Page 25 of Taming the Elusive Billionaire

“It is always amazing hearing you speak, sir.” Elvis said instead while reaching out to shake my hand, which I took. “Please do excuse me, sir. My pregnant, anxious wife is getting wary of greeting all the guests. I hope to stay by her side.”

“Of course,” I muttered while he hastily moved away, “James?”

“Sir,” He began, walking closer to me, “I am sorry, but the result is still the same.”

I scoffed and sipped my drink, “What do you mean, James?”

“They told me I should go to hell with my money and promised to call the police if I ever came back to their home to disturb them about selling.”

“Sometimes,” I began, shaking my head, “I began to question your ability to get things done at a fast rate, with no little noise.”

He slightly bowed his head. “I am sorry, sir.”

“Please follow me,” I muttered and began to head away from the guests, moving towards the hallway while James followed me nervously.

I stepped out of the hall, walked further away, and turned in fury, letting out the pent-up frustration I had felt through the night. “You have just one fucking job, James. Just one freaking job.”

“I’m sorry.” He muttered, his head bent.

“What? Sorry? I told you earlier you think I built this business hearing sorry and excuses?”

He remained quiet, his head bowed slightly.

“I am fucking talking to you.” I groaned, my voice loud, making him tremble.

“No, sir.”

“Then why do I keep hearing those two stupid words from you for the past few weeks?”

“I am . . .” his face began to flush as he looked toward me. “I have tried everything I could, even offering more money.”

“And then?”

“They refused.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“I am serious, sir.”

“And apart from payment, what other means have you used to get me the building? Legal, of course.” I added as he shot me a worried glance.

“I have tried speaking with their county head, but he refused. I will have to go to the couple and beg them to sell, I gave him a hundred thousand cash to get him to get it for me, but he told me to come back later or wait for his call.”

“And?” I asked, dipping my hands in my pocket.

“He . . .” James sighed and sniffled, “Went to his office three times and got told he wasn’t around, waiting every day for his call, but I got nothing.”

“So,” I sighed, removing my left hand to wipe my mouth, “Let me get this straight, the couple refused to sell to you, and then, the County Chief duped you of a hundred thousand dollars?”

He didn’t speak. He bent his head while wiping his face. “Please, sir, that county has frustrated the living daylights out of me, I can’t even sleep properly at night, as I try to think of other ways to get this site, but each one proved abortive, I swear to you, sir, I am telling you the truth,” he said.

I removed my other hand from my pocket and wiped my face. It seems this was a period of temptations, first Lucy and then this. I turned to James and sighed. “Ok, here is what’s going to happen.”

He paused momentarily, sighed, and wiped his face again.

“Go take a few weeks off.”

“Are you firing me, sir?” He asked, looking at me worried with his hands folded in prayer.

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