An Empire

Ethan stepped onto the gravel path, his boots crunching lightly against the small stones as he followed Zack toward the open stretch of land.

The sun hung high, casting golden light over the landscape, and a warm breeze drifted in from the distance.

He could already smell the faint traces of salt in the air — meaning the ocean wasn't far.

His gaze swept over the luxurious expanse before them.

It was better than he had expected.

A resort-in-progress stood proudly atop the land, already taking shape.

From what he could see, most of the structure was complete — a grand main building that exuded modern elegance, tall windows reflecting the bright sky.

Several smaller private villas dotted the landscape, their terraces facing what he assumed would be an artificial lagoon or private pool area.

And just beyond? A pristine, untouched beach.

Ethan let out a low whistle. Zack had done well.

"I gotta admit," Ethan muttered, tucking his hands into his pockets. "This place has potential."

Zack grinned, the confidence in his stance unmistakable. His blond hair was slightly messy from the breeze, but his expression was one of satisfaction.

"Glad you think so," Zack said, motioning towards the view. "Took some work to secure, but the previous owners ran into financial trouble. They couldn't finish the project, so I swooped in and took it off their hands before anyone else could."

Ethan arched an eyebrow. "And how much did you drop on this?"

"Ten million." Zack said it so casually that Ethan almost scoffed.

"You serious?"

Zack shrugged. "Yeah. It's prime real estate. Resorts in a location like this don't just appear out of nowhere. Once it's fully operational, we'll make that money back in no time."

Ethan hummed, letting his gaze roam over the buildings again.

The infrastructure was solid, sleek, and modern — glass railings, clean architecture, and spacious layouts. He could already envision the kind of guests that would flock here.

The rich. The elite. The ones who would drop thousands a night for luxury.

But he wasn't about to just take Zack's word for it.

He wanted to see it for himself.

"Show me around," Ethan said, his voice firm. "I want to know exactly what we're dealing with."

Zack smirked. "I thought you'd say that. Come on."

They walked up the stone steps leading to the resort's entrance. Ethan ran his fingers along the smooth steel railing — sturdy, well-made. Someone had poured good money into the construction.

Inside, the main lobby was vast and open. Tall ceilings, an expensive chandelier that was still wrapped in protective plastic, and polished marble floors that reflected the sunlight streaming through the massive windows.

"This is the reception area," Zack explained, leading him past the front desk. "Over there's the lounge. Bar's gonna be set up next to it."

Ethan followed his gaze, eyeing the unfinished but spacious lounge area.

There was potential for something high-end here — maybe a cigar lounge, an exclusive VIP bar, or even a high-class dining space. There were so many things that they could do.

"You got a chef yet?" Ethan asked.

"Not yet," Zack admitted. "Figured that would be something we handle once we finalize things."

Ethan nodded. A bad chef could ruin even the most expensive resort. That was something he'd make sure to personally oversee.

They continued moving, heading toward the main suites.

Zack gestured toward a set of double doors.

"Presidential suite," he said with a grin.

Ethan opened the doors and stepped inside.

The room was massive. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined one side, offering a breathtaking view of the ocean.

A private infinity pool stretched just outside, blending seamlessly into the horizon. The bed was king-sized, the furniture sleek and minimalist, exuding pure luxury.

Ethan crossed his arms, nodding in approval.

"This alone will pull in high-profile guests," he admitted.

Zack leaned against the doorway. "That's the idea."

They left the suite and headed outside, where the private villas were lined up along a pathway leading toward the beach.

Each villa had its own pool, garden area, and open-air seating.

Ethan was silent for a long moment, just taking it all in.

This wasn't just some small business investment.

This was huge.

"Alright," he finally said, exhaling. "Tell me the numbers. What's left to finish?"

Zack smirked. "Thought you'd never ask."

He pulled out his phone, scrolling through some notes.

"Construction-wise, we're about 75% done. The big things left are finalizing the interior, hiring staff, and setting up operations. We also need to establish branding, marketing, and partnerships to get the word out."

Ethan nodded, already thinking of ways to fast-track everything.

"And how much is left to invest?"

Zack turned to him. "Five million. Maybe a little more, depending on how ambitious we get with the finishing touches."

Ethan clicked his tongue. Five million wasn't small money, but it wasn't impossible either.

"If we're doing this together, I want control over where that money goes," Ethan said, voice firm.

Zack studied him for a moment before smirking. "That's fair."

Ethan took another glance at the landscape, his mind already building strategies.

They weren't just building a resort.

They were building a high-end empire.

The afternoon sun soon hung high in the sky, its golden rays bouncing off the clear, rippling water of the private pool.

A light breeze carried the scent of the ocean, mixing with the faint aroma of fresh paint and polished wood from the unfinished resort.

Ethan leaned back against the pool's edge, the cool water lapping at his shoulders as he exhaled slowly. This felt good.

Across from him, Zack groaned in satisfaction, his arms spread wide as he floated lazily.

"Damn," Zack muttered, eyes half-lidded as he stared up at the bright sky. "This is the life, huh?"

Ethan smirked, letting the water slide over his skin. "I guess."

Zack turned his head slightly, studying him. "That's all you gotta say? 'I guess'?" He scoffed, shaking his head.

Ethan chuckled, tilting his head back. He had been training every morning, sticking to a strict regimen, and it showed.

His body was lean, every muscle defined from the constant workouts he forced himself through before sunrise.

His arms, shoulders, and chest had filled out, his abs a stark contrast to the way he used to look when he was struggling just to keep up with rent.

Zack, on the other hand, had a bit of a belly. Not huge, but noticeable.

It made sense, considering he spent his nights running a club, surrounded by booze and easy meals.

"You should start working out," Ethan said, resting his arms on the pool's edge.

Zack snorted. "Yeah? And where the hell am I supposed to find time for that?"

Ethan shrugged. "You make time."

Zack scoffed again but didn't argue.

Ethan glanced at Zack. "So what made you want to start a resort business, anyway?"

Zack sighed, his fingers running through the water. "You ever get tired of the nightlife?"

Ethan raised a brow.

"I mean, don't get me wrong," Zack continued. "Running a club is fun, and it makes good money, but it's a grind, man. Dealing with drunks, managing staff, making sure fights don't break out — it's exhausting."

Ethan nodded. He had been to Zack's club twice now, and while it looked like non-stop fun from the outside, he had seen glimpses of the stress that came with it.

"So you're planning ahead?" Ethan asked.

"Exactly." Zack swirled the water around with his hand. "A resort? That's different. People come here to relax. To spend money and enjoy themselves. I wouldn't have to deal with fistfights at two in the morning or some idiot throwing up in the VIP section."

Ethan smirked. "Yeah, just rich idiots instead."

Zack laughed. "True. But at least rich idiots pay more."

Ethan hummed in agreement. "So where do we start?"

Zack lifted a finger, counting off. "First, we finalize the construction. Second, we put together a solid marketing plan. No one's gonna come if they don't know we exist."

Ethan nodded. "We need influencers, travel bloggers, maybe even celebrities to promote the place."

"Exactly," Zack said. "And once the hype starts rolling, we need to make sure the resort actually delivers. That means hiring top-tier staff, making sure the service is perfect, and ensuring that when people come here, they don't want to leave."

Ethan ran a hand through his wet hair, letting the water drip down his back. "I'll handle the financials. I'll make sure the money is spent on what actually matters."

Zack grinned. "That's why I called you, man."

They both lapsed into silence again, just enjoying the feeling of the water, the peace, and the quiet.

For a long time, Ethan never thought he'd be in a position like this.

His phone, resting on a towel near the pool's edge, vibrated with incoming messages. He ignored it. For now, he just wanted to enjoy the moment.

"This place is gonna be huge," Zack murmured, staring up at the sky.

Ethan didn't disagree.

Yeah. It was.