Paradise Hotel
Henry turned to look at James hearing the statement he had just made and was surprised to see him smiling after making such a statement. James was still looking straight at Jason, who appeared to be busy with his guests. His disguise was perfect but James, Mirenda and Henry had known him for a long time to be fooled by a disguise.
"Did you know it was Jason who sent the invitation?" Mirenda asked looking at Henry.
"No, the invitation had the name of the hotel and one Peter on it," Henry replied and Mirenda responded with a 'hmm'.
"Anyway, we are here so let's go inside," Henry said with a smile happy to see his patient and friend bounce back irrespective of what happened with the Hawards'.
"Err, you guys go ahead I have another business elsewhere. Very important," James said and walked away from the venue as he was not ready to face Jason.
Even though he didn't know about Julia's miscarriage as a result of his attack on her, he knew Jason would have found out by now what he did to her. He was not ready for another nose fracture.
Henry and Mirenda joined the guest after James had left to tour the hotel. The hotel ambience was just amazing. Everything was spot on excellent, from staff appearance to the exterior and interior decoration of the building, the rooms, everything was just perfect.
"This must have cost a fortune. I wonder where Jason got the money to do all this," Mirenda commented, her eyes scanning the whole environment with admiration.
Mirenda grew up with Jason and she knew how determined he could be when he set his mind to do something. Jason will keep trying and working hard to achieve his goal. After passing her comment she was now wondering how many jobs Jason took on to earn the money to build such a hotel.
"It appears you don't know your brother very well then," replied Henry as they headed out of the hotel gym to see other parts of the hotel.
"I do know he is very hard working and can even turn three figures to four, but look around you. This will cost nothing less than millions of dollars." Mirenda pointed out to him.
In as much as her words were doubtful deep within her heart she knew Jason was capable of pulling this off and much more.
"Well, you said it yourself, he can turn three figures into four. So, what makes this impossible?" questioned Henry with a wide smile.
"Well, I don't know. Something doesn't seem right to me," Mirenda said recalling something her mother had told her about Jason which she was beginning to believe looking at how quickly Jason had bounced back.
Her mother had told her that Jason is not the type that makes it obvious he is stealing from you. He covers his true acts with a lot of hard work so you never know.
"What are you saying?" questioned Henry with a frown.
"I don't know but I am finding it hard to believe Jason managed to find a job and earn so much in such a short period to do all this," Mirenda said looking around.
Henry just looked at her not saying anything further. They walked to the poolside and it was equally amazing. The tour ended at the poolside as it was the last place of the hotel to be seen.
"Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am glad you like what you see. The tour has not ended yet. There is one more. The food tour. Our eyes have done enough feasting, it is time for our mouths to do the same," Jason said and the gathered crowd laughed at his joke.
"This way please," Jason said and the people were ushered into the restaurant by the waiters who had lined up by the time the tour ended.
The rest of the staff quickly came around to present the menu to the seated guests so they could choose dishes which were quickly served. Desserts and giveaways came later. The people were very impressed, so much so that some decided on the spot to book and spend a night in the hotel.
"Hello, Mr Haward," greeted Henry after the opening ceremony came to a close.
"Hello," replied Jason with an expressionless face.
Peter was at the reception seeing to the booking as it appeared a lot of people wanted to spend a night at the hotel.
"Congratulations," came Mirenda's voice.
"Thank you," replied Jason.
"Mirenda and I are dating," Henry said feeling a bit awkward when Mirenda leaned on his shoulder wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Congratulations. I am happy for you two. She is a great woman and she will make you a good wife," Jason said with all honesty shocking Mirenda.
Mirenda had not expected that from Jason, considering the way they treated him to the extent of taking his own home away from him and throwing him out onto the street like a criminal and they have not stopped working his downfall.
"Thank you," said Mirenda still shocked. "You are not mad at me?" she asked curiously.
"Blood or not, we grew up together as siblings. In every situation people will react differently so I don't hold anything against you," Jason replied looking at Mirenda with a neutral expression.
"Happy to hear that Mr Haward and good to see you again. I will keep in touch. The food here is amazing; I will be visiting often," Henry said with a smile.
"You are always welcome," replied Jason before leaving the two to finish the dessert they were enjoying.
Mirenda watched him leave. She was not sure who to believe, Jason's actions or her mother's words.
Jason went to the last floor of the building which he had turned into an office. Even though all the floors have not been completed yet, he preferred having his office on the last floor of the building. On that same floor is the security system of the hotel. He turned on his laptop, logged into the hotel booking platform and smiled. Opening ceremony and 100 rooms already booked, with some going for executive rooms. His business plan worked perfectly. At this rate, he would start making a profit by the eighteenth month.
"O, dear! it was not easy getting 100 lined up people rooms," Peter said as soon as he entered the office after completing all the bookings on the ground floor.
"Since its first day, that is expected. The subsequent days will be a lot easier since you will not be having 100 lined up requesting rooms" commented Jason and Peter nodded in agreement.
They both wrapped up for the day and went back home, exhausted from the day's activities. Peter went straight to bed but Jason sat down for a while behind his desk making plans for the next day.
Meanwhile, Henry was on his way to drop off Mirenda at her house. He kissed her in the car before letting her go once they reached the apartment. He turned the car around and exited the compound after ensuring Mirenda was safely inside.
"Where is James?" questioned Mrs Haward as soon as Mirenda entered the living room.
"He said he had an important business to attend to," Mirenda replied honestly standing a couple of walks away from the entrance door.
Mirenda stared at her mother who seemed to care only about James. She would have loved it if she asked her how everything went. It has always been like this; her concern was only for James. Mirenda proceeded to her room when Mrs Haward said nothing again after her first question. James entered the living room not long after.
"Where did you go? You were supposed to watch over Mirenda," Mrs Haward said angrily.
"I know but you are not going to believe what I am about to tell you," James changed the subject to avoid being the target for chastising
"Don't change the subject. I am talking about you and your attitude of not doing as I tell you," Mrs Haward said sounding a little angry.
"Jason is in town," James blurted out.
"So, it's that the news you want to tell me?" Mrs Haward questioned. "He was here to look for the pest so I know. He didn't look good and that was enough to make my soul sing with joy," she said smiling as she sat down on the sofa, crossed her legs and picked up a Magazine.
James moved closer and sat down opposite her.
"No, the news is, Jason now owns a hotel. Paradise Hotel is owned by Jason and for the first day, the hotel is already doing extremely well. It appears that is why he came back to Florida. Maybe to rub his success in your face," James announced.
"What!" Mrs Haward exclaimed, immediately lifting her gaze to look at James as she dropped her magazine to the side with a surprised look plastered on her face.
"Yes. You can ask Mirenda, that is where they went," James added getting off the hook of his mother scolding him for not watching over Mirenda and bringing her back home as requested earlier.
"Mirenda!" Mrs Haward called out to her and Mirenda entered the living room. "Is it true that Jason owns a Hotel?" she inquired and Mirenda nodded looking away.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Mrs Haward questioned angrily.
"Because it wasn't important and you were only interested in where James was," replied Mirenda making Mrs Haward clutch her hand into a fist.
"See for yourself," James said and showed Mrs Haward some pictures he had taken with his phone from a distance and some videos.
Mrs Haward was about to scold Mirenda for her outburst but the images and videos made her stop. She took the phone from James and went through the picture.
"No, no, no, this can't be happening," Mrs Haward muttered under her breath.
Mirenda left the two for her room not ready to face her mother in another argument with Jason as the subject.
"No, this can't be. He has to be stopped. If we allow him to grow powerful, we will all end up on the street," Mrs Haward said to James and left the living room for her room.
"How does he keep rising anytime I succeed in reducing him to nothing," Mrs Haward thought as she paced up and down her room. "I need to do something and fast too," she thought and sat down to think.