My Restless Billionaire

Another sleepless night

James' thoughts flash back to him sleeping all night, and he feels an excitement brewing in his chest. This place is really good for him. He slept 10 straight hours this morning, that's more sleep than he had in a week combined. Maybe the fresh air is good for him after all he thinks as they start to make their way back to the cottage. They start a slow exchange again and the awkwardness is gone, in its place a calm feeling of long-term friends and comfortable belonging returns.

As they step onto the porch Jess' phone rings and she excuses herself to take the call, indicating that it was her assistant in the doctor's office. Not wanting to seem like he is eavesdropping James makes his way inside, pouring them each a glass of wine and setting out some cheese and crackers. He takes it out and takes a seat on the porch when she comes back from the direction of her car. He smiles and stands to hand her a glass that she declines " I'm so sorry James, I'm needed at the hospital. Mrs. Eliot, the coffee shop owner, fell when she was locking up, and it seems she broke a leg. I need to get there to take care of it." " oh yeah, no problem." he says and she doesn't miss the disappointment in his voice, a soft smile turns her lips up, " but seeing as you are staying another day... maybe we can do something tomorrow? you know, after the assessor is done and all?" she asks hopeful and he returns her hopeful smile, "It's a date," he smiles and walks her to her Jeep. Leaning in he gives her a chased kiss on the lips and opens the door for her to get in. She seems reluctant to leave, and if he's honest with himself, he doesn't want her to go, he wouldn't mind a rerun of last night. After a promise to see him in the morning she jumps in and speeds off towards the village and her waiting patient.

James strolled back to the porch and sits down, finishing his wine and some of the cheese and crackers. After tipping the last of her glass over his tongue, he gathers the dishes and heads inside. Isabel would be so proud of him he thinks wishing she was there to clean up. He washes up and tidies the kitchen before grabbing his laptop. Opening his browser he searches for the property listing for the cottage. He still can't believe she wants to sell it for so little. He is sure it is worth at least double that amount. Doing some research on property values and market prospects he smiles as he finally puts the laptop away. He has a plan, and he will make sure that Jess gets the right deal with this land....my land... His excitement is almost palpable as he lays down for the night, hoping for a good night's rest, like last night. Today was the first day in years he did need to take a nap, or simply just fall asleep doing whatever he does. It feels good. He lays back, breathing slowly, meditating, and he falls asleep thinking...my land, this gorgeous stretch of beach, the magnificent forests, the cozy village down the road, oh this is definitely what he wants, ...

He turns and opens his eyes, disappointed to see that it is still dark outside, and judging by the moon, it is very early turning to the clock to confirm, he sighs when he realizes only 3 hours have passed... ugh, just three? he wants more... he needs more... Standing up he wanders onto the porch, looking out over the water, the light of the moon reflected on the surface looks so calm. Just like me, calm on the surface but inside...this storm is going to overwhelm me sooner or later, I need this place...

As the night sky starts to change he makes his way back to bed, falling on the pillow, and soon is off to dreamland. He is tired when he opens his eyes finding the sun had barely risen. It's 7 am, ... 2 hours of sleep. James lays back, swinging his arm over his eyes, frustrated. The night before I slept through, last night I barely slept... why... must be the excitement about the property... with that thought, he rolls out of bed, grabs his running shoes, and steps into pants heading out to the forest for a run. The fresh air was just the thing to calm his racing mind. Running down the same path from before he heads to the border of his property, not thinking much, just punishing his body in the hope of more sleep later, but even as he does it, he knows it is of no use, sleep will not come this way.

The sun is already high in the sky when he returns to the cottage to find a strange car in the driveway. A cute young blond steps out of the car when she sees him jogging from the tree line. "Good morning" he greets with a smile, barely breathing hard. "hi, I'm Stacey, Shirley sent me" "Great, I'm James, please have a look around so long, I won't be long," he says walking into the cottage. A quick shower, pair of jeans, and a clean t-shirt have him out the door in less than ten minutes, hair still wet, and looking more relaxed he walks over to Stacey taking photos and making notes on her phone. "so what do you think?" he asks walking closer. "Well it seems to be an impressive piece of land," 108 hectares of forest and beachfront, yes that is his point exactly " The market value is not as high as one would expect, mainly cause it is so remote." she points to a map showing him other properties in the area, prices more or less the same as this one, but not this size and not the same location. He knows all these locations she is pointing out because he has been searching for something similar all week and just couldn't find anything. Which is why buying this property is his priority. He doesn't just want it, he needs it.

Stacey talks about development costs and expenses to clear the ground for resort development and he has to stop her."Yeah I am aware of all that, but that is not why I want the property, I want it just like this, untouched, no further development will take place here." She stares at him with her mouth slightly open, " so, why do you want this land if not for development? What I understood from Shirley was that you want an assessment on value?" "Correct, I want an assessment of the possible value of the property to make sure its market value is correct," he says sharply. "Drawing her brows together she explains that if no further development will be done, the price for the property is on the lower end of the market scale, and a more accurate figure would be around 100 thousand." Trying to convince him she continues " but if you look at development potential, this land could fetch well up to a million easy to the right investor. The potential for a beach resort and forest bungalow getaways..." his mind calculating how he can make this work for himself and give Jess what the property is worth. Stacey is still talking so he looks at her and tunes back in"...so like I was saying, I will send my findings to Shirley with my bill. Thanks again." " Thank you for your time, please send the details to me, here's my card" looking down at the card in her hand her eyes go wide as realization sets in, "oh, you are thé James, as in Owner of Warldon Enterprises, I didn't know, my apologies sir," she says in a seductive voice, and he just rolls his eyes at the poor attempt to flirt. I don't have the energy for this...

Just then his phone rings, and pulling it out he sees Jess's name on the screen, just the person I was thinking about...seeing it makes him smile, and with that grin on his face he answers as he dismisses the assessor with a wave of his hand. Jess sounds chirpy on the other side, as she invites him for coffee at the shop in town. " "on my way, see you in 15 minutes, I have some news, he says and rings off, walking into the cottage to grab his keys and wallet, pulling the door closed behind him, he jumps in the car, waving at Stacey as he drives off. Shirley would surely tell him how rude that was, but he doesn't care right now, he wants to talk to Jess about the property and put his offer in. Shirley and her ideas can go fly a kite, he wants this property, for himself, not for the business and not to develop, not to make money off of, just for himself, his sanity, surely his health should be worth more than this.