THE BILLIONAIRE'S OBSESSION: THE REDEMPTION

CHAPTER 2

Charles' POV

I'm in front of Smith Duncan Palace, Mr. Steven Smith's hotel. The name does justice to the place, as it truly looks like a royal palace. I climbed the stairs at the entrance and entered the hotel's hall. The beauty of this place is truly impressive. The chandeliers spread across the ceiling are enormous, followed by giant pillars that lead the way along a red carpet to the reception. Next to it, there's a piano with a pianist playing soothing music to bring a sense of lightness to the place. It's a spectacle. Mr. Smith definitely has great taste in decoration and music.

I stood still, scrutinizing every detail of the structure, when I saw Mr. Steven Smith coming down the stairs behind the hotel's reception. He is a man of about sixty-five years old, and when his eyes meet mine, a friendly smile appears on his lips. It has been a while since I've seen him, even though I'm a close friend of the family.

"Good afternoon, Charles, what a surprise to see you here," he extended his hand towards me and I shook it.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Smith, I came to talk to you," I replied.

He nods.

"Of course, let's go to my office," he said.

I nodded in return.

As we walked through a long corridor, and I observed the old paintings on the wall, all done by famous artists, each painting must be worth millions of dollars. Mr. Smith undoubtedly has a highly refined taste in art as well.

When we entered his office, he pointed to the armchair in front of his desk, and I sat down.

"Would you like something to drink?" he asks.

"Whiskey, please," I replied.

"Good choice," he said and smiled.

But I just nodded my head.

"Now tell me, what brings you to my hotel?" he asks, curious, after pouring each of us a pint of whiskey.

"I want to buy it." I said, getting straight to the point.

He looks at me surprised and then takes a deep breath.

‘You already know what happened,’ he comments, rather than asking.

‘That's irrelevant, Mr. Smith. I just want to make a proposal and not talk about what happened."

I'm being direct because I don't want to get involved in something that is not my business. I thought.

He smiles sideways.

‘I've known you since you were a boy, always knew you would be ruthless in business, because you were always straightforward in everything you had to say, no beating around the bush and not getting involved in matters that don't concern you, but do you know something I never expected?’ he asks.

‘What?’ I asked out of politeness, because, in truth, I didn't want to know.

‘That you would be in front of me wanting to buy my only asset,’ he replied.

‘Sometimes, unexpected events happen in our lives, Mr. Smith, but we have to be strong to deal with them. I'm bringing you an irresistible proposal which will save you from big troubles before they even start, because we both know they're approaching." I said to him.

He doesn't say anything, but he leaves his seat and goes to the window. He gazes into the sky, looking lost in thought.

‘Charles, this hotel is all I have. You know that my family were a partner of Duncan’s for half a century. I never expected to be deceived by someone I trusted so much,’ he says, sighing.

I felt the pain in his words, but instead of staying quiet, my next words had already left my mouth.

‘You should have paid attention to the accounts, Mr. Smith. An embezzlement of that magnitude would surely have been noticed easily," I stated.

He nods and looks at me.

‘I understand your way of thinking, and you are right, I made a mistake in that part, but he was my friend. Have you ever trusted someone blindly and then regretted it?’ he asks.

I stay quiet, but I answer to myself, yes, I have trusted before, and that's why I know that we have to pay attention to every little detail.

‘I know I should have noticed, but I didn't.’ he continued. I can see through his eyes the guilt he feels for not paying attention to what was right under his nose.

"But I can't sell this hotel, it's my daughter's inheritance,’ Mr. Smith said.

I'm beginning not to like where this conversation is going, but I need to be clear with him, because if there's one thing we need to be in the situation he is going through; it's realistic, no matter how painful it is, it will always be the best option.

‘I'm sorry to say, Mr. Smith, but soon your daughter won't have anything to inherit. You know that the costs of keeping the hotel open are incredibly high. We're not talking about just one chain, but several, and you're fully aware that over time you'll have to start shutting down, location by location. There will be multiple employees demanding their rights, suppliers demanding p*****t, and you'll have to keep making excuses to all of them. I'm taking this burden off your shoulders because the Ricci group of companies have the financial power to keep the hotels afloat, and you'll be receiving a considerable amount of money, because you know, in its present state, hardly anyone will want to pay a fair price for your hotel," my words seemed cold, but it was the truth.

He became thoughtful, and that was a good sign, so I decided to continue persuading him.

‘The Ricci company commits to ensuring the business continues, your name will still be on the hotel's frontage, but the Duncan name will be removed. The only thing that will change is that everyone will know that the place is now managed by the Ricci company. We will pay you a reasonable amount that will guarantee your retirement,’

He shook his head in a negative gesture.

"You don't understand, Charles, I love this hotel and..."

"What I understand, Mr. Smith, is that the love you have for this hotel won't get you out of debt, which is the most important thing right now." I am direct, not giving him room for sentiments.

He swallows hard at my words, as harsh as they may be, he knows I'm right.

"Maybe you're right," he says, but I can tell he's pondering over the issue. I realize he won’t make any decision at the moment, so I decide to take my leave.

"I'll take my leave, but I have a great offer," I said, rising to my feet. Then I took a document out of my briefcase and placed it on the table. "Please think about it, you know the situation can get complicated. I'm offering the easiest solution; it wouldn't be wise on your part to refuse it. So, I ask that you consider it." I said.

He sighed again.

"I will think about your proposal, Charles," he replied.

"I'm sure we'll make a deal," I said confidently.

He offers a faint smile, but it doesn't reach my eyes.

"Alright, Charles, please send my regards to your parents."

"Consider it done."

I leave the hotel, knowing that the place is already mine, because I know how things work in our world, we are all like lions waiting for someone to devour, and at this moment Mr. Smith has become an easy prey for all of us. If it was not me buying, it would be someone else, but no one would match the offer I had made.

A few days later...

I knew the situation would become complicated. I'm at my parents' house, and they have gone to the hospital to visit Mr. Smith who had a heart attack yesterday. I didn't wish for this, but I can imagine how a man can go crazy when debts come knocking on his door and he can't afford to pay. The fall of the hotels happened quickly to the point that only one outlet remained open. It was discovered that Smith Hotels had been owing taxes, and he only got to find out some days back. The situation is really sad, but I predicted that it would happen.

If there is one thing I have learned as a business person, it is to foresee a disaster before it happens. Too bad Mr. Smith didn't learn to do that. And now he's paying a very high price.

"Charles, It's good to see you here," my mother said when she found me in her living room. Linda Ricci, the strongest woman I know in the world. She was beside my father, Albert Ricci.

"Hi Mom, I came to see you and the maid informed me about what happened."

She nods sadly.

"How is he?" I asked.

"Thankfully, it was only a mild heart issue, but it still left him very weak," she said.

"I thought it was a heart attack," I said

She shakes her head.

"He came very close, but he's fine." she responds.

"Did you get to see him?" I asked.

"Yes, he's devastated. We offered him help, but Steven has always been too proud to accept anything for free, he never likes to be beholden to anyone," she says, looking unhappy.

"Love, go get some rest, I know you're tired," my father says, but I notice he's looking at me differently.

"Alright, dear, I really need to get rid of this hospital smell from my body. I love you, son, and I'm glad to see you here," she says, and gives me a hug, and I kiss the top of her head.

"Rest well, Mom." I said to her.

When she left, my father took a deep breath.

"Let's go to my office,” he said, waving in the direction of his study, and I followed him.

When we enter, he says,

‘Steven asked to see you.’

‘I can only imagine what it is.’ I said, because I already knew this would happen.

"Charles, you know that Steven is my friend and I don't want you to take advantage of his situation too..."

‘Dad, it's just business, it's not wrong to want to buy the hotel if he wants to sell it,’I told him, and shrugged.

‘You were the first to propose it to him, you could have offered help, like your mother and I did when it happened and now again." he said. I notice that he is upset, but I don't see a reason for that.

I furrowed my brow.

‘You taught me to recognize a good opportunity. I am a businessman, dad. I saw a great investment ahead of us and made a proposition. It's not wrong to do that, no matter how close you are to him.

He breathes heavily, knowing that I am right, he raised us to be ruthless, and he knows I wouldn't act differently.

‘I understand. I just want you to think about how you're going to handle things. Be careful with the way you talk to him right now. I know you very well and know how harsh and direct you can be with words, but remember that Steven doesn't need more people burying him in the dirt." he advised.

‘Okay.’ I responded.

I left my parents' house and went straight to the hospital. As soon as I entered, Mr. Smith's room, I realized that he was in a bad condition.

‘Mr. Smith?’ I called out to him.

He slowly lifts his head to look at me, and I notice he looks tired.

"Hi Charles" he said

"I am sorry about what happened." I'm being honest, because I never wished for this.

He sighs.

"Thank you, my boy, but I believe we already knew this would happen."

I remain silent, because if I say anything, I won't be able to disagree with him, so silence is the most appropriate response at that moment.

"I'm going to sell my hotel to you. I believe the offer is still on the table, but with a lower price, since I no longer have those properties," his words carry sadness and guilt.

I feel uncomfortable seeing him like this, but I stay firm, because I can't waver when it comes to business.

"Yes, the offer is still on the table, and the amount remains the same," I told him.

I could see the surprise in his eyes.

"Why? You know my hotel is not worth that amount anymore, it's bankrupt," he declares, looking defeated.

"Because I want to," I curtly replied. I could say that I'm doing this out of the friendship he has with my parents, but I would be lying. The truth is, I don't even know why I decided to offer such a high price for a bankrupt business.

He smiled.

"A man of few words," he states.

I nodded in agreement.

"Prepare the documentation. As soon as I'm discharged, we'll meet at the hotel to close the deal, because now I know I have nowhere else to go."

I put my hand in my pants pocket, feeling anxious to see him this way, so I quickly brought the discussion to an end.

"Perfect, Mr. Smith. I wish you a speedy recovery." I said sincerely.

"Thank you, my boy," he replied.

I leave the hospital with a heavy heart, it feels like it's not right to do this, but I ignore the feeling because these are business matters. If I don't buy it, someone else will, and as it is, the Ricci family is definitely the best option, since the other businessmen will offer crumbs that will barely sustain Mr. Smith for the period of one year.