb appeal. It’s making a difference in guest satisfaction scores.”
Ben nodded, a rare smile tugging at his lips. A resort baseball cap perched on his head, and he smelled faintly of fresh-cut grass.
Chase turned to me. “Eli, the dive shop’s numbers are solid. Your new equipment investment should start paying off quickly.”
A sense of pride surged in my chest, but unease quickly followed it. This felt like the calm before the storm.
“Now,” Chase’s tone shifted, “for the more pressing issues.”
I tensed, bracing myself. The conference room suddenly felt smaller, stuffier.
“The roofs need immediate attention.” Chase pulled up a series of photos he’d taken of rooms no longer in the booking system.
“There’s significant water damage in several areas.
The plumbing and electrical systems are outdated.
They’re not up to code, and you’re risking major failures if you don’t address them soon. ”
My stomach dropped as I stared at the pictures in my presentation booklet.
Moldy carpet, stains on the ceiling. You could practically smell the photos.
How had we let it get this bad? I winced, imagining burst pipes flooding guest rooms, or worse, electrical fires.
This was my family’s legacy, our home. And it was falling apart around us.
“On to the pool area.” Chase’s voice seemed to come from far away as I turned the pages. “The concrete is deteriorating. The filtration system is on its last legs…”
I couldn’t look at the pictures anymore and closed my booklet. But the reality looked right back at me from the wall, in vivid color. My gaze drifted to Jules, hoping for… what? Comfort? Reassurance? Her face was a mask of professionalism, but I saw the worry in her eyes.
“Now let’s talk about modernization and efficiency.” Chase moved to the next slide, revealing mockups of sleek, updated room designs. “Refer to chapter six. These renovations aren’t just about fixing what’s broken. They’re about long-term savings and increased appeal.”
I leaned forward, studying the images both on the screen and in my booklet. The rooms looked amazing, all coastal chic and modern amenities. But something nagged at me.
“Hold up,” I said, gesturing at the television, which displayed a mockup of a new guest room. “Where’s the charm? The character? We can’t just turn this place into some cookie-cutter resort.”
Chase nodded. “That’s the challenge, Eli. We need to find that balance between preserving Sunset Siesta’s soul and embracing necessary changes.”
I drummed my fingers on the table, conflicted. “Yeah, but—”
“If I may,” Jules’s crisp voice cut in. She turned to Chase, all business. “What’s the projected ROI on these renovations? And more importantly, how do you propose we finance them?”
I blinked, brought up short. Trust Jules to zero in on the most pressing issue. As she fired off questions about cash flow projections and financing options, I found myself riveted by her. Not just by her sharp mind, but by the fire in her eyes. She cared about this place.
“Substantial financial backing will be needed,” Chase admitted, his tone grave. “You’re looking at a very, very substantial investment.”
“Not sure I like the sound of that,” I said weakly as my stomach flopped like a landed fish inside me.
“Oh, boy,” Harper said quietly as she rubbed a finger over her forehead.
Jules’s brows drew together. “Perhaps we should phase the renovations? Starting with the most critical areas and reinvest profits as we go?”
I couldn’t help but grin. “Look at you, Julianne. Playing financial Tetris with our future.”
She shot me an exasperated look, but a smile lurked at the corners of her mouth, and her eyes caught mine at my use of her formal name. “Someone has to think about the bottom line, Eli.”
“And thank God for that.”
“I’m simply doing my job,” she replied, her voice prim but with an undercurrent I recognized all too well. Warmth flooded my chest. Not heat—a warm, squishy feeling.
But as quickly as it came, it faded, leaving behind a gnawing worry. What the hell was I doing? This thing with Jules—Julianne, whoever the hell she was—it was fun, sure. But with everything going on with the resort… were we being really stupid here?
Harper’s voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. “Chase, what about eco-friendly upgrades? Could we integrate solar panels or other sustainable tech to offset long-term costs?”
“Excellent question,” Chase replied, his tone warm. “I’ve actually outlined several green initiatives in the proposal. If you look at page twenty-seven…”
I watched them, the easy back-and-forth, the way Chase’s eyes softened almost imperceptibly as he answered. They worked well together, these two. Weird that I’d never noticed that before. Then again, why would I? Chase got along with everyone.
My gaze drifted back to the proposal in front of me. This wasn’t just some minor facelift. This was a full-blown transformation. The scope of it hit me like a wave, leaving my breath tight.
Ben leaned forward with a frown and adjusted his baseball cap. “Look, I get it. We need to make changes. But how do we preserve the soul of this place? Our family’s history is in these walls.”
Braden, usually quick with a sarcastic quip, nodded solemnly. “Ben’s got a point. We can’t just slap on a coat of paint and call it fixed. But we also can’t lose what makes Sunset Siesta… well, Sunset Siesta.”
For all our bickering and differences, we were united in this. I smiled fondly. “What if we focus on enhancing what we already have? Like, upgrading Driftwood Grill so it appeals to locals and not just resort guests. We keep our character but add some modern flair.”
Jules’s eyes met mine, a hint of approval in her gaze.
“That’s a solid start, Eli. But we need to address the elephant in the room.
” She turned to face the group, her voice taking on that no-nonsense tone that now impressed me rather than irritated me.
“The renovations Chase is proposing? They’re necessary, but they’re also very expensive.
We’re looking at significant external financing. ”
The room went quiet. My earlier optimism deflated like a punctured beach ball.
“How significant are we talking?” Braden asked.
Jules’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Based on these projections? We’re looking at a multimillion-dollar investment or loan.”
Chase nodded. “That’s what I came up with too. It’s outlined in chapter nine.”
I let out a low whistle, my mind reeling. “That’s a lot of beer we’d need to sell.”
“Eli, this isn’t a joke,” Jules snapped. “We’re talking about the future. Your family’s future.”
Her words hit me like a sucker punch. The weight of it all made me scrunch down in my chair. “So what do we do? How do we even begin to tackle this?”
Chase cleared his throat, drawing our attention. “By taking it one step at a time. Yes, it’s a significant undertaking, but it’s not insurmountable. And it’s really necessary, guys.”
Harper nodded, her eyes meeting Chase’s briefly. His reassuring manner helped ease some of the tension in the room.
“Chase is right,” Harper chimed in. “We’ve faced tough times before. Remember when that hurricane nearly took out half the resort?”
“Or when Dad thought it’d be a great idea to add a peacock exhibit?” Braden added with a wince.
Despite myself, I cracked a smile. “Yeah, that was a great idea until we realized how loud the damn things were.”
“The point is,” Chase interjected, “you have options. It won’t be easy, but Sunset Siesta has limitless potential.
The location alone is pure gold. There’s plenty of land and a rare, beautiful beach.
An offshore reef, activities for guests already in place…
I could go on and on. You just need to tap into it all. ”
As the meeting wrapped up, a weird mix of hope and dread swirled in my gut.
My siblings were chatting animatedly, tossing around ideas for fundraisers and marketing strategies.
The weight of everything we’d just discussed pressed down on me like a physical force.
But it wasn’t just the daunting renovations or the astronomical costs that had my stomach in knots.
It was the glaring absence that no one had dared mention.
Mom.
I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the tension building there.
We couldn’t move on without her input and guidance.
This place was her legacy as much as it was anyone else’s.
And what Jules and I had going on here? It was a ticking time bomb.
The thought of ending things with her made my heart feel cold inside my chest. What we shared had to qualify as being a whirlwind romance, but that didn’t stop it from feeling any more intense.
Or real.
It was becoming very real.
I traced the worn grooves in the wooden top of the table, unseeing. My heart thumped like a hammer falling, each beat a reminder of the realization dawning on me like a storm rolling in from the sea.
I’m developing feelings here. Real, live feelings.
The thought sent a jolt of panic through me, my hand suddenly turning clammy against the smooth tabletop. Around me, I vaguely registered the ruffle of papers and murmur of voices as everyone shuffled out of the room, but it was all distant, muffled.
What if it all went wrong? What if I screwed this up like I always did? What if—
“Eli?”
I jerked my head up, startled to find the room empty save for Jules. She still sat in her chair, brows drawn, eyes searching my face.
“You okay?”
I swallowed hard, forcing a weak smile. “Yeah, just… processing.” My eyes returned to the glossy proposal in front of me and I zoned out again.
“Uh, see you later?” she asked after a quick glance to make sure we were alone, her usual confidence wavering.
“Yeah, okay,” I mumbled, the words tasting hollow in my mouth.
I watched in a daze as she gathered her things then stepped out the door. As it clicked shut behind her, I slumped back in my chair and dropped my head into my hands.