That warm feeling takes over me as I think about how great of a job Tiffany did on that place. Til this day, the best gamble I ever fucking made.
“Thank you. I have my wife to thank for that.”
Will grins. “Where is she?” He looks around as if she’s going to pop up. Fuck, I wish she would. “I’ve been dying to meet her.”
I shake off the longing feeling. My hand around the wine flute tightens; it’s a miracle this glass doesn’t break.
“She stayed home with our son.” The lie comes easily.
His smile lifts while he shakes his head. “You’re a lucky man, Niccolo. I’m happy for you. Although I want you to know I put a bid on that East River property before you. Unfortunately, my paperwork got hung up, and I lost the bid.”
I keep a straight face even though I knew all about his missing paperwork. Maseo held that shit up for months while mine worked through the system.
“Damn.” I shake my head. “You know how slow that shit can move sometimes.”
He nods his head in agreement. “Yeah, but it all worked out in the end. I ended up with a much better deal.”
Now this was news to me. I had heard nothing about IFG acquiring anymore hotels. Last I heard, they were fighting to keep the ones they had.
“Oh?”
Will leans closer, letting me know whatever he’s about to tell me has not yet gone public.
“You know Richard Hart is selling all of his resorts, right?”
Richard Hart owns twelve of the top golf resorts in the world. Twelve may not seem like a lot, but the Hart Resorts brings in hundreds of billions of dollars every year. Golfers love those fucking resorts, not to mention a lot of the pro circuit is played on his golf courses.
I turn to fully face William. “I’ve heard. I also heard the price tag on that sale is through the roof.”
I didn’t just hear about the price; Richard Hart came to me first about buying his resorts. In my opinion, the price wasn’t worth the sale. One of the reasons the hotels did so well is because Hart was a big golf enthusiast. His name and face made the resorts what they were. He doesn’t want to sell his name rights with the hotels. The moment the sale goes public, and the Hart name is no longer attached to the resorts, the bookings will slow down.
Will smiles, leaning up, his chest out. “I’m good for it. A lot of smart investments and patience have finally paid off for me. This will be big for the IFG brand.”
If he says so. I wouldn’t take the deal, but that’s just me. Plus, if he had the type of money to put into buying the Hart Resorts, he should’ve used it to upgrade and revamp his existing hotels. But this isn’t my problem.
“Well, congratulations,” I say instead. “When will it go public?”
Will smirks. “Thank you. We are a couple of months away from the final process, but definitely by next year.”
I pat him on the back in congratulations.
“Now, when IFG resorts start taking all of your business, I hope we can remain friends.”
At this, I laugh and place a hand on his shoulder. “You will never be my competition, William, or my friend,” I say jokingly.
He and I both laugh. I spot Ghost, my right hand and bodyguard, moving through the crowd over toward me. By the look on his face, I can tell that my time of being Niccolo Basille is over. I was going to have to become Saint.
“Excuse me,” I say to Will and Francois.
I move through the crowd, meeting Ghost halfway.
“Time to go. Just got word Salv and Kaz landed.”
I place my champagne down on the closest server’s tray. “Didn’t we tell them to let us know when they took off?” I make my way through the crowd. Ghost is at my side, his head on a swivel. Roc, my second bodyguard and driver, appears in front of me, moving through the gathering easily.
“You know Salv never listens,” Ghost says. He had a point.
“Any luck at the warehouse?”
