See part 1 for Disclaimer.
2 A new problem?
About half a week later I had a bad day. It was the day Neil arrived. Like everyday I was wandering around the resort, waiting for Billy to arrive. I was just at the Dining Hall to get some lunch when I heard a voice calling: "Baby? Is that you Baby?"
At first I didn't recognize the voice but when I turned around and saw the man owning it, it hit me. It was Neil, the grandson of Max Kellerman. He has the opinion that he is the best guy on earth and had a crush on me last summer. I didn't want to meet him but it was too late to hide. "It's really you. I can't believe that you had come after all this dancer had done to you last year. But I promise you that he won't harm you this year. I'm now the owner of this place and believe me if he gives me a chance, Castle will be fired. I don't like him." I couldn't believe what I have heard.
"Neil, can I talk to you in private?" He agreed. We went down to the lake and sat on a rock. "Neil, I know that you had a crush on me last summer. But I don't love you. You are only a friend for me and you will never be more than that. Do you know the real reason why I'm here? It's Johnny. We stayed in contact after the show. We are in love and nothing will change that."
"I can't believe that. He's not good enough for you. He has nothing, but I have four hotels. You can have everything from me, Baby."
It doesn't seem like he took the news well. "It's not about what I can get of him, it's about what I feel. Real love is stronger than everything. It's a feeling you can't descript. Do you know how hard the last months were? We couldn't be together. I thought I would die. You are a great guy, but I don't love you. I hope you can understand that. Are we still friends?"
Neil didn't answer, he just walked away. Depressed I went to the dance hall. Johnny's class was just over. "Baby, what had happened?" he asked.
"Oh, I just met Neil. He told me that he is now the owner of Kellerman´s and all he wants is to fire you. He thinks you are going to hurt me and that you are not good enough for me."
"Neil as boss? That can be fun."
Later that day, it was getting dark outside, Johnny went to me. "Billy had just arrived. He was at the bar to get a drink. He said Neil is there getting drunk. He is calling your name. Maybe you should take a look."
"That can't be something good." I left for the bar. Neil was sitting in a corner. Two empty bottles of whiskey in front of him. The waiter was just bringing the third. "Neil, I think you had enough for tonight." I said, sitting down on a chair.
"Baby? Why are you doing that? I love you?"
"No, you just think that you love me, but it's not true. You just want me, because Johnny got me."
"That's not fair. Everything goes wrong. First all my hotels are ruined and now you tell me you don't love me but this loser Johnny."
Did I hear right? "What do you mean all your hotels are ruined?" I asked.
"Last month I had to sell all my hotels. Kellerman´s is all I have now but I don't even have enough money for the next week. It looks like I have to close it at the end of the week."
I couldn't believe it. "Does Max know about that?"
"No, he would hate me for it. Kellerman´s is his life."
"Neil, there had to be a way to safe Kellerman´s. You can't close it."
It wasn't the perfect time to speak with Neil. I brought him to his room where he laid down. I went back to Johnny.
"How is he?" he asked after I entered the room.
"He's sleeping now. Johnny, I think we have a big problem! Neil told me, that he have to close Kellerman´s at the end of the week. He can't do that. It's a part of our life. Without it we won't be together now."
"That's really a problem. But we will find a way." Johnny told me and together we went to bed.
On the next morning, I went to Neil. "How are you?" I asked.
"Baby, please don't scream. I feel like a plane is starting in my head."
"Take some aspirin. I need to speak with you."
Neil got some water for the painkillers and went to me. "What can I do for you?"
"Do you remember what you told me yesterday?" He didn't answer. "You told me that you have to close Kellerman´s. I will help you to avoid that. Kellerman´s is a part of my life. I don't want to lose it."
"Baby, there is no way how you can help me."
"Just let me try. After that, you can sell it, but not before. I won't accept that."
After that I went to look for Johnny.
"I think I have found a way to safe Kellerman´s. We all buy it. Billy, Penny, you, I and all the other staff members who are willing to save it. We can do some shows to get money."
"But Baby, we won't ever get enough money to buy it. It's a big resort and it will be very expensive."
"Just let me try. Are you going to help me?" Johnny agreed, but was very skeptical. First I made a plan what I would need and who I would ask for help.
Then I went back to Neil. "Neil, how much money do I need to buy Kellerman´s?" I asked.
"I don't know. Normally it would cost about 1 to 2 million dollars but now? With the debts and all the problems? I think the bank will put it on auction. Then you can have it for 50.000 to 100.000 dollar. Why do you ask?"
"I want to buy it. How much money to you need to pay your debts?"
"About 70.000 dollar, but don't worry about me. Just try to save Kellerman´s." Neil was depressed. His life was ruined.
That was much money but I thought that we would make it, if everybody was going to help. The first person I was going to ask for help was my Daddy. But he was at the office at the moment and it wasn't a good idea to disturb him there. So I went to Johnny's room to call Samantha like I had promised.
"Hi Sam, are you missing me?" I asked.
"Of course. I miss to see you dancing. But how are you?"
"Well life is great here but it could be a bit better."
"What had happen? You don't sound very joyful. Have Johnny and you fought?"
"Oh no, it's not a matter of Johnny and me. Last night I had a talk with the new owner of Kellerman´s. It's Neil. He told me that he is broke and that he must sell Kellerman´s. I want to try to save it because it's a part of my life."
"Oh, that doesn't sound good. And I had hoped you would spend some time with Johnny without any problem. Is there a way I can help you?"
"No Sam, that's a great offer but I need to do it myself. I even have a plan how to do it. Johnny is going to support me and I hope a few members of the staff will, too."
"But I want to help. You know that you are something like a daughter for me. Tell me about your plan, perhaps I find a way to help you."
"I want to buy it. It looks like Kellerman´s is going to auction and there I will buy it. The only problem is that I will need about 100.000 dollar. I will ask some friends of the staff if they are going to give some money to save their jobs. I will ask Daddy for help and Johnny and I will do some dances to earn money. I hope it will be enough."
"It looks like you have thought about everything. But I think I can help you, too. You will need more money than that to buy Kellerman´s. You will need money for the daily routine like food and salaries. You won't get that for free."
"Well that is the part I haven't thought about. But I think most of the staff will stay for free if I promise that they have a job next year here."
"But not all will stay. Some of them need the money for family. Are you sure you will get enough money. Like you told me, it's a big hotel and will need a lot of money to maintain."
"Samantha, what are you trying? To change my mind? Nothing can do that. Without Kellerman´s I won't be here now. I won't be with Johnny. I won't be so happy. I will save Kellerman´s, Sam. With or without your permission."
"Baby, you know that you don't need my permission. But I just wanted to remind you of the extent of your plan."
"I will ask a bank for help. I'm sure they will give me a loan."
"Okay, but please wait with that until you have no other opinion. And I will help you, too. Tell Johnny I said hello. Call me soon and keep me up to date."
"I will. Bye Sam."
It was lunch time when I finished the call. A time Daddy was going to be at home. So I tried my luck.
"Hi Mommy, it's me Baby. Is Daddy home?"
"Baby, how are you? Where are you? We tried to call you at the campus, but you didn't answer it."
"Mommy, don't be angry, but I'm at Kellerman´s at the moment. I just have to see Johnny."
"Well, I thought about something like that. But you could have told us. We were worried sick about you. I will get your father to the phone."
"Thank you Mommy and I'm sorry I didn't told you. But I just didn't know how you would react. I know that you don't like Johnny especially. But he is the love of my life."
"Baby you know that I like Johnny and I'm sure your father will do that too. We just want you to be happy. And I know that you are happy with him."
"Thanks Mommy."
Then Daddy was on the phone.
"Baby where are you? Do you know how worried we were about you? Nobody knew where you were, not even Samantha."
"Daddy, please calm down. I can explain. I'm at Kellerman´s with Johnny. I had just to see him. I missed him awfully. I didn't tell you because I thought you wouldn't allow it. I know you don't like him much but he's a great guy. I love him. So accept him."
"Deep down in my heart I know that he is a good guy, but I think I don't like the thought of you growing up. I always thought Lisa would be the first one with a boy-friend. But I'm happy when you are happy. And perhaps one day I will accept him."
"Thank you Daddy. You should spend more time with him to know him better. But that's not the reason I'm calling."
"What's the problem Baby?"
"I need some money. Grandma had given you money for me when she died. I should take it for college, if I remember right."
"Yes, that's right. We put it on a safe depot. Why do you need it? Do you have problems?"
"Well, it's a bit complicated. At first I don't have a problem here. I love being here with Johnny and all my friends. And I enjoy dancing again. But I miss you. I need the money to save Kellerman´s. Neil is the new owner, but he is ruined. He has to sell it and I want to try to buy it. Kellerman´s is an important part of my life. Without it I won't be the kind of person I'm today. It has changed me last year because I had met Johnny there. Are you going to help me?"
"Baby, like you said the money is for college. What are you going to do when you are the owner of Kellerman´s? You don't know how to manage a hotel. Do you know how much money you need to maintain it?"
"No I don't know this. But I'm sure the staff will help me. They are like a big family. If someone has a problem they try to help, like I did last year. I'm sure Neil and Max will take care of the management. We have bell-boys who will stay and the dancers. We are all going to help together. Are you going to help me?"
What do you think? Is Jake going to help Baby? Will she be able to save Kellerman´s?
Reviews are welcomed.