“Well, that’s good news, right? At least we have a name. Okay, so, we’ll talk to him. Take him to dinner and—”
“The landowner is Kyle King.”
Zander stilled, his gaze drilling into his business partner. No way had he heard him correctly. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“It’s your dad, Zander.”
Breaking out in a cold sweat, Zander shoved out of the chair.
“You okay?” Kent asked. “You look pasty.”
“Of course I’m not okay. Are you?”
Kent held up the bottle of antacids. “I’ve been popping these ever since I got off the phone.”
Zander shook out several tablets, tossed them into his mouth and chewed. Nausea clouded his thoughts. He had no words.
“Did you know your dad lives in Starry Cove?” Kent continued.
“Yeah. I also knew he bought the B&B when he moved there last year.” Zander fisted his hands around the back of the chair.
“Did you visit him?”
“You and I go way back. You know I would’ve, if he had invited me.”
“Right,” Kent said. “Well, he’s been our holdout this whole time, and now he ownsallthe land that borders the west side of town.”
Zander tightened his vise grip and his knuckles turned stark white. He’d overcome professional challenges before, but this was different. This was personal. His father was all about land preservation. Kyle King despised big business. Flat-out hated it.
“According to Jeremy Miller, your dad is concerned the project will disrupt the small-town feel of the area.”
“Are you kidding me? That place is a freakin’ ghost town.”
Kent slid his laptop into his satchel. “It’s a huge loss for us. Everyone was ready to make this deal happen. Can you talk to your dad?”
Zander chuffed out a sardonic laugh. “This is playing out like a nightmare I can’t wake up from. My father won’t change his mind, not even for me.” He massaged his forehead, hoping to silence the bass drum pounding in his head. “I’ll call him, but my expectations are in the toilet.”
Rising, Kent slung his computer bag over his shoulder. “I think we’re going to have to stand down on this one, Zander. We have other projects where everyone’s on board.”
Zander tossed him a nod. “Go be a dad. We can revisit this tomorrow.”
“Or never. As far as I’m concerned, the Starry Cove project is dead in the water.” Kent said over his shoulder, “I’d tell you not to sweat it, but I know you will.”
Zander approached his corner office and said hello to his assistant. Normally, he’d stop and chat, but he needed a moment alone. Unmotivated to check emails or return calls, he dropped into his executive chair, swiveled around and stared out the window.
Ten months ago, Zander had been approached by a group of investors regarding a sleepy town on the Virginia-West Virginia border. The team, led by corporate magnate Colton Mitus of Mitus Conglomerate, envisioned an upscale destination getaway. Having worked with these financiers before, Zander paid Starry Cove a visit. His conclusion? A tremendous find with unlimited possibilities.
The main street was peppered with local businesses, but most had long since closed up shop and moved away. Those who’d stayed loved the area. The rural town was nestled in a valley surrounded by three mountain ranges. The Blue Ridge, the Allegheny, and the Massanutten. The geography boasted beautiful views from almost every direction. Starry Cove had the potential of becoming a vacationer’s paradise.
King Development had created a master plan for the multi-use development complex designed for those who wanted to escape the hustle of the D.C. region—without having to fly anywhere. The proposal included two large hotels, an upscale boutique property with a mineral spa, a shopping outlet with over eighty stores, a twelve-theater movie complex, and a casino. Long-range plans included a deluxe condo building, but businesses would have to return to the area before they could break ground on that project.
Phase one of the multimillion-dollar complex would take eighteen months to complete, employ hundreds of workers, and bring life back to a sleepy town that had long since dropped off the map.
The investors loved his proposal, so Zander pitched it to the Starry Cove’s zoning board, the local business owners, and this Miller fellow who represented the landowners. Everyone in attendance had agreed that the town needed a major infusion of business. At the time, the Millers owned fifty percent of the undeveloped land, and “anonymous” owned the other fifty.
After Zander passed the project to Kent to tie up loose ends and close the deal, the opportunity stalled. And stalled some more. The anonymous landowner had rejected the development and refused to negotiate.And now I know why.
The full weight of what his father had done came crashing down on him.