Chapter Twelve
Grant
When I considered having a desert location, I’d been thinking about a home to spend time in.
Something private and quiet and with that little observatory level on the roof.
Somehow, less than twenty-four hours later, I had purchased a vast acreage, including a multistory hotel and various other buildings.
After firing the HR manager, I’d stopped by the hotel manager’s office to find out she actually was onsite, despite what I’d been told.
When I arrived at her open door, she was speaking into the phone, her jaw tight and fingers tapping on the desk.
“Yes, sir. I see. Absolutely. I will have security take care of that right now.” She disconnected and set the phone on the desktop, blowing out a breath in a whoosh. “One less ass on the property.”
“Hello?” I rapped on the open door. “Am I interrupting?”
“No.” She stood up and started for where I stood. “Can I help you?”
“I think so. Were you just speaking to my friend Gregory?”
“Oh my goodness.” She extended her hand. “I’m Dahlia, and you are my new boss?”
“I just wanted to stop by and introduce myself, let you know that there will be changes, but that does not mean your job is gone. We’ll have to see how we work together and if you’re a fit for the new version of the resort.
” Whatever it might be. In my mind, I was already starting to put that together.
“I’m glad to hear you say that. I’ve been here since we opened our doors, and I am not very motivated to leave what feels like home. In fact, I live on the grounds, and I certainly hope to be able to continue to do so.”
“I will keep that in mind. It may be that the resort will change a bit. Have you ever heard of a club called Cuffed?”
Her cheeks flamed, but her smile grew. “I actually joined Crowned when they opened, thinking I’d have time to visit, but I’ve been so busy here, I’ve only gone twice.”
“We’ll have to do better for you, Dahlia. And for the employees here. After my experience with HR, I’m concerned.”
“Me too. Tim was new, and I hadn’t had any complaints about him, but I’m only sorry you didn’t give me the pleasure of showing him the door.”
I was really starting to like her, but she’d still have to prove herself since she had not caught her HR guy’s horror-show behavior. “You can still have the pleasure. I told him to leave, but I suspect he’s going to need some assistance. Maybe you can take one of your security guys with you.”
She snorted. “I don’t think that will be necessary. I can take him.”
Something told me Ms. Dahlia was not a submissive.
Returning to my villa, I passed the one next door and considered having it torn down on general principles. The thought gave me great satisfaction, although whether it happened would be a decision to make after we signed the final paperwork.
For now, I had enough on my plate without getting out a sledgehammer, no matter how good it might feel.
I decided to let one more person know about what I’d just done, so I grabbed a bottle of sparkling water from my replenished honor bar.
The evidence of the previous contents had also been removed from the patio table.
Looked like I wasn’t going to have to pay for any of that impromptu picnic.
Just the entire resort.
I placed an order with room service and requested Ches specifically. We had some things to talk about.
Then I dialed Talon’s private number, which he’d sent to me after our meeting. He answered with a joking, “You have a collab for us already?”
“In fact, I do. I just had my offer accepted on a desert hotel property, which I apparently plan to make into an all-inclusive kink resort. I think there might be a tie-in there.”
“You are serious. How did this happen?”
Once again, I launched into the details of the incident, without revealing Ches’ name, but absolutely giving the circumstances as well as the name of the guest. I’d obtained that from Dahlia. The second male was not registered, so I didn’t have his information.
“Since they were so into tying up the omega, I wonder if they will show up at a club somewhere.”
“I’m going to put out some feelers. First, to make sure they don’t get to visit any of our properties, or anyone else’s in our broader circle, but also to see what can be done about what happened. So, how do you envision our collab. I really do like that word.”
“Not sure yet, since I just got the idea to buy it about an hour ago, but we should meet whenever it’s convenient and work out details. I do have a few thoughts.”
After we disconnected, Ches arrived with my order, and I let him in.
“Come and sit down,” I said. “Bring the grazing board outside and we can talk.”
I wanted him to know his job was safe, the alphas who harmed him would never be allowed back, and if he didn’t like the direction I was taking the resort, I’d help him find other work.
Oh… “Did I tell you I fired Tim?”
It was a good way to start.