Chapter 73 New Responsibilities

Chapter 73 New Responsibilities
She dealt with his craziness for the next few days, loving every minute of their time together. Both of them were too intoxicated with one another to keep in touch with their friends and family. Hayley forgot to call her dad and update him, and so did Ashton. Their mornings and nights were filled with passion, but during the day they worked very hard to bring up Simon Baylor’s venture. It seemed as if Hayley had forgotten her own company, Barclay International. Her dad wasn’t pleased at all and waited for her to return to New York and look into the business.
Just as planned, Hayley and Ashton started visiting the hotels under the Baylor Group but to their immense disappointment, Simon Baylor accompanied them everywhere. It wasn’t the pre-wedding honeymoon that Ashton had expected it to be. Yet it was fun.
After a brief visit to the hotel in Los Angeles, they headed to the Grand Canyon National Park. With Mr. Baylor traveling with them, they couldn’t even steal a kiss in front of the sworn elderly bachelor. It was the worst punishment for Ashton, and he grumbled at every opportunity he got. The car drove down the road from the Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Flagstaff towards Tusayan. Just a mile away from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, the quaint lodge on Highway 64 was a favorite place for tourists.
“It is overbooked all year round,” said Mr. Baylor proudly.
“Why didn’t you build more rooms if it was so prospective?” asked Ashton curiously.
“My dad died of a stroke here twenty years ago and I haven't visited this place since then. He had built this, and it has been the same way for the last twenty years.” He released a sigh, as if the thought alone broke his heart.
“Then you should have improved this place. It was, after all, the last memory of your dad and it might have been his dream to see this place prosper,” said Ashton, while Mr. Baylor gaped at him.
“I never saw it from that point of view, Mr. Pierce. I left it to my manager, Fitzgerald, to handle.”
“Please call me Ashton, Mr. Baylor. Haven’t you followed the hotel’s performance in the last twenty years? It would have given you a rough estimate of the profitability of this lodge in particular.”
“I have, but the financial reports proved the place was dwindling. It was only when I searched online a few days ago did I see how popular it actually was. The reviews are excellent indeed and the lodge is enlisted in all the travel portals. It made me suspicious, and I wanted to see things for myself.”
“Yes, we will thoroughly analyze the situation here now.”
They reached the quaint little lodge, which was a whitewashed two-story building with outdoor corridors and stairways set in a sprawling area. “Wow! There’s a lot of scope here to renovate the place and add more rooms and amenities,” said Hayley.
“Yes, there is, but I don’t have the funds right now,” said Mr. Baylor as they stood in front of the building surveying the entire area. The manager and other staff stood at attention after giving them a grand welcome.
“We will generate funds from your other popular hotels. We have to plan the financial aspect well,” said Ashton.
“Yes, that would be the best way. I was forced to take over the business after my dad’s death. With a para-medical degree, I wasn’t at all interested in this hospitality business. I just went with the flow, depending solely on Fitzgerald for everything. It’s good to see both of you share a passion for this sector. I’m sure you will go a long way, Ashton. I’m glad that I listened to Ms. Barclay and appointed you.”
“Please call me Hayley, Mr. Baylor.”
“Both of you can call me Simon.”
“Please come this way,” said the manager, Jeff Davis. They led them inside the clean and fresh interiors, which were pet friendly too. Even at that odd afternoon hour, the place was abuzz with families returning from trips to the canyon.
“You have to share rooms because we are fully booked. I can arrange for a double bedroom. Will that do?” asked the manager apologetically. “There’s a room available at the backside of the office where I stay back in case of emergencies.”
“I can occupy the office room,” offered Simon Baylor.
“We’ll share the double bedroom. Thanks,” said Ashton, quite satisfied with the arrangements.
“Please come over to the office for refreshments,” said the manager, leading them into a neatly arranged office with a room at the backside, just as Mr. Davis had mentioned.
“We can relax in the room. Hayley might feel more comfortable there,” said Mr. Baylor. They went inside the single bedroom and settled down. Coffee and refreshments were served, and they discussed the popularity of the hotel.
“How long have you been working here, Mr. Davis?” asked Mr. Baylor.
“Eight years, sir.”
“How many times has my manager, Fitzgerald, come over?”
“Not even once during my tenure here, sir. He calls our accountant, though, since they’re related. I think they’re cousins.”
A staff member came over to summon the manager and he left.
“My suspicions are right. Fitzgerald has pushed his relative here to mess up the accounts,” said Mr. Baylor, shaking his head.
“I guessed as much even before talking to the manager. Don’t worry, we will investigate this,” said Ashton.
“So, will you have a problem with the arrangements? Sorry about the inconvenience. I should have informed them about our arrival,” said Simon Baylor.
“No problem at all, Simon. It’s good that we didn’t inform anyone. It wouldn’t want to alert the culprits. We need to catch them red-handed,” said Ashton. Simon Baylor nodded and looked at Hayley with a twinkle in his eye.
“I heard about your engagement. So when are you two planning your wedding? Don’t forget to invite me,” joked Mr. Baylor, making Hayley’s jaws drop with surprise. So, he too knew about it!
“We haven’t informed her family yet,” said Ashton.
“Oh, what about your family?”
“My parents are no more. I’ve been living with my foster family since the age of thirteen. They’re kind people and I’ll inform them when I visit New York,” said Ashton.
The manager returned and led them to their room to freshen up after a tiring journey.
“Why did Simon have to tag along everywhere? I’m feeling suffocated,” complained Hayley.
“Let us wrap up this work first. We can take a break later.” Ashton pulled her close, kissing her forehead to comfort her. He too had been upset, but later realized how necessary this was. It was the most important part of his new job responsibilities. His success depended on how much he could monetize the existing hotels under the Baylor group. It was only after he dealt with the immediate task at hand could he give time to Hayley.
He still hadn’t been able to take out time and talk to her dad. He didn’t want to do that over the phone. Maybe after wrapping up everything, he would go to New York for a day or two and ask her dad for her hand in marriage. He needed to meet his own foster parents. Now they were his everything, since his dad was no more.
“Yes. Let's get this over and done with. I’ll shower and join you in a few minutes.” Ashton nodded, and planting a kiss on her lips, he left the room.
While Hayley showered, Ashton went to survey the hotel. He checked up with the back office first, sitting with the accountant, Andrew Harrison, who was Fitzgerald’s cousin. He was in the middle of his survey when Mr. Baylor joined him. They checked everything in the presence of the uncomfortable and uncooperative accountant. Mr. Baylor did not allow him to leave the room until the investigation was over. With Ashton’s high IQ level, it was impossible that he would miss a financial fraud.
He interrogated the accountant and then video-conferenced Fitzgerald. It was clear he had been appropriating the profit for the last twenty years! Mr. Baylor called the cops over to their Miami head office and Mr. Fitzgerald was arrested. After uncovering evidence against the accountant, Mr. Baylor got him arrested too.
While Hayley took an update on the rest of the hotel and consulted a local architect to remodel it, Ashton and Mr. Baylor emerged from the back office, quite satisfied with their success. They actively took part in the discussion, planning ways to incorporate more rooms and amenities. After an eventful day, Simon Baylor treated them to a special dinner.
“I’m very satisfied with you, Ashton. I wouldn’t be bankrupt if I had caught Fitzgerald earlier. He has amassed such a huge amount of profit for the last twenty years.”
“I’m glad to be of some help to you. Don’t worry, Simon. We will bring up all the hotels and soon you’ll be back in business like before.”
“I’m glad to have met you, my boy.” His endearment made Ashton’s heart swell with satisfaction. At least he could help the old man save his dad’s dream business. However, he had no idea what was going on in Mr. Baylor’s head as he watched Ashton and Hayley feed each other the savory dessert. Simon Baylor noticed Ashton’s humble, hardworking nature. The boy was too brilliant. Surely, he deserved a lot in life!