Zack had beaten him to it.
Maximus sighed, pulling his Dreamweaver into an empty spot. He turned off the ignition, stepped out of the car, and adjusted his tie. His shoes clacked against the pavent as he straightened his silver tuxedo.
The staff was already hard at work.
A few maids were sweeping the drive-through with large brooms, their movents swift and thodical.
Inside, more workers could be seen, adjusting table placents, wiping down glass surfaces, ensuring everything was spotless.
He took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp morning air mixed with the faint scent of fresh flowers from the entrance garden.
This was his mont.
Stepping through the glass doors, the cool, luxurious interior of Salt Haven greeted him.
The marble floors glead under the soft overhead lighting, and the grand chandelier hanging from the ceiling sparkled as the light hit it just right.
Zack was standing near the main lobby, scrolling through his phone, but he looked up the mont Maximus entered.
Their eyes t, and Zack grinned.
"Thought you were gonna oversleep," Zack said, tucking his phone into his pocket.
Maximus scoffed, shaking his head as they clasped hands in a firm handshake. "You’re one to talk. You look like you haven’t slept in a week."
Zack chuckled. "I haven’t. Not really."
Maximus took a good look at his business partner. The man was dressed in a tailored navy-blue suit, sharp and commanding, but the exhaustion in his eyes was unmistakable.
They were both running on fus, but that was the price of success.
"Any updates?" Maximus asked.
Zack ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. "Everything’s in motion. The VIP guests start arriving in about four hours, so we still have so breathing room. Catering is on schedule, security is tight, and the entertainnt teams are doing their final checks."
Maximus nodded. "Good. And the dia?"
"They’re set up outside. Caras will start rolling once the first wave of guests arrive."
Maximus took a mont to absorb the information. Everything was moving according to plan. Salt Haven wasn’t just any resort — it was designed to be the resort, an experience so exclusive that only the elite could even dream of stepping foot inside.
Zack studied Maximus for a mont. "You nervous?"
Maximus smirked. "Not even a little."
Zack raised a brow, unconvinced. "Bullshit."
Maximus chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, fine. Maybe just a little. But that’s a good thing. It ans this actually matters."
Zack nodded in agreent. "Damn right it does."
They stood there for a mont, letting the reality sink in. They had built this. From the ground up.
This wasn’t just business anymore. It was legacy.
Maximus exhaled deeply, straightening his tie one last ti. "Alright then. Let’s get to work."
Zack grinned. "Let’s do this."
»»»«««
The sun had barely begun its ascent when the first wave of guests arrived at Salt Haven Resort.
These weren’t the VIPs — no billionaires, no influencers, no high-ranking officials. Just regular guests who had paid for the standard package.
Even so, their excitent was palpable.
Maximus stood by the massive glass doors, holding them open as the group entered.
There were about ten of them, a mix of n and won, dressed in casual yet stylish attire, their eyes widening as they took in the sheer opulence of the resort’s entrance hall.
The young won in the group were the first to react when they laid eyes on Maximus.
A few of them exchanged excited glances. Then, almost in unison, they started giggling.
Maximus suppressed a cringe. He was used to attention, but this — this was the kind that made his skin crawl.
Still, he maintained a warm, professional smile.
"Make yourselves at ho," he said smoothly, gesturing toward the grand lobby.
The group nodded eagerly, stepping further inside, but their hushed whispers weren’t lost on him.
"He’s so handso!" one of them muttered.
"We saw him on that video, right? He’s Maximus," another one whispered.
"He’s even more hotter in person!"
Maximus exhaled silently, forcing himself to stay composed.
By now, the entry process was running like a well-oiled machine.
The security guards stationed at the gates were thorough, scanning each ticket to ensure authenticity The tickets were virtual after all and sent to the custor’s email.
The machine that the guard used to verify the tickets had been preloaded with copies of the virtual tickets of everyone coming, so there was no chance to forge.
And so far, there hadn’t been any problems.
Well... until now.
A sudden tug at his wrist yanked him away from the door.
Maximus blinked in surprise as he was pulled to the side.
Anita.
Her grip was firm, her nails digging slightly into his skin as she dragged him away from the entrance.
"Co on," she said, not even sparing him a glance.
Maximus sighed but didn’t resist. He quickly signaled for a nearby butler to take over at the door before allowing Anita to lead him deeper into the resort.
"What now?" he asked, keeping his voice even.
Anita finally stopped once they reached the main VIP lounge, a private space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the infinity pool.
She turned to face him, arms crossed.
"Why are you standing at the front like so doorman?" she demanded.
Maximus chuckled. "Because soone has to welco the guests."
"That’s what the staff is for," she said, exasperated. "You’re the owner of Salt Haven Resort, Maximus. You don’t need to be doing entry-level hospitality work."
Maximus leaned against one of the nearby tables, watching her with amusent.
"Maybe I like being hands-on," he said with a shrug.
Anita rolled her eyes. "It’s a waste of your ti."
Maximus didn’t argue. Instead, he glanced out the massive windows, watching as more guests trickled into the resort grounds.
"Was that all?" he asked after a mont.
Anita scoffed. "You’re impossible, you know that?"
Maximus smirked. "I’ve been told."
She sighed but didn’t push the matter further. Instead, she took a step closer, tilting her head slightly.
"You nervous?" she asked.
Maximus thought about it for a second.
"Nah," he said eventually. "Just... restless."
Anita nodded like she understood.
"I get it," she said. "Today’s a big day. But you should take it easy. You’ve already done everything you could."
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