Page 13 of Playing Games with My Billionaire

Her jaw dropped. “What? WHAT?!” She was incredulous.

I stood my ground. “Your town has internet. It's an easy thing to install internet service here with a CubeSat connection. With a dish or two on the roofs and Wi-Fi in each room, you’ll be connected to the internet. You could even charge more because you’ve upgraded.”

She got red again.

Oh my God. Now what have I said?

“Mr. Hotel Guest. First, what would you do if someone went into YOUR business and messed around any way they wanted? Second, who IN HELL would even pay for this? My business cannot afford this type of upgrade. It just can’t. So? NO. I mean HELL NO, you cannot do this, even for all the guest rooms!”

I tried to calm her down. “I’ll pay for it. ALL of it. And two years of connectivity bills.”

That got her. Wait for it, man. Shut up now and wait.

I found I was holding my breath.

“Who are you exactly that you can do this? Some rich boy playing with other people’s toys?”

Time to come clean.

“I own a company that can afford this for your lodge and property.” I sighed deeply and locked my eyes on hers. “Look. I came here to get my creative ‘mojo’ back. In fact, my partnerssentme here specifically. My company is all-digital. My creativity is expressed over internet-connected platforms. My company can look at this as an investment in me and my continued creativity. It is a cost of business, but it’ll be my business that picks up the tab since I benefit.”

Wait for it. She looks deflated. Wait for it.

“All right. You showed me yours. I’ll show you mine. My parents built this place from raw land. I grew up in this business. In this town. It’s all I have left of them. When they died, the business was struggling, and it still is. If you install internet, it will help the business, I guess.”

I waited some more. This woman was going through—apparently had been for some time—a labor of love.

I know something about that.

“I promise. No damage. Internet service on the whole property. Wi-Fi for all guests and staff. No charge to your business for the installation or the first two years of service.”

Her eyes widened. “Promise? In writing?”

It was my turn to be wide-eyed.

“Mr. Internet, I’m a businessperson, and you just revealed you are, too. In writing. Now. Before doing anything else.”

Said. Done. Then, I took out my phone and dialed Eric's line. It took a few seconds before he picked up.

"Hey, Eric, I don't mean to bother you, but can we modify the whole internet install thing?" I asked.

"Uhhh, okaaay. What do you need?"

I turned to Lindsey, who stared at me in disbelief. "How many rooms do you have here? Including guests, common areas, reception, and kitchen. Everything," I asked her.

She took a few seconds to respond, "Thirteen guest rooms and seven other spaces," she answered.

"Is thirteen including mine?"

She nodded.

"I will be needing equipment to feed CubeSat Wi-Fi to a couple dozen spaces," I said.

"Jesus! What do you need that many for?" He asked, shocked.

"I'll explain later, just send them over. Thank you. Oh, and Eric—this is our business expense, so write it up that way." I hung up before he could say anything else. Then I turned back to Lindsey, who was still trying to piece together the call I had made. "Are we … okay with each other now?" I asked.

"I-I-I guess so," she said. Her voice was low. All her rage had run its course. She was calmer and had become cautious of herself. She covered her PJs with her robe and held it in place with her arms folded over it.

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