The water slid off Ethan''s skin as he climbed out of the pool, shaking his head to get rid of the excess droplets.

    The sun had moved lower in the sky, casting a golden hue over the unfinished resort.

    His muscles tensed slightly from the cool air meeting his wet skin, but the feeling was refreshing after the heat of the day.

    Zack stepped out right after him, grabbing a towel from the lounge chair and running it over his stomach.

    He let out a small huff, glancing around at the workers still moving about the property. "Man, even with all this progress, there''s still so much left to do," he muttered, throwing the towel over his shoulder.

    Ethan followed his gaze. The resort was shaping up nicely, but it was far from finished.

    The basic structures were in place — the main building, the smaller private villas, the pool areas, the entranceway — but the finer details, the ones that would truly bring luxury to life, were still missing.

    Elegant walkways still needed paving.

    The beachside lounge was only a skeleton of its future self. Some areas were covered in scaffolding, and wires stuck out from incomplete lighting fixtures.

    It was easy to see the potential, but they needed money to push it over the finish line.

    Zack shook his head, running a hand through his damp blond hair. "I already sank everything I had into this, and while the club is bringing in money, it''s not enough to cover what we need in time."

    Ethan thought for a moment.

    Five million wasn''t small change, but it wasn''t impossible for him either.

    His second apartment complex was still in his possession. He hadn''t planned on selling it just yet, but if he did, he could easily get what they needed.

    With the way the real estate market was moving, he could probably push it for five million if he found the right buyer. That would cover everything and then some.

    But for now, he set that thought aside. There were more immediate things to handle.

    "Let''s talk to the main contractor," Ethan said, rolling his shoulders. "See where things stand."

    Zack nodded, wrapping his towel around his waist as they headed toward the largest construction area. He put on some clothes before they got there though.

    The main contractor, a burly man with graying hair and a sharp gaze, was standing near the entrance of the resort, going over blueprints with a few of his workers.

    He glanced up as they approached, squinting slightly before nodding in recognition.

    "Zack," the contractor greeted first, his voice rough but respectful. Then his eyes flicked to Ethan, taking him in with an evaluating look. "And you must be the new partner."

    "Ethan," he introduced himself, extending a hand.

    "Done."

    Harris gave him a long, considering look before nodding in approval. "Alright. You''re serious about this."

    Ethan smirked. "Always."

    Zack clapped a hand on his shoulder. "You''re a lifesaver, man."

    Ethan simply shrugged. "We''re partners. If this place is gonna be something great, we can''t afford delays."

    Zack grinned. "Hell yeah."

    Harris chuckled. "Well, you just made my job a whole lot easier. I''ll make sure everything moves smoothly from here on out."

    Ethan nodded. "Good. Keep us updated."

    With business settled for the moment, Ethan and Zack stepped away from the construction area, walking side by side.

    Zack exhaled, shaking his head. "Man, you really don''t hesitate, huh?"

    Ethan smirked. "No point in it."

    Zack laughed. "I like that."

    Ethan and Zack walked out of the resort, the warm midday sun beating down on them.

    The sky was clear, a perfect shade of blue stretching across the horizon. The resort was still buzzing with activity behind them — construction workers hammering away, engineers making calculations, and designers discussing final touches.

    It was coming along well, but they still needed more funding to push through the final stages.

    Zack wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, letting out a low whistle. "Man, I need a break."

    Ethan checked his watch. 11:57 AM.

    Zack noticed and grinned. "Don''t even say it''s too early for a drink. One drink. That''s all."

    Ethan smirked slightly, shaking his head. "You and your drinks."

    "What can I say? Business talks better over a glass of something smooth." Zack stretched his arms. "Come on, I know a good place. Classy, but not too uptight."

    Ethan debated for a second. He wasn''t really in the mood for alcohol, but a nice meal didn''t sound bad. After a moment, he sighed. "Alright, one drink."

    Zack grinned like he''d won a battle. "That''s my guy."