Risk it All [GxG]

17| The devil drives Jeep Recon

I tilted my head, noticing Erin is parking next to mine. We locked gaze after she hopped out from the car, "have to go baby I love you so much" then ended the call before giving her a side smirk.

"Morning Ms. Lane, 23 seconds before 8:01 and you know what happened to the last person who came late" I say to Erin who looked like I've grown two heads when her eyes dropping to my full sleeve tattooed arms, probably shock since I wore long sleeves last night and during our first meeting "you like it?" I asked in raised brows.

She look taken aback from the question but eventually returning to her calm confidence "you have a lot of tattoos, Bella"

"Yeah. This becomes Miggy and I bonding moments and sometimes you should try channeling emotional pain to physical, it helped me a lot after you left me" I smiled, then signaling her to follow me inside the soon to be beach hotel "Good morning Mr. Gonzales"

"Good morning Ms. Reeds" Mr. Gonzales returned warmly before switching to Erin "I'm glad that you accepted this project Erin"

They know each other? And how are they so formal? I bet my questionable expression is too obvious when Mr. Gonzales added "I met Erin in New York and she's one of their company top tier architects and right there I knew that she's the only person I want in this project that I'm willing to delay and wait until she agrees on this" I nodded and try to at least smile at that information "wait, if I'm not mistaken, you guys went to the same university right? You two know each other?"

"Yes" I paused, tilting my head to Erin "We competed department debates and that's it, we barely know each other"

"Oh is that so?"

I smiled it off before changing the topic "So, we actually need your insight of what particular theme you want, shall we walk around so you can see the whole property?"

We toured around the beach along insides the upcoming hotel with only few requested renovations, apparently he requested to keep the old structure.

"I can see potential, the resort will be like a place to breathe out from modernization, just like a getaway place away from suffocation. But, if we're keeping limited rooms and accommodate few guest, I'll be setting the expectations early that your investment might take longer to get back. Not all seasons resorts are peak, there will be a lot of lenient time" I explained to Mr. Gonzales but seems like he's not hesitating and still wants to proceed to his idea.

"Ok Ms. Reeds" he curtly responded.

"Pardon me but I don't get it Mr. Gonzales. Of why you have to keep the old design and structure? Because seems like, the main reason that this resort was closed is because it is not appealing at all and needed a lot of modifications"

He nodded with a warm smile and I truly don't get his choice. "This beach resort has history and I don't want to ruin such a good memory. And you're right, there's a reason why it shut down but there's also a reason why it comes back"

"Ok. We'll come up with a presentation in 3 days" then glance to Erin who seems shock about it.

"3 days?" Mr. Gonzales frowned before turning to Erin "isn't it too fast? Are you okay with that Erin?"

How incompetent that it automatically made me rolled my eyes before checking my phone while waiting for her answer.

"Sure" finally, it took her forever of my time to respond from a very simple question.

"But if you can't make it, it's alright ok? No rush" Mr. Gonzales turned back to me, that's when I dropped the stoic expression and lift up a smile.

After a small final request Mr. Gonzales bid goodbye to us and right now watching him leave the premises before I dropped down my smile.

"I want your blueprint tomorrow morning" I nonchalantly say to her in deadpan look before turning around on my way to the car.

"You know that's impossible Bella"

I sharply heaved a sighed and halted then turned back to meet her frowning face "I'm pretty sure that you need a lot of revisions that's why I need to see your insight tomorrow morning so if ever it didn't fit to what I'm planning then you'll have the time to revised it. You know what happened the last project we had right? It took you forever but forever only exist in fairytale"

"Why are we rushing things? You heard Tom—"

I cut her off "If this is your only project this year then good for you. But I don't think that's good for business because if you aren't producing money then that means this year is probably your last year and apparently, we are not on the same page Ms. Lane, because unlike you, I have a lot of projects lining up" I smiled and about to turn around but returning back at her "Oh! one last thing Ms. Lane. I prefer you calling me Reeds or Isabella since we're not close and this is purely business so let's be professional, yes?"

She clenched her jaw while I impatiently wait if she will say something valuable of my time "Ok. We're done here Ms. Lane" then lowered down my sunglasses and headed to my Jeep Recon.