CHAPTER TWO

A week later

Raymond woke up to his phone ringing quite loudly, he sat on his bed and glanced at the night stand, and spotted some condoms. His phone was still ringing but nowhere to be found. 

He looked under the bed to find his wrinkled trousers and phone in its left pocket. How the hell did that even get there? He wondered as he took the phone out of the trouser pocket and squinted at the screen. The caller ID read Jace, his best friends name so he picked it up

“What’s up,”

“Hey, Ray,” Jace greeted on the other end of the phone. “We're still on for tonight, right?”

“Yeah, J.”

“Say hi to your latest fling for me, then,” his tone, suggestive. 

“How do you know I'm with a woman, I might just be at work" 

“I stopped by your place on my way to work to pick up those documents, when I asked your housekeeper where you were, she turned red as a tomato and told me you were with one of your lady friends" Jace explained as a laugh left his lips, "you will never change, I wonder when you're going to settle down with one woman?"

"You know that will never happen, I like being surrounded by women," Raymond added as he glanced at the ten-thousand dollar Rolex he’d forgotten to take off last night. “Now, if you’d excuse me, I have to get to work"

“Sure thing, see you later” He hung up.

Ray gathered his clothes from the floor and dumped them at the entrance for the cleaners to pick up later. Then sauntered into the connected bathroom to wash off the events from last night.

After his shower, he woke up the lady he had spent the night with, he couldn't remember her name so he just called her Juicy Ass and sent her on her way. Then proceeded to get himself ready before heading to the office today. Wes, his secretary, had called to inform him that he’d have a meeting with Dean Fletch by 9 am today, a partner with their hotels worldwide. 

He grabbed his lunch and headed out to the garage. He was in a Bentley mood today so he buckled up and drove down to the head office of Deluxe Resorts, his biggest and most successful investment.

His father has always been one controlling man. Eat your vegetables. Don’t play outside. Go to the gym. Study business and come to take over the family business, Cowell Enterprises. And he’d done them all for a few years before he decided he’d had enough. And if he’d gained nothing else from working for his father, at least he gained his connections. 

When he decided to start his own business, he made good use of those connections and garnered investors and built his first hotel. Over the years, he has grown and expanded to a chain that he can say is one of the best that can be found in the world. 

He zoomed in, ignoring the shouted “Good morning Boss” from the security at the gate. Parked in his spot and confidently strode to the elevators. "You don't get to where I am by being nice or kissing people's asses," he bragged to himself 

After his meeting, he called Wes to brief him on his schedule today and after minutes of Wes going on and on about shit he didn't care about he finally finished talking and Raymond made a grunt for him to leave so he can rest a little 

“Oh, sir,” he spun around again. “I’ve found some land in Montana.”

"Go ahead.” Raymond gestured, his curiosity evident in his tone 

“It’s a 70-acre farm overlooking the Missoula Valley.”

Ray raised an eyebrow. “You think I should invest in a farm in Montana?”

Wes’s face lit up. “Yes, sir. I believe it has immense potential for a luxury resort and spa. Plus, it offers the change of concept you’ve been looking for.”

Lifting a brow, Ray leaned forward and said “Alright, show me this farm.”

Wes nodded enthusiastically, grabbing his laptop from his desk. “I’ve done some preliminary research and even conducted a virtual tour of the property. Here, take a look.”

Ray leaned over as he opened the laptop, eager to see what he’d found. The screen displayed stunning pictures of rolling hills, vast meadows, and a breathtaking view of the valley below. He noticed a small stream running through the property and a few tall trees providing shade in the distance.

“It’s got potential, alright,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “But what about the infrastructure? Can we even build a resort and spa there?”

Wes grinned. “I’ve got that covered, sir. There’s already power lines running nearby, and the water from the stream should be perfect for our needs. Plus, we could build a small airstrip and make it easily accessible for guests.”

His pulse spiked, and he could already picture the rooms in the resort with those spectacular views. “Alright, Wes,” he said, leaning forward again. “Let’s do it.”

He considered going out himself. “Who’s the owner, Wes?”

“Well, Bryce Hayes used to be the owner, but he died about a month ago, passing the farm down to his daughter, Sharon Hayes.”

“Oh. No need, then. I’ve been with more women than I can count, and if there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that women love only two things: money and a handsome man to show off.” he proudly chipped in. 

While Ray's father sought every means to make sure he lived underneath his palm, his mother had been going from store to store, shopping, hanging with friends, and whatever involved the spending of money. If it doesn’t involve money, she isn’t interested. His father, as if being controlling wasn’t enough or maybe because of it, had been a handsome son of a bitch in his youth. Or that’s what mother had told him the few times she could be caught at home. And she didn’t miss any opportunity to show him off. Fundraiser, check. Charity, check. Meeting with her friends, check (don’t ask me why.) 

Even when she’d been around, she couldn’t say anything to threaten her source of income. And over time, he has grown to understand that women need money to keep their attention. He hasn't met any that can prove him wrong yet. 

“Send out a team and make the acquisition happen.” Raymond said, and Wes nodded before hurrying out to get started on the acquisition, 

But before wes could leave, Raymond called out “Tell them not to come back here till that land is ours.”

"Yes, Sir," Wes said as he left, and after

doing some work, he went down to the Velvet to meet his friends