New Investment Kickoff

Maximus stepped onto the gravel path, the crushing sound of the gravel underneath his boots filled the air as he followed Zack toward the open stretch of land.

The sun was high up in the air, casting a golden light over the horizon and a warm breeze drifted in from the distance.

He could already smell the faint traces of salt in the air, meaning that the ocean wasn't far from their current position.

His gaze swept over the luxurious expanse before them. It was better than he had expected.

The resort was in progress, standing proudly atop the land, already taking magnificent shape.

From what he could see, most of the structure was complete, a grand main building that had a generous touch of 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.

Maximus let out a low whistle, he was utterly impressed with Zack's work.

"I gotta admit," Maximus muttered, tucking his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. "This place has potential."

Zack grinned, "Glad you think so, 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."

Maximus arched an eyebrow. "and how much did you drop on this?"

"Ten million." Zack said with a nonchalant confidence that caused Maximus to cough a bit.

"You serious?"

Zack shrugged his shoulder, "Yeah its prime real estate. Resorts in a location like this don't just appear out of nowhere. Once its fully operational, we'll make that money back in ten fold…"

Maximus nodded his head in agreement, letting his gaze roam over the buildings again.

The infastructure was solid, sleek and modern. He could already imagine the kind of guests that would one day flock here.

The Stinky rich, the elite, politically inclined individuals. The one who would drop thousands of dollars a night just for their luxury and comfort.

Maximus 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 are about 80% done. The big things left are finalizing the interior sections, hiring staff and setting up operations. We also need to establish branding, marketing, and partnerships to get the word out."

Maximus nodded, already thinking of ways to fast track everything. It had been several months since Zack pitched the idea to him and this project would be a failure if it took too long to propagate.

"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…"

Maximus exhaled sharply, five millions wasn't small money, but it wasn't impossible either.

"If were doing this together… I want control over where that money goes," Maximus said with a firm voice.

Zack glared at him for a few second before smirking. "That's fair."

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

His second apartment complex was still in his possession. He hadn't planned on selling it just yet, but if he did, he could easily get what they needed.

"How long are we looking at if we secure the rest of the funds?" Maximus asked.

Zack sighed, rubbing his chin softly. "Six months for full completion, but you can start running soft openings in about four…"

Maximus nodded. "That's not bad…"

With the way the real estate market was moving, he could probably push it for more than five million if he found the right buyer. That would cover everything and more.

But for now, he set that thought aside. There were more immediate things to handle.

"But there's one problem…" Zack said while glaring at his phone.

Maximus didn't seem shook he just kept staring at the landscape, "Somehow I anticipated you would say that…what is it?"

"According to the head contractor… supplies, we've got a shipment of high end materials coming in next month. Stuff we need for the main lounge, the private suits and the spa area. But if we don't pay the suppliers upfront, they'll move to their next pending client."

Maximus narrowed his eyes. "how much they need?"

Zack hesitated before speaking, "one million… non negotiable."

Maximus barely reacted to this new information, he had more than that sitting cooly in his account.

"I'll handle it," Maximus said immediately.

Zack blinked. "you sure?"

Maximus nodded, already pulling out his phone. "Yeah, no point in waiting."

With that, Maximus made the necessary arrangements, transferring the funds and ensuring the shipment would be secured.

Once the transaction was confirmed, he pocketed his phone and looked back at zack. 

"Done."

Zack took in a huge sigh of relief and clapped a hand on Maximus's shoulder. "you're a life saver man."

Maximus shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, "were partners. If this place is gonna be something great, we can't afford delays."

Zack grinned. "Hell yeah."

Maximus checked his watch. 

11:50 AM.

Zack noticed and grinned even wider. "Don't even say its too early for a drink. One drink. that's all."

Maximus smirked slightly, shaking his head. "You and your drinks…"

"What can I say? Business talks are way better over a glass of something smooth." Zack stretched his arms. "Come on, I know a good place. Classy, but not too uptight."

Maximus debated for a second. He wasn't really in the mood for alcohol, but a nice meal didn't sound bad. After a moment, he sighed "Alright one drink.."

Zack grinned like he had won WW3. "That's my guy!"

»»»«««

 The restaurant Zack chose was an upscale spot near the city center.

It had an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere, the kind that attracted businessmen looking for a quiet place to discuss deals.

Large glass windows offered a clear veiw of the bustling streets outside, while the air inside was filled with the rich aroma of coffee and grilled steak.

A waiter greeted them as they walked in. 

"Table for two?"

Maximus nodded. "Yeah, somewhere not near the window"

Zack raised an eyebrow and turned to look at maximus, "That's oddly specific…"

Maximus shrugged his shoulders and followed the waiter, "Lets just say I made a fool out of a big time investor that tried to double cross me and I can't rule out the possibilty he'd want to try some dogshit…"

The waiter led them toward a spot with a good view of the restaurant, handing them menus before walking off.

Maximus picked up his menu, his eyes scanning the options, but something made him pause. 

Across the restaurant, sitting by the window, was a familiar figure.

Lily.