I began construction of a hotel and wedding venue in my junior year, following the death of my parents and grandparents from a tragic private jet crash. I inherited their estates and a financial windfall from the crash. They were wealthy and had over 1000 acres outside of town from our ancestors. The farm we used was on acreage I owned. I added this building, a six-story administration building, ten yurts erected around our private lake, and construction on a castle for another wedding venue.
Southern charm included a main floor, one side was the entrance which included a restaurant, gift shop, and front desk. On the other side was the wedding venue, including a wedding chapel on one half, the other a reception area, a grand entrance, and a patio area. Sitting for the restaurant spanned the center of the building on the main floor, with one side being a kitchen for the restaurant and catering.
The second through sixth floor were hotel rooms, the penthouse housing for my partners and myself, and bridal suites and deluxe rooms. The center from 2-6 floors was an atrium with a pool, 2 hot tubs, steam rooms (male, female, mixed), and sauna.
Sunday night, I joined my partners for dinner at the hotel opening in the morning. I had moved into the penthouse, mine included a deluxe suite and three additional bedrooms for guests.
Our main chef was award-winning and presented us with a seafood harvest. After dinner, we talked about the direction of our business.
"Mark, we want to discuss our share of the business with you," Terry started. "We want a bigger share. We are tied together with the erotic photography company, but that's it. You own the building rentals, now this facility, and the online business. So basically, we are glorified photographers, not right."
"Well," I replied, "How much money do you have in these other ventures? I have paid for everything, including your state-of-the-art photo equipment. When we give someone a free photo shoot, so I have the videos, I pay into the money you make, ten grand each time. So, I have millions invested and own the land we use, and your investment, your time to take photos. What is not fair?"
"It is not right," Mary pipped in. "We deserve a quarter of everything. That is an equal share."
"The contract we signed leaving school was for an equal share of the photography company." I pointed out.
"We had no idea it would grow this big." Mary continued. "We are booked at the Farm for the next two years of weddings, and this venue will also fill out. All the other areas are busy as well. You make a great profit; we do okay. We want more."
"I understand what you are thinking, but it's flawed. We stick to the contract. To help out, HR has hired ten photographers and ten videographers who will be starting this week, and we are interviewing for more, all of which I am paying for. So, I am not offering a cut of my funds."
"If you don't renegotiate, we want to be bought out," Terry stated.
"All three of you? Mindy, are you in on this as well?"
"You are too busy," Mindy said. "I have concluded we will never marry. So yes, I agree with them."
"Sorry you feel this way," I told them, disappointed with Mindy but realizing she was probably right; we had distanced somewhat. She had decided not to be a surrogate at the last minute, which was tricky since the guys had flown in. I had paid them, so they did not sue her for breach of contract.
"I will not budge, and it seems you will not either. My attorney will draw up paperwork to dissolve our business contract tomorrow. I just ask you to give me two weeks to train the new hires."
"You didn't say how much; we know our value."
"I have one offer; each of you will get a quarter of a million." I let them know.
"We were considering a million each," Terry responded.
Laughing at his proposal, I declined. "Turn my offer down; I will drop it to ten thousand if you walk out of this room without accepting,"
They huddled, talked it over, and started walking toward the door. They were hoping I would counteroffer. Just as they started to walk out, seeing I was not changing my mind, they accepted. I would let them know what day the lawyer could come out and have them sign.
I had not even told them the yurt plan, four weeks, first with family (three families had signed up to have their stay videoed. The youngest of all families had to be at least 18. The ones we filmed for the website were involved in incest and didn't mind being filmed. In week two, we had all gay men, the next week, lesbians, and the last week, trans adults.
