CHAPTER 42: THE SET UP

Barry exhaled, flipping through his clipboard. "Most of it. We got the bulk of the supplies in the morning, but there’s a delay on the reinforced glass panels for the front entrance. Shipping issue."

Zack groaned. "Let me guess. It’ll take another week?"

Barry shook his head. "Nah, should be in by tomorrow evening at the latest. Everything else is on schedule, though."

Maximus nodded. "That’s doable..."

Barry led them towards the storage area, where stacks of materials were neatly arranged under temporary coverings.

Maximus walked alongside him, checking off items from the mental list he had made earlier. Wood, steel reinforcement, flooring tiles. They were all accounted for.

Zack, on the other hand, seemed more interested in surveying the layout of the resort. He whistled low, taking in the vast space. "I gotta say, man, when this is finished, it’s gonna be a damn masterpiece... Picasso type shit!"

Maximus smirked slightly but didn’t respond. Instead, he turned back to Barry. "What about labour? Everything on track?"

Barry nodded. "Yeah. The crew’s working efficiently. If we keep up this pace, we’ll be ahead of schedule by at least a couple days".

Zack clapped a hand on Maximus’s shoulder. "Look at you, Mr. Investor tycoon. Investing in a resort, driving a Dreamweaver— what’s next? Buying an island?"

Maximus rolled his eyes. "I’d rather keep my money in things that actually make a profit."

Zack grinned. "Well, if you ever do get an island, make sure to name it after me."

Maximus ignored him and turned his attention back to Barry. "We’ll check in tomorrow for the glass panels. If anything changes, let me know."

"Will do," Barry replied.

With business handled for now, Maximus and Zack made their way back to the Dreamweaver. Zack stretched lazily before climbing into the passenger seat.

As Maximus started the engine, Zack shot him a sideways glance. "So, you still think a bike is better?"

Maximus smirked as he pulled onto the road. "Every time,"

Zack groaned. "You’re hopeless, man."

Maximus pulled the Dreamweaver to a smooth stop on front of Zack’s club, the sleek vehicle gleaming under the afternoon sun.

The fiant thrum of music could already be heard from inside, even though it was still early.

A few customers were trickling in, mostly regulars looking for a head start on the night. Zack unbuckled his seatbelt and stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"You know," Zack said, shooting Maximus a sly grin, "I might just drop by your place one of these days. Gotta make sure your not turning into some soulless corporate robot with nothing but work and bikes in your life."

Maximus smirked. "What, worried I don’t have a proper wine cellar for you to raid?"

"Not just wine," Zack said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart as if he were personally offended.

"Whiskey, vodka, tequila... Hell, even a well stocked bar cart would be nice. What’s the point of a mansion if you don’t have a house service and a bartender in standby?"

Maximus chuckled, resting his hands in the steering wheel. "You just want an excuse to lounge around in my place and drink to stupor."

Zack grinned unapologetically. "Guilty as charged..."

Maximus shook his head. "You can come around, but don’t expect a harem of maids in bunny girl outfits to serve you drinks. It’s just me, my work and my garage"

Zack let out an exaggerated sigh. "What a waste of prime real estate."

Maximus waves him off. "Go do your thing. I’ll catch you later."

Zack smirked, giving him a playful salute before stepping out and watching the Dreamweaver smoothly pull away.

As soon as his friend disappeared down the asphalt lane, Zack rolled his shoulders and made his way inside his club.

The atmosphere inside was still relaxed, the deep red lights giving the space a warm, intimate glow.

A few regulars were already sipping on their drinks, chatting quiet while the bartenders prepared for the evening rush.

Zack nodded at a few of them as he walked through, exchanging casual greetings before slipping into his office.

He shut the door behind him and immediately reached for his phone, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He scrolled through his contacts and pressed the call button.

The line barely rang before a smooth, amused voice answered.

"Well, well..." Dressa said, the hint of a smirk in her tone. "You must be desperate to be calling me so soon."

Zack leaned back in his chair, propping his feet up in the desk. "Desperate? Nah. Just feeling generous. I figured I’d give you a chance to redeem yourself."

Dressa scoffed. "Redeem myself? Please. If I remember accurately, you were the one eating my dust the last time we raced."

Zack chuckled, tapping his fingers against the desk. "True, true. I’m not much of an athletic. But, this time I’ve got a secret weapon."

There was a pause. "Oh? Please tell me."

Zack grinned. "Maximus Prime."

A silence stretched between them before Dressa let out a disbelieving laugh. "Wait, who the fuck is Maximus? You mean that guy? The one that I literally bulldozed into that evening?"

"Yep," Zack confirmed, stretching lazily. "That’s the one."

Dressa let out a long sigh. "Zack, be serious. What make you think some random guy can go head to head with a world renowned runner like me?"

"He is not just some random guy," Zack said, his time confident. "I’ve known him since college and he has leveled up to be the best man anyone could ever know."

Dressa scoffed, "And? Last I checked, I run on the track not do investments. Do you think training everyday to keep my level of fitness is the same as closing high stakes business deals?"

Zack’s grin widened. "You’d be surprised. If he runs the way he deals, you might actually have some competition for once, plus he is really athletic."

Dressa was quite for a moment. Then she sighed. "You really expect me to take this seriously?"

"All I’m saying is this, come see for yourself," Zack siad, knowing fully well she wouldn’t be able to resist the challenge. "You can make all the judgement you want after you watch him in action."

Dressa clicked her tongue, clearly considering. Then, with an exasperated sigh, she said, "Fine I’ll bite. Where and when?".