Miles must be spending a fortune on this place.The question remained why.The man had to be spending more than he was going to make on the hotel.Barry had been inside.It was only going to cater to the rich, but even that wouldn’t supplement the costs of constantly rebuilding and repairing the hotel.
“Not now, Annabelle, I’m on a call.”
“We need to go over some things,” Annabelle said firmly.
Barry turned up the volume and listened closely.“I’ll call you back,” Miles said softly.Barry wished he could put a tracker on that phone.He’d ask Mac tonight if Miles went to the bar frequently; he could get close and put a bug on it.
“What is it?”
“The roofers will be back on-site tomorrow.”
“That’s what you interrupted me for?Buy some better materials.I’m tired of having to replace it every few months.”
“It was your choice to build on this side of the island,” Annabelle stated in a scolding tone.They must know each other well if an employee could talk to their boss like that.Barry already knew how she felt when she’d spoken behind Miles’s back.He just didn’t think she would ever say it to his face.
If he ever talked to Nick that way, he’d be on the flat of his back with a black eye if not a busted lip.Luke was another story because they knew each other so well.
“I’m well aware of the risk of building here, but this was where I wanted.”Barry heard a sound in the background like something hitting a tabletop.
What Barry really needed was eyes inside that room.He wouldn’t be getting in while Miles was there though.But when he was gone, the guards should be too.It shouldn’t be that hard to break into the office then.
“If you want better supplies, it’s going to cost more money and time since it will have to be imported.”
“What if we clear more trees?It will save us from the damage when they fall on my hotel.”
“If you remove more trees, you’re taking your natural wind blocker from the coast away, and the hotel will take on more of the brunt of high winds and hurricanes,” Annabelle countered.
“Damnit,” Banks snapped followed by a loud crashing sound.There was movement like someone was walking around.“Order the supplies, have the roof replaced as planned.We’ll replace it when the new materials arrive.”
“That’s going to double your costs.Miles, you can’t afford to do this.This project is costing more than you’re going to recoup back.It could take years to recoup your losses.”
“I don’t pay you for your opinion, Annabelle.I pay you to do your job.Now can you do that, or do I need to start looking for your replacement?”Miles asked in a casual tone of voice as if he were asking for a glass of water instead of threatening someone with their job.
“What is your problem, Miles?”Annabelle snapped.
“I don’t have one,” he replied, almost sounding defensive.
“I have worked for you for over ten years.I’ve known you since you were working and sleeping out of the back of your car.”
“My past has nothing to do with my present,” Miles retorted, and another loud thump sound followed as if Miles smacked his hands on a desk.
“You’ve never thrown money away like this before.”
“It’s not as dire as you make it sound.”Barry imagined Miles leaning back in his big leather chair with his arms folded in his lap, rolling his eyes.To someone like him, money was inconsequential as long as he got the results.What results remained the question.Even billionaires didn’t throw around money if they didn’t know they were going to make it all back and quickly.
“Why did you have to put the hotel here?You can build on the other side of the island.There are other businesses, more amenities.It’s even closer to the airport.Your guests don’t even have easy access to the ocean, and this side of the island is shark-infested.”Barry leaned forward hoping to hear more.The sharks were mentioned which meant it was known it was a popular area for them, so why wasn’t Miles concerned about them.Guests being eaten by sharks wasn’t going to drive business.
“Drop it, Miss Delaney.”
“Whatever, Miles.It’s your money and your losses.”
Barry removed the ear bud from his ear and closed his laptop.Once again, it was brought up; he was advised not to build on that section of the island.So why was he, despite the risk of ruining his hotel and spending money on materials repeatedly.It didn’t make sense.
Barry needed to get his eyes on the coast to see if there was any draw there.He checked the time on his watch.Mac should be back in the next hour.It didn’t give him enough time to look tonight.He’d check it out tomorrow.
Chapter 9
“Release the tail rope, Monte,” Mac called out after she finished putting the tracker on the new shark they’d found.Mac brought her hands up to the side of the boat, out of the way.She didn’t want her hands trapped between the boat and the shark.
