Zack pulled into the driveway of Atlas, his hands steady on the wheel as the tires crunched softly against the pavement.
The morning sun cast an orange glow over the sleek architecture of the resort, making the glass windows shimmer.
The air was crisp, carrying the scent of the ocean mixed with the faint fragrance of freshly cut grass.
As he parked, his eyes flickered to Ethan's Porsche, already stationed in its usual spot.
'So, he beat me here.'
Not that it surprised him.
He had been oversleeping, the pillow was far too soft.
Zack sighed, running a hand through his hair as he checked his watch.
7:02 AM.
The resort officially opened at 8 AM, which meant he had less than an hour to go over the final details.
There was still plenty of time, but Zack knew better than to slack off.
He stepped out of his car, stretching slightly as he made his way toward the front entrance.
Before heading inside, he veered toward the guards stationed at the gates.
"Morning," he greeted casually, reaching into his pocket for his phone.
"Good morning, Mr. Zack," one of the guards responded, standing at attention.
Zack wasted no time.
With a few taps on his phone, he pulled up the guest list and sent it over.
"I just updated the virtual ticket holders. Make sure to verify them as they check in. We've got some new customers, so keep an eye out."
The guard nodded, already retrieving his own device to review the list.
Zack waited for a moment before pointing at a specific set of names.
"These ones here?" he said, his tone shifting slightly as he scrolled. "Anyone with the last name Grey — they're VIPs. Treat them accordingly."
The guards exchanged a brief glance before nodding in understanding. "Understood, sir."
Zack held back a grin.
Ethan's family had registered for a visit, and instead of giving Ethan a heads-up, Zack decided to keep it a surprise.
He could only imagine Ethan's reaction.
Would he be happy? Would he act indifferent?
Ethan wasn't the most sentimental person, but family was family.
With that handled, Zack turned on his heel and strode toward the entrance, his shoes tapping lightly against the floor.
There was a lightness in his step, a sense of satisfaction that everything was running smoothly.
The moment he entered the lobby, he was greeted by the familiar scent of fresh linen and ocean breeze.
The space was already buzzing with activity as employees moved around, making final preparations before the doors officially opened.
Atlas was alive.
And it was only going to get busier.
Zack made his way through the hallways, nodding at employees as he passed.
Every detail, from the polished floors to the neatly arranged décor, was in pristine condition.
It was hard to believe that sometime ago, this was nothing more than a concept — a dream both of them had chased relentlessly.
Now, it was real. And it was thriving.
Finally, he reached the office.
Pushing open the door, he found Ethan sitting behind the desk, his feet casually propped up on the polished surface.
His posture was relaxed, but Zack knew his mind was constantly working, always calculating the next step.
"You look too comfortable for someone who's supposed to be running a resort," Zack teased as he closed the door behind him.
Ethan didn't even glance up. "And you look too awake for someone who stayed up late managing our social media."
Zack chuckled, plopping down in the seat across from him.
"That's called dedication. We hit 100,000 followers overnight, by the way."
That finally got Ethan's attention. His brow lifted slightly. "Not bad."
"Not bad?" Zack repeated, feigning offense. "That's insane, and you know it. We're officially trending, Ethan. You realize what that means, right?"
Ethan leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "It means the real work starts now."
Zack smirked. "Exactly."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of their success settling in. It felt surreal — all of it.
Then, as if on cue, Zack's phone buzzed.
He pulled it out, scrolling through a few notifications before stopping at a message.
His smirk widened.
"Well," he said, placing his phone down. "Today just got more interesting."
Ethan arched a brow. "What now?"
Zack leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. "Your family is coming."
For a moment, Ethan didn't react.
His face remained unreadable, his expression cool and composed.
Then, he blinked.
"My family?" he repeated, his tone even.
Zack nodded. "Your last name isn't exactly common. The Greys booked a visit. I figured I'd let it be a surprise."
Ethan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Damn it, Zack."
"What?" Zack laughed. "You don't want to see them?"
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he sat up, pulling his feet off the table as he processed the information.
His family was coming. Why now?
Was it curiosity? Support?
Or they just wanted to come and enjoy?
Well he had no problems with that, but was it advisable though?
Zack watched him closely, amused by the rare flicker of uncertainty on Ethan's face.
"Relax," he said. "It's not like they're here to kick you out of your own resort."
Ethan scoffed. "You never know."
Zack grinned, but before he could tease further, his phone buzzed again.
His eyes flickered to the screen, and this time, his expression sobered.
"Speaking of surprises," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "What now?"
Zack exhaled, tossing his phone onto the desk. "Newton Development Corp. sent an inquiry."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"I ran into one of their managers last night," he admitted. "Tried to talk to me."
Zack leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "And?"
Ethan's lips curled into a slow, humorless smile.
"I left him in the dust."
Zack let out a bark of laughter. "Cold. Even for you."
"They want a partnership," Ethan said flatly. "But we both know that's just their way of trying to control Atlas."
Zack nodded, his expression turning serious. "Yeah. And the last thing we need is Newton breathing down our necks."
Ethan exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face. He knew this wouldn't be the last time they tried.
But for now?
He had bigger things to focus on.
"Better buckle up, bro."