Jonnie: This just doesn’t make any sense to me. I need you to tell me what’s going on.
Me: Simply put, it’s about my father’s will and what it requires for the future of the company. Alex and I have to do this. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s the truth. I don’t expect you to understand.
Jonnie: I want to understand. I want to talk it through with you so we can find another way.
I need to change the subject or it will only further depress me.
Me: Could we talk about something else right now? I could use a distraction. How are things at the Shangri-la?
Jonnie: Good, but not the same if I’m not doing it all for you.
I snort. All for me? I don’t think so.
Me: You’re successful at whatever you put your mind to.
Jonnie: Particularly when I have motivation.
Me: We need to find you some strong motivation then. Chocolate? Coffee? Bourbon?
Jonnie: You
Me: Cookies, trips, clothes, jewelry?
Jonnie: I’m serious.
Me: I know. It just can’t happen.
Jonnie: That’s not acceptable.
Me: I should go. My mother has me on a diet, and I need to eat something before I start eating this phone.
Jonnie: You’re perfect just the way you are. You don’t need to change a thing.
I would love to share that with my mother, but I’ll never let her know he’s in my life—in any capacity.
Me: Goodnight.
Chapter 6
Jonathan
Maggie has avoided any decent conversation with me for almost a month. She sounds wrecked and damn near despondent when I do manage to reach her, so I never want to make things worse or more stressful for her. But that’s getting me nowhere, except closer and closer to this ridiculous wedding she seems committed to. Today I’m determined I’m going to talk to her—a real conversation, even if I have to fly home to do it. This is impossible.
I take another look over the list of players we’ve invited to the high-stakes poker game Nate Lancaster asked me to put together. I crafted the invitation carefully, making sure everyone who received it understood that Nate had asked for the game.
Now I just need to sit down with Travis, my head of security, and Gillian in guest relations, to make sure we can cover everything from the security and casino perspective.
Right on time, they appear in my office, and I hand them copies of the list.
“These guys are billionaires?” Travis asks.
I nod. “On paper at least—as far as the SEC knows.”
Gillian shakes her head. “Nate Lancaster is more than a billionaire on paper.”
“I suppose they all are,” I relent.
“Well, I think the game should be Texas Hold’em, and the buy-in at least three million,” Gillian says. “A million for them is like a thousand dollars to a normal person. It should hurt at least a little bit.”
“Nate suggested a five million buy-in.” I shrug. “All they can do is say no.”
“Exactly. What else should we offer?” Gillian asks.
“Box seats to Queen Diva?” I offer.
“Nate just did that,” Gillian reminds us.
“Sure, but no one else did,” Travis adds.
She shrugs. “We can comp a suite. These guys will order tons of food and room service, so that will become a moneymaker.”
I nod. “What else would make it enticing?”
Gillian sits up straight in her chair. “Will most of them be bringing someone? We can set up a tour of the stores along The Boardwalk.”
I like that idea. The Boardwalk is fifty A-plus stores housed on the property—all the high-end retailers in the world. They’re mostly Italian, but there are also a few French ones, and we recently introduced a Japanese designer.
“That might work. I’m not sure who Viviana and Mia will bring, but we can offer a high-end bourbon tasting at The Derby restaurant. They’d enjoy that,” I suggest.
“Plus, if they get drunk enough, they could all lose,” Travis adds.
I snort. “That would probably bankrupt us if it got out, but I still think they’d enjoy the tasting.”
“What about a cooking lesson from Tammy Flint?” Gillian suggests. “She’s the new hit on the Food Channel, and her restaurant on The Boardwalk is doing really well.”
“If you can talk Tammy into coming, we can cover her costs, but don’t let her negotiate a rent discount on her restaurant. I want to pay her for her time,” I say.
“Shopping, a show, liquor, food, and gambling—what else could they want?” Gillian shrugs as she steps out for a moment to confirm with Tammy. When she returns, she has a big smile. “She loves the idea and says she won’t take any money for it.”
“We’ll do something for her,” I muse.
Now that we’ve hashed out some details, I put the finishing touches on an email to Nate to update him on the perks we can offer. My phone rings within seconds. I answer as Gillian and Travis leave.
“This is exactly what I was hoping for.” I recognize Nate’s voice instantly. “Thanks for putting it together.”
“I’m happy to help.”
“Cecelia is going to love the shopping thing and will drool all over Tammy Flint. Who did you end up inviting?”
I rattle off the list of mostly tech billionaires. They all carry a level of fame, but between their security and the Shangri-la’s security, we’ll be fine.
As we talk, I write a few things down in my notebook to prepare for their arrival once they confirm.
“Perfect,” Nate says. “I’ll send them personal emails to follow up and convince them to come with all these perks.”
“Is the buy-in too much? I thought that was what you said, but we weren’t sure about your friend Walker Clifton, since he’s a U.S. Attorney.”
Nate snorts. “You don’t need to worry about Walker. His family found gold in San Francisco generations ago, and they’ve turned that into many things, including eighteen apartment buildings down in the Marina.”
I sit back and smile. This is going to be good. “Outstanding. Should I email you as the remaining players commit? We’ve tentatively reserved suites for all the players and their entourages.”
“Sounds great,” Nate says.
“The first night we’ll have two tables with the five million buy-in, and the second night can be the top players with a ten million buy-in. Done.” I sit back, trying not to laugh out loud. I grew up with people who had money, but not like these guys.
“Perfect,” Nate says. “We’re all set. I’ll talk to you again soon.”
I’ve just hung up the phone when Lola is at my door. “Queen Diva again.”
I sigh. “Tell Travis to meet me at her dressing room with the video we discussed.”
“Will do. I’ll let her know you’re on the way.”