Chapter 8
MAX
Ibreathe heavily as I run across the sand. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good workout, and I’m finding that I don’t have much to do when I’m not constantly bombarded with emails. I’m hoping for some kind of rest along with something to do.
I went in search of the buildings I own yesterday.
There’s one large high-rise building at the end of the road along the beach, and it definitely hasn’t been maintained.
From what I could see, it’s a full building of apartments, but they’ll probably have to be gutted and redone.
I thought it was already in the process with the money Aiden had paid the contractor.
The second building was a few streets away and is a small townhouse complex. The yard looks like someone took a rake to it and never set it right again. The exterior of the townhomes looks like someone sprayed it with mud and even the rain couldn’t wash it away.
I’ll have to talk with Aiden about the state of these buildings. Now I’m wondering which ones my friends bought, and if Aiden stuck me with the worst ones just because we’re such good friends.
The third building was the supermarket, which, while not at the top of my scale of things that look appealing, it was better than the last two buildings I saw. Figures Aiden would give me the grocery store, since that’s my area of expertise.
The last building houses the coffee shop. I finish my run in front of it, walking back and forth for a few minutes until my breathing returns to normal.
I take a step back, trying to figure out what I’m going to do with the small commercial space on the other side. It looks like the upstairs holds three floors of apartments, but from what little I can see through the windows, it’s just a bunch of exposed lumber.
Did the bills I paid only go to the coffee shop construction? Or did the money get siphoned out and no one checked the work?
Aiden is the last person in the world who would scam anyone, which is the reason it took him so long to get his business running where it is today.
I was hoping for easy and low stress when I came to Penrose Beach. Obviously that’s gone out the window with the projects before me.
The frustration swells a bit, and then I let it out one slow breath at a time.
I used to let my temper have free reign at times, but once I realized I could lead better through example and through explaining what people need or what I’m hoping for, the company runs so much better.
It’s one of those things where I grew up in the business watching my father and grandfather push and yell and pull their weight around, and then realized quickly that wasn’t the most effective way to do business.
If only my father could understand that now.
It’s his belief that everything he put into place allowed the company to reach the heights that it is right now—going from three grocery stores in Germany to fifteen when my father took over from Grandpa Bauer.
He had dabbled in getting some franchises set up in Italy, but nothing global, and nothing on the scale we have it today.
Numbers can prove a lot of things, and since I took over the company, production is up, sales are up, and employee turnover is the lowest it’s ever been.
Of course, I’m not all to congratulate, as I’ve been able to hire a superior team behind me, which makes an enormous difference in my life.
To be honest, it’s the only reason I felt like I could escape these past few days without putting the company in jeopardy.
I take off my shirt and use it to wipe the sweat from my forehead. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to work out in the afternoon, let alone feel the heat since it’s been cold back east.
Of all the buildings I own, this one seems to be at the top of the list of Things to Fix First.
The townhouses look like they’re being lived in, and the enormous building at the end of this road will take a significant amount of renovation to get it up to where it needs to be.
But with The Season being so important in the townspeople’s minds, several apartments for rent or to put on a shared hosting site would be beneficial. Not that every investment needs to have a return, but it’s not doing any good in the state it’s in right now.
If there’s one thing I know, it’s that a community can live or die by its economy.
Having more places for people to stay and being this close to the beach will make a big impact on how sales go this summer.
More people close to town equals more people eating at the restaurants and going to the grocery store and taking part in the events that the people in this town have.
All of it is a big cycle, and it needs to work together to be successful.
Am I up to hiring people to renovate the apartments?
I’m not sure about that yet since there’s a lot that goes into it.
I remember helping my maternal grandfather for several summers, as he was a home contractor in Germany.
Of course, the codes and rules of building are a bit different here, but the basic concept of having electrical, heating, and plumbing are important, along with drywall and painting.
Maybe this is how I can pay it forward.
That thought makes me think of Avery. I wonder if she’s in the coffee shop now, or if it’s closed. With the mirror-like paper on the windows and no sign that says whether they’re open or not makes it difficult for any business to run.
Why am I worrying about something like this when I’m just now seeing it after owning it for two years?
I can’t go anywhere until I see at least some progress on this. I turn my attention to my phone.
Did I not send you money to renovate these buildings?
I wait for Aiden’s reply while looking at the building.
Aiden
Yeah, and I sent it to someone I hired down there.
Did you get any proof of progress or something?
Aiden
I’ll look for the pictures.
The door to the coffee shop swings open, and Avery turns to lock it. When she turns and sees me there, she freezes. “Were you coming in? We just closed.”
“No, I, uh, just got the details about an assignment from my company to check on the progress upstairs in this building. You wouldn’t happen to have the key to get to the second floor, would you?” I ask, pointing to the door six feet to the right of her main door.
She gives me a strange frown and says, “I do, actually. But there isn’t much to see up there. Only one apartment is finished, and another is only partially done.”
Avery doesn’t move toward the door and only stares at me.
“Are you thinking I’m a stalker?” I ask with a smile. Her eyes go wide, and I say, “You do!”
She tries to avoid my gaze. “I live upstairs, and I don’t have proof that you’re supposed to be up there.”
“You trust me in your car but not near your apartment?” After I say it, I understand what she’s probably feeling. “Understandable. Let me find the email where it gives me the information.”
I’m not sure what to do, though, because it was through the text message Aiden sent.
“That’s a great idea. I’d let you in for that.”
I tap at the screen a few times and pretend like it’s not working. “My email isn’t currently working. How about I get a copy of it and bring it tomorrow?”
She looks hesitant but then says, “That will work.”
I wave, only then realizing my shirt is still in my hand. Avery makes eye contact and then her gaze drifts lower before she starts digging for something in her purse.
“See you then,” I say. I’m not sure what’s wrong. Maybe she doesn’t like people covered in sweat. I throw my shirt back on and start walking along the sidewalk toward the B&B.
“Yeah,” she says, looking flustered, before she walks away from the building.
Avery is my tenant in the coffee shop. Something about that makes me smile. Paying it forward can also help her, but I’ll have to make it discreet.
Glancing over, I take a deep breath of ocean air. The marina and the diner frame it nicely.
It’s Thursday, only three days into my “retreat,” and I realize I should’ve arrived much, much sooner.
I’ve got a letter to draft, just to give Avery some comfort about me being in the building, and some keys to hunt down.
I don’t know what I’m most excited for: another encounter with Avery, or a chance to see what I have to work with on the renovations. Both, probably.
One is going to take a lot longer to fix than I’ll likely have time for while I’m here, and the other is off-limits, or should be, depending on my decision with Victoria. Maybe that’s why I’m so intrigued.