The minutes ticked by as he crept forward, watching as sleek cars, limousines, and even a few exotic vehicles lined up ahead of him. High-profile guests, no doubt.

    Eventually, he reached the resort''s entrance, where uniformed guards were stationed, efficiently verifying digital tickets.

    They moved swiftly, ensuring that only approved guests were allowed in.

    As soon as one of the guards caught sight of him through the windshield, his expression changed. He straightened, giving a small salute before stepping forward.

    "Good afternoon, boss," the guard greeted with a respectful nod.

    Ethan acknowledged him with a tilt of his head. "Busy day, huh?"

    The guard let out a short laugh. "You could say that. It''s been non-stop since morning."

    Ethan smirked. "Good. Means business is booming."

    With a wave, the guard motioned him through without the usual verification process.

    He drove past the entrance, only to be met with yet another issue — parking.

    The resort''s private lot was packed. More security personnel were inside, directing cars to available spaces, ensuring that no one blocked the exits or disrupted the flow of traffic.

    A different guard motioned to him, pointing to a free spot near the front.

    Ethan maneuvered into it smoothly, parking his Porsche between a black Maserati and a matte-gray Bentley.

    Luxury was the standard here, after all.

    Stepping out of his car, he tugged on his jacket slightly, adjusting it before heading toward the main entrance.

    As soon as Ethan walked in, the cool, air-conditioned atmosphere welcomed him.

    The lobby was as lively as ever — staff moved efficiently behind the reception desks, attending to guests while others carried trays of refreshments, ensuring that visitors received top-tier service the moment they stepped inside.

    His eyes flicked around, taking in the scene.

    Nothing seemed out of place.

    He made his way past a group of well-dressed guests who were chatting near the bar area.

    The resort''s reputation was built on exclusivity and premium service — long waiting times weren''t an option.

    "Alright," Ethan said, setting the bottle down on Zack''s desk. "We''ll start hiring more people, but only top-tier candidates. No half-assed recruits. I want experience, reliability, and the kind of service that keeps people coming back."

    Zack nodded. "Already ahead of you. I''ve started looking into agencies that specialize in high-end hospitality staff. I''ll narrow down the best options and set up interviews for next week."

    "Good," Ethan said. "And the supply chain? We''re keeping up?"

    Zack sighed, rubbing his temple. "Barely. Demand for imported ingredients has gone up because of the fine dining options. The chefs are managing, but we''ll need to establish direct supplier relationships instead of going through middlemen."

    Ethan smirked. "I''ll handle that. Got a few connections that might be useful."

    Zack gave him a skeptical look. "You mean the same ''connections'' that got you into a food truck business?"

    Of course he knew about it.

    Ethan grinned. "Exactly. And speaking of that, we''ll be expanding the food truck operations soon. I''ll need the resort''s support in promoting it, maybe an event featuring some of the top-selling dishes."

    Zack exhaled sharply. "You just keep adding to my plate, huh?"

    Ethan clapped him on the shoulder. "You can handle it."

    Zack muttered something under his breath but didn''t argue further.

    Ethan glanced at his phone, checking the time. "Alright, I''m gonna walk around, see things for myself. If anything urgent comes up, let me know."

    "Don''t disappear for another half-day this time," Zack called as Ethan headed for the door.

    Ethan chuckled. "No promises."

    Ethan spent the next hour strolling through the resort, observing the staff, the guests, and how smoothly everything was running.

    The restaurant was bustling but well-managed. The servers were efficient, and the food looked top-tier. A couple of guests recognized him, offering polite nods, which he returned.

    The spa area was at full capacity, with guests lounging in white robes, sipping herbal teas.

    The receptionists were managing the bookings efficiently, but Zack was right — they''d need more hands soon.

    Outside, the pool and beach areas were thriving and he smiled until he heard a voice calling out his name.