Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
ARLAND
D irty patches of white stuck to the ground in places when I arrived at what was now called Everwood Chalet. The new name had been mounted on the wooden arch at the bottom of the winding driveway since my last visit, which had only been yesterday.
As I pressed softly down on the gas pedal of my Range Rover, I took a careful look around. Rainwater occasionally dripped from the imposing pines that lined the entry road. Damp gravel squished and crunched under my tires, but soon, this would all be paved, a brand new entrance for what would become the newest ski resort in Sun Valley.
After taking the final turn in the road leading up the gentle slope of a mountain, I peered up at the main lodge through my windshield, casting a critical eye over the exterior of the building. Things were progressing fast now and an excited shiver snaked through me at the knowledge.
I’d been apprehensive about embarking on yet another new business venture. Out of my forty-five years on this planet, I’d spent twenty-seven of them as an entrepreneur. Never the type to spend my time lining the pockets of somebody else, I’d begun early.
At the tender age of eighteen, I’d opened my first business. Just a few miles from here actually. I’d pinpointed a need in the community and had written up a business plan for my father to loan me the money I needed to meet said need.
He’d been a tough sell, but I’d paid him back in full less than three months later, my first enterprise taking off beyond my wildest expectations. It had been such a simple idea, to offer a true one-stop shop, but it had worked.
I’d hired locals to offer ski and snowboard instruction to beginners, but also to act as guides for newcomers to the area. Upon first inquiry, I’d sent a pretty basic list of questions to our potential customers, and once I’d received a response, I’d matched the customer to the local.
That person had been there for the customer from the get-go, helping to find accommodation, transport, and whatever else, and waiting at the store on the day of arrival. Customers had been welcomed as friends, quickly had their ski gear sorted out—and it went really quickly because they’d already sent their sizes, preferences, and all by then—and were then shown around by their guide, who would also meet them on the slopes in the morning to teach them how not to die on their vacation.
Simple. Basic. Effective.
From there, I’d started a multitude of other companies, not only here in Sun Valley but all over. I’d sold some at tremendous profit margins and kept others, but I’d appointed people to run them on my behalf. These last couple years, I’d been toying with the idea of early retirement, but then this opportunity had come along.
I had enough money to never have to work another day in my life, but not enough common sense to simply sit back and enjoy the spoils of my various victories. Besides, this particular project was a bucket list business for me.
I’d always loved winter sports, most of my childhood memories involving going on ski vacations with my family for Christmas. This was a nostalgia driven venture, and I wasn’t ashamed to admit it.
After slowing to a stop in my covered spot beside the main lodge, I turned off my car and climbed out, looking around at the slopes behind us and lodges scattered all around. A familiar energy swept through my veins.
Construction teams and others that we’d hired were working hard on the renovation and maintenance of the existing buildings, and the new structures we were adding to the property were coming along nicely too. The goal was to open on December fifteenth, and it was looking more and more possible every day.
Even though I’d had my doubts at times during this process.
An icy breeze swept down the mountain, chilling me to the bone. As a native to the area, I was relatively accustomed to the cold this time of year, but that didn’t mean I wanted to hover around outside to experience it when I was dressed for business instead of pleasure.
Striding toward the main entrance, I pushed open the glass double doors and headed down the first corridor on the right. Brian’s office was at the end of it, with mine in the corner right beside him.
I was here today to discuss the first staff being hired, but as I strode down the formerly carpeted hallway, I realized we were going to have to talk timelines as well. We’d gutted the interior of every lodge, pulling out the tired floor coverings, the ancient wood paneling on the walls, and the tarnished brass light fixtures.
While things were progressing smoothly at first glance outside, I was a touch worried about the designers who were meant to be busy with the interiors. Nothing had happened in there since the day before.
My eyebrows pulled together and my chin rose as I took it all in despite my brisk pace on my way to my business partner’s office. I walked in without knocking, also without smiling at the man I’d thrown my lot in with this time around.
“Why aren’t they installing the floors?” I asked as I crossed the room to the small, makeshift coffee station we’d had installed in here until the proper break areas were ready. “They were supposed to start today.”
“They have,” he said without skipping a beat. “All the areas that don’t have regular foot traffic are being done as we speak, and the rest will be taken care of at night to allow the floors to rest before we start walking on them.”
Relief spun through me and I nodded. “Very well.”
I picked up a clean mug from the counter and slotted it into the fancy coffee machine we would move to the staff kitchen eventually—when we had a staff kitchen. “What about the lights?”
“I’ve chosen the fixtures and the suppliers have confirmed they have everything we need in stock. They’re currently preparing our order and will arrange delivery when they’re ready.”
My tongue slid across my lower lip as I absorbed that information. “I’ll keep my finger on that particular pulse. We can’t have them fumbling the ball when we’re so close to the end zone.”
A second after I pressed the button on the machine for an espresso, the tantalizing scent of fresh coffee being ground filled the air and I inhaled it, thanking God—not for the first time—for creating the human who had discovered the coffee bean and decided to try roasting it and tossing it in hot water.
“Onto the staff?” Brian asked.
I nodded, lifting my cup when the nectar of the gods had filled it and carrying it over to his desk. Now that my immediate concerns had been addressed, I relaxed a little bit, looking out the glass wall behind him as I sat down. Brian’s office had two window walls, as did my own. We’d split this entire side of the building into two corner offices, each as spacious as the next.
I preferred mine though, since it overlooked the slopes and the mountain rather than the lodge and parking area. Brian had been excited about getting to watch the activity around the resort, so it’d worked out perfectly. Personal preference.
When I turned my attention back to my friend and business partner, he nodded, his uniquely blue eyes intently focused. “I’ve hired a girl named Gabby as my assistant. She’ll also help with general admin. She’s well qualified, albeit young, but then, most of the staff are going to be younger than we are.”
“Doesn’t take much,” I said, joking dryly as I nodded at him. “Gabby. I’ll remember that. Marketing?”
“Also a younger girl. Elizabeth Hayes,” he replied. “They both start on Monday, along with my sister, Mariam. She’ll be head of HR and Operations as well as your assistant and, no surprise there, she’s also younger. Twenty-eight, in case you were wondering.”
“They’re all younger.” It didn’t need to be said, but I did anyway, wondering when the hell I had become the older person in almost every damn room. “At least they’ll bring perspective. Your sister will be my assistant? Is that the best idea?”
Brian nodded. “She used to own fifty percent of an event planning company she started with a friend back in Austin. They’ve been growing and doing really well these last few years, but she’s sold her half to pursue new challenges. She reminds me of you in that sense, so I figured it was a good fit.”
Honestly, it sounded like a good fit to me too. I was impressed by the fact that she’d already sold a stake in a successful company that she’d started herself. At twenty-eight, most people nowadays were only just beginning to step into their careers, but she was already moving on from her entry point.
“Very well,” I agreed with a curt nod. “I trust your judgment.”
Brian smirked. “It’s a done deal, but I’m glad you’re onboard.”
I chuckled. Between the two of us, he was the structure guy while I was the business-minded creative. Not a paradox at all in my case.
I had a vision—always—as well as the head to make it a reality. It’d been the key to my success so far, having the ability to both dream and do—and as an added bonus, I also had the natural charm to win over the people I needed on my side.
Meanwhile, Brian was on the details and the internal structures. Once he had an idea of what I wanted, he was in charge of all the moving parts that had to come together to make it happen. We were a strong team.
I just hoped his sister would be as easy to get along with as he was. Brian knew me well enough and we usually agreed on almost everything, supplementing each other rather than clashing. I wasn’t the easiest guy to work with on a daily basis though, and this Mariam was going to have to do just that.
It took a special kind of person to keep up with me day in and day out, navigating the stubborn, the opinionated, and the creative parts of my personality. Bringing my cup to my lips, I watched the steam rise from the surface of the rich, dark liquid and sent up a silent prayer that this girl wouldn’t cause trouble between Brian and me.
Our partnership had been running smoothly thus far, our friendship not only remaining intact but growing. Allowing a family member into a business could be a sticky pickle as it was. Assigning said family member to your business partner?
That could easily spell trouble.
Especially for a more difficult, complex personality such as my own. But I supposed we’d know soon enough.
Mariam and the others would be arriving on Monday, he’d said. Until then, it was best not to fret about things that hadn’t even happened yet.