Page 42 of All Mine

“I have to work,” she muttered. Adrian followed her through the door to the counter and out of sight.

I jumped into action and hurried to the backdoor, the lock sending a surge of adrenaline through my veins, but the knob twisted. I slunk out, closing it behind me.

With my office furniture delivered, the new front for Carter Global Development took shape. A front seating area with a couch and several chairs grouped. A desk outside one office for an assistant and another desk inside the office for myself. My virtual assistant wouldn’t ever use it, but I might bring in a temp if needed. In the other office, I’d added a table for conferences. I’d even bought some large potted green plants to give the place some natural aesthetic appeal.

I popped in my earbuds and dialed Lewis while arranging the supplies on my new desk. After exchanging mundane pleasantries, I got down to business.

“Lewis, I wanted to get in touch with you today because I have a meeting with the buyer this afternoon, and I’d like to give him some good news. Have we reached a deal?”

“I just don’t know…” Lewis stammered. “I had not even considered this.”

“Lewis, Lewis… I’m doing you a favor here. I’ve been inside those buildings, and you aren’t keeping up on the maintenance. With all the time and energy needed for upkeep, it’d be easier for you to sell and walk away. Then you’re no longer on the hook, and you can go and enjoy your life.”

“No one has ever complained about my upkeep before,” he snapped.

In danger of overplaying my hand, I dialed it back. I’d call bullshit on that claim later.

“Of course. But over the years, I’m sure it’s gotten more difficult.” I moved around the front room, sliding the large potted plant, arranging it by the door.

“That it has.”

“I know, I get it. You’ve spent years on these businesses, and it’s not easy to ever just walk away. But, Lewis, you’re not getting any younger, and now’s the time to cash in on your hard work and enjoy yourself. Travel, or do whatever you want. Don’t you get tired of all the responsibility?”

Was I laying it on too thick?

“It is challenging getting calls all hours of the night with maintenance requests. I ended up having to put a limit on it. I don’t even answer my phone before ten in the morning anymore.”

The more I discovered Lewis’s incompetence as a landlord, the less I cared about trying to talk him out of his properties. The cash offer for them would keep him for the rest of his life if he didn’t blow it. I needed to seal this deal, or Mr. Wellington would fire me. I’d already taken longer than he’d wanted.

Admittedly, I’d gotten a little distracted by Lauren, and now the thought of finding another project and leaving town didn’t appeal to me. Our night came back to me in images. I pushed them aside to concentrate on winning Lewis over.

“Office hours are more than understandable,” I said, moving a lamp into place.

“But, I know this town, and I’m not sure they’re going to go for an outsider.”

“Well, Lewis, I now have an office over on the town square.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. And I have some preliminary sketches of the outside of the new shopping complex. I’d love for you to see them. And once everyone gets an accurate picture of what the new building will look like, it should erase all objections.”

“I’ll be by this afternoon if that’s all right.”

By early afternoon, I put the finishing touches on the Hart Commons’ sketch. Hart Commons was the tentative name I’d given the project. When the front door opened, I found a man wearing a gray pinstripe three-piece suit with a plum colored tie and matching pocket square and carrying a brown leather attaché case standing there—his slicked-back dark hair an almost jet black that wouldn’t move in a wind tunnel.

“Mr. Carter,” he said. I instantly recognized the voice of my client, Stephen Wellington.

“Mr. Wellington,” I said. “What a surprise. Wasn’t expecting you.” I hadn’t told this guy about my new storefront location yet.

“I see you’ve settled into town nicely.” The ice in his voice stopped me from offering my hand.

“One of the objections thrown at me is that I’m an outsider coming in to make changes. This location is merely an answer to negate that.”

“You’re quite the strategist.” He moved around the area, taking in everything, and fiddled with the leaves on a plant. “Although reaching a deal with Mr. Palmer is taking longer than I had expected.”

“After assessing the situation here, I’ve concluded that patience is the key to getting this done.”

“While patience may be a virtue, it’s not one I possess.” Stephen wrapped his knuckles on the assistant’s desk.

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