Page 16 of Up All Night
So, she’s got a story, does she?“Your boyfriend?"
She gives me a look, like I’ve just insulted her.“No.And let’s just leave it at that."
I laugh mirthlessly.“Okay then."
“I’m just a really private person, okay?The last time I spilled my guts to someone it ended up biting me in the ass."
I’m determined to get to the bottom of this.Maybe she’s right.Maybe I am nosy.But you would be amazed at some of the stories that I overhear at the hotel.Whether or not any of them are true is another story altogether.Nonetheless, most people have no issue talking about themselves, as I’ve stated before.Lark is different.I haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or a bad thing yet.“You can share things without revealing everything, you know.I’ve learned how to tell the whole story without telling more than parts of it."
“Good for you.Turn left just up here.”
When we pull up to the gate, Lark pulls her phone off the stand and accesses her notes function.She tells me the code, and the gate opens.As we make our trek up the winding driveway, I see the house off in the distance and immediately spot a quirk.“Am I drunk or is that thing fucking lopsided?”
“I’m impressed.”Although the way she says it, it’s like she’s disappointed that she’s impressed.
“There’s a first time for everything."
She chuckles flatly as we park near the front door.I watch her type in another code in the lock box that hangs from the door knob.
“What’s the story on this place, anyway?Did the foundation fail?Is that why you can’t unload it?"
“The previous owner tried to jack up the addition to put in a basement.That failed.The builder was sued.The owner cut his losses and moved.I reduced the price significantly, but everyone is afraid that the goddamn house is built on a sink hole or something, so nobody will buy it.It’s fully furnished, and it’s completely renovated on the inside.It’s perfect, but every client that has walked through here has been too paranoid to make an offer."
“But they could just remove the addition if they're so freaked out about it.Maybe a builder will buy it, since they would know the difference."
“Most of my clients earn seven figures or more.No builders are on that pay grade, I’m afraid."
“Do you have anybody lined up to take a look at it?"
She shakes her head.“Not in weeks.The owner tried renting it out before he put it up for sale, but everybody is too paranoid."
“That’s ridiculous."
She lifts her brows.“Doyouwant to buy it?”
“How much are you asking for it?"
She tells me.My personal housing budget is less than half that.I don’t go extreme, since a lot of my money is tied up in investments.“Way out of my price range."
She still seems annoyed.“Do you want to at least walk through the place?"
I shrug.“We’re here now.We might as well."
Aside from the obvious flaw, the place is perfect.It’s fit for plenty of entertaining, with a grand room, a kitchen on the main floor and in the basement, which is complete with a wet bar and an entertainment room.Upstairs has an office that overlooks a man-made waterway, like a duck pond, in the backyard.The office is huge.I picture myself placing all my hotel models inside it.All the replicas of the buildings that I own and that I want to build in the future conceivably.There are plenty of walls for drawings and idea boards.
Outside of the office is a long hallway, lined with picture windows, and it holds a long, custom-made couch.On one end, there are three bedrooms, grand in size, and on the opposite end is the master bedroom, which has an ensuite library attached."Jesus, this place is amazing."I exhale.
"It is.It's just got the one flaw, but otherwise, hell, I'd buy it if I had the money.And I may just have to, since my policy stipulates that if I can't sell it, I'll buy it myself."
We walk through the master bedroom, and I look out the window."You can't convince the guy to lower the price."
"It's a girl, and no.But I may have some wiggle room if I get an offer that's way lower than the asking price."I turn towards her.She's staring at the man-made pond.Her eyes practically glow green.Her hair is so natural, it has to be her own color, and she wears so little makeup.I've never seen anything like it."You mean you haven't even had an offer yet?"
Her eyes meet mine."Not yet."
"Well, then, that I can help you with."
A flicker in those beautiful eyes."Really?"
