Page 119 of Wicked

For whatever reason,the first day of the theme park goes well. My relatives are sharper than I expected, and they work hard. The local team in the village that helps with security, parking, and admin also do well. We get around a hundred tourists, and they are mostly international.

The team do their best to keep it together, and the sun stays out for the outdoor activities.

As the first day comes to an end, the horse riders return from the Tuscan hills beaming, and the tourists in sports cars drive up the castle in one piece.

We start to relax, and as the cars and buses finally leave the estate, we all get drinks and toast.

“Viva Italia,” comes loud, and I turn to Raven. She is holding her Tuscan wine high, and suddenly everyone calls out the same, loud and proud.

As the following days unfold,we, as a team, are slightly tighter and smoother. In saying that, ticket sales are still lowish. I’ve witnessed slow starts in my own fashion brands, but we will need to push ticket numbers up if this is going to work.

After a decade of creating fashion labels, pumping designers, and staying at the cutting edge of fashion, I have a wealth of knowledge and an arsenal of techniques.

This, however, is different, and my fashion marketing skill set is not entirely useful.

As Raven helps manage the park with me, she films everything and anything she can.

She is surprisingly sharp, and between herding junior staff, handling admin duties plus putting out all kinds of PR fires, she captures key marketing photos and videos.

Either that, or the videos and photos are for her friends back home.

After five days, I tally up visitors and income, plus our surprisingly large expenses.

Ticket sales were not bad, but they were hardly good. I keep the figures to myself, but I will bring them up at the next family meeting.

Raven and I ride horses between the castle and close vineyards. We also walk through the castle checking on groups studying Italian cuisine and fashion, and we use radios on our hips.

We work well together, and we start to find flow as we iron out problems.

As we meet outside the castle front to discuss gladiator numbers and an overly large lunch booking, a car races up, and it slides to a stop.

I turn to the aggressively parked car, and I find my arrogant parents. As they leap from their Italian convertible, I remind myself it was bound to happen.

As my furious parents start to lecture me and tell me I’m ruining the reputation of the place, my grandmother, my aunt, my sister, my uncle, and my cousin gather.

My passionate relatives gather, and somehow the argument is unseen by the tourists.

After an uncomfortable discussion with us backing each other up, my grandmother tells my parents we will buy them out. We would also do one other thing. We would stay the course.

As my lunatic parents speed off with leaves flying, I remember good always comes with bad. The confrontation has oddly united the rest of us, and it has made us stronger, unbreakable.

We must keep the castle at all costs!

After an intense afternoon,we watch the last guests leave and we sit at a long table under the trees. As wine is poured, bread is broken, and pasta is eaten, we catch our breath and talk sales. I give the bad news and options are openly discussed.

The only thing we can agree on is that we need a solution and fast. We are all investing thousands a week just to make endsmeet. It is not going to work for long. As I try to work around keeping my word to my grandfather, I remind myself of honor.

I am beyond frustrated, and deep down, I’m close to standing and telling everyone I will buy the castle. Then we can all go home and relax.

As I contemplate breaking my word to the man I call my father, Raven tells me she thinks she can help.

She then explains with some aggressive social media marketing, she thinks she can help solve the problem.

After we all agree and calm, glasses are raised to ‘Viva Italia’ again. It is lower, but it’s still strong.

Nervous glances are shared, and soon Raven and I are standing outside the castle as the last relatives drive off the estate.

I try to find a way to expand areas we’re having success in, while I try to put fires out back home in New York. As the lingering attack on our fashion talent continues, Raven starts to really dig in.

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