The Tour

SHAY

The doors swung open to reveal a grand staircase, stretching up to the second and third floors. It was a spectacle of gold and white tiles, with a dark brown railing accented with gold.

I glanced down at the floor. It was so polished that my reflection stared back at me as we moved across it.

“What’s your impression so far?” Zane asked, watching my face as we moved toward the stairs.

“Your house is massive and incredibly lavish. Thanks for rescuing me from that situation at the club with your guys.”

Zane halted abruptly, almost causing me to trip. His arm shot out, steadying me.

“Listen, sweetheart, you’re now under my protection, and so are my men. They’d risk their lives for you.”

“Why would they care about me now?” I asked, taking in the opulence around me. “I’m just a waitress at your club. I’m not exactly a VIP.”

Zane stepped in front of me, his icy eyes locking onto mine as he leaned in close. “You are important. You’re mine, sweetheart.”

I searched his face for any sign that he was joking, but his expression remained unchanged. “What is it about me that’s got you so interested?”

“Firstly,” he said, holding up a finger, “you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

“Secondly”—he held up another finger—“you’re incredibly skilled with a weapon, and your fighting skills are top-notch, given your background.”

“How did you find out so much about me so quickly?”

“I’m the world’s best hacker and can find whatever I need in a matter of minutes.” It was Connor, entering the house with Noah.

“I should’ve guessed,” I muttered. “Who else would you have on your team, Zane? You always go for the best of the best.”

Connor chuckled as Zane pulled me into a hug. “You catch on quick. I expect the best for myself, and everyone who works for me is the best.”

He tugged my hand, leading me further into the enormous house, with the others trailing behind.

“Here’s the kitchen,” he announced. It was enormous.

The island was the largest I’d ever seen, surrounded by twelve chairs. There were two stoves, four ovens, and three refrigerators, all in stainless steel.

We moved on to a massive dining room. The table was so long it looked like it belonged in a medieval banquet hall.

I quickly counted the chairs; there were twenty. ~He must host some massive parties here,~ I thought as we turned another corner.

Zane pushed open two enormous doors, revealing a grand ballroom adorned in gold. The crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling sparkled immaculately, as if they were brand new.

I paused to admire the paintings on the ceiling. They were breathtaking. Cherubs, clouds, angels, and even demons were depicted in exquisite detail.

I felt a gentle tug on my arm. “You can admire the extras later, sweetheart,” Zane said, guiding me into an elevator. “There’s still so much more to see.”

He pressed a button marked with a B, and we descended for a few minutes. The doors opened, and we stepped out into a vast basement.

Zane showed me a bowling alley, game room, and a home theater that could seat over fifty people, complete with its own bar.

Then he pushed open another set of doors, revealing the largest indoor pool I’d ever seen...and a water park.

A lazy river wound around the entire space. There were water slides of all shapes and sizes, some that plummeted straight down, and others that required rafts.

Children were everywhere, having a blast, while their parents watched from their seats.

Lifeguards were stationed all around, keeping a watchful eye on everyone.

“This is incredible! Who are all these people?”

“Most of them work for me on my property,” Zane replied.

“Their kids come here to relax when their parents can bring them or have a day off. I keep it open until about midnight, sometimes later if needed.”

I turned to the three of them. “Exactly how much land do you own, and do these people live on it?”

Zane laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“You make it sound like I own people. This house sits on two thousand acres.

“Some of these people have their own homes built on my land, while others live outside the gates in their own homes.

“If they live here, I let them buy the land from me, and they build whatever house they can afford. Others live in apartments or houses nearby.”

“Why do you need so much land?” I asked, looking out the glass windows that lined the walls of the water park to the outside of his house.

“In my line of work, sweetheart, it’s necessary.”

“All of these people can come into your home whenever they want?” I watched as a giant bucket of water tipped over, drenching the children below.

“No, this is only open at certain hours for them to enjoy.” Connor stepped up beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“We need some downtime without kids running into us or trying to get our attention,” he explained. “This is what we call ‘family time’ for them.”

“I see you’ve got everything here for them. Bars, food courts, even a souvenir shop,” I said, scanning the place.

“It’s called Splash World. The only way you can get in here is by invitation or by working for the boss.

“Anyone who wants to bring a friend has to get them cleared by security first. We need to make sure they’re not connected to any of Zane’s enemies.

“Paperwork needs to be in at least a week before the kid can come. We do background checks on both the parents and the kids, even if the kid is just visiting for a day with an employee’s child.

“If everything checks out, they’re allowed in,” Conner explained.

“Do they have to pay for their own food and stuff?” I asked, glancing up at a price board as we strolled past.

Zane chuckled, looking around the park.

“Yeah, but it’s not like other parks. Everything’s cheaper here. If you just want a soda, you buy a big souvenir cup once, and you get free refills for the rest of the year.”

“I wouldn’t mind a drink right now,” I admitted.

Zane took my hand and led me toward the bar.

A friendly bartender looked up and gave us a big smile. “Hey, Mr. Zane, what can I get you today?”

We all settled down and ordered drinks. Zane chose a glass of whiskey, I went for a mudslide, Conner picked rum and coke, and Noah opted for a Martini.

As I sat there, I watched the happy faces of people enjoying the pools, slides, and everything else this place had to offer.

“Don’t get too comfortable. There’s still a lot of the house you haven’t seen. The tour isn’t over yet.” Zane’s hand rested on my leg.

We finished our drinks and headed back out, stepping into the elevator. Zane pressed the button marked with a three, and we ascended once more.