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25
Rowan
I smoothedout the folds in my suit as I looked at my reflection in the mirrored window. I had patiently ironed it myself, but I couldn’t help noticing a couple of tiny wrinkles that’d slipped through. Maybe no one else would have spotted them, but I chided myself silently anyway.
A lot depended on this meeting going right, and even though I knew that my clothes didn’t have much to do with it, every detail counted. I made an effort to always look pulled together, to project strength and competence in every possible way.
“Mr. Finlay,” a voice called.
I turned around, flashing my most charming smile. I’d perfected it over the last five years when it’d become difficult to offer a genuine one. People rarely looked beyond what you wanted to show them.
“Mr. Takashi and Mr. Gordon,” I said, nodding to the two men in front of me. They were flanked by two beefy men wearing sunglasses, who I assumed were their bodyguards. I shook their hands and then led them into the establishment. “The Nobles send their regards. I’m pleased to speak to you today on their behalf.”
I’d chosen this hotel because I’d learned from hearsay that these men absolutely adored Italian food. The hostess came around and seated us at a table in the brunch area. Gordon’s eyes lingered on her butt, and I glanced away. There were a lot of things I didn’t enjoy about most of the company I kept these days, but you couldn’t get the good without the bad.
All that mattered this morning was the deal. It was still in its early stages of development, and I’d been handpicked by Ezra Noble to handle this meeting after smoothing the way for a few other agreements Wylder had initiated. The old man himself was taking notice of my skills now. Maybe if I could swing a few crucial negotiations in his favor, my position within the Nobles would stop feeling so precarious.
“So, Mr. Finlay,” Mr. Takashi said. “Let’s get down to business.”
“Why don’t we have some appetizers and drinks first?” I said, flashing them another manufactured smile. “Easier to do business on a full stomach.”
Sometimes when I looked at myself in the mirror, I didn’t recognize myself. I felt like a puppet being pulled by strings I wasn’t sure I fully controlled. But there was nobody else to blame for the life I was living. I’d chosen it all on my own.
I’d gotten here early to speak with the staff and emphasize how important it was that they give this table their very best service. Ezra had a stake in the hotel, and it’d been clear everyone was aware of how great the rewards—or punishments—for their performance could be. Soon we all had heaping plates and glasses of wine in front of us. As the other men exclaimed over the food, a satisfied warmth filled my chest.
I might still be a relative newcomer among the Nobles, and this might not have been the life I’d envisioned for myself, but I was damn good at what I did. I’d worked my ass off to ensure my value.
I swirled my wine in my glass but only took sips. As my company gorged themselves, ties loosened and their own smiles came easier. I smiled to myself. Businessmen were so fucking predictable.
I leaned forward in my chair, taking on a conversational tone. “So, about the riverfront project. Mr. Noble has taken a keen interest in real estate in that neighborhood. He’s willing to invest a lot if he can take the reins.”
Gordon nodded. “We’ve seen the bid. But I’m not aware that Ezra Noble has all that much experience with this type of development…?”
Of course the money wasn’t enough to persuade them. That was where I came in.
“Mr. Noble keeps many of his pursuits discreet, as I’m sure you can understand,” I said. “He’s in the business of making money—for himself and everyone on board with him—not bragging about it. Did you know he’s the majority owner in this chain of hotels? He handpicked the chef who cooked your brunch personally when the restaurant opened three years ago.”
Takashi’s eyes widened. They wouldn’t have known—evenIhadn’t known until I’d done some digging to prepare for this meeting.
Gordon took in the restaurant again with renewed respect. “He has done a good job with the place.”
And it made one of many excellent fronts for the Nobles’ true, not-entirely-legal interests, not that I was going to mention that. These men were undoubtedly aware of Ezra’s reputation. They just needed enough of an excuse to look past it. Seeing a clean-cut, sharp-looking young man with no tattoos or piercings in sight speaking up for him should set a lot of those doubts to rest all on its own.
“Everything Ezra Noble puts his mind to, he gives his all,” I said. “And to show you how serious he is about this offer, he’s graciously seeing to the updated landscaping in the vicinity of the project with no commitment required.”
I pulled open my briefcase and extended papers to the other men, who read through the proposal. Takashi’s eyes widened when he noticed the amount printed. “Are you sure your boss is fine throwing this kind of money away?”
I chuckled lightly. “He doesn’t consider it throwing away. Improvements to Paradise City benefit all of us. He’d simply like you to consider this as a proof of our interest. As you can see, by giving us this project, you’ll ensure a long and meaningful partnership that will be beneficial to both parties. And I’m certain your firm will thank you for it.”
Takashi and Gordon conferred over the details. Then Gordon stepped aside to place a call. Hope swelled in my chest as he returned with a smile, but I kept my expression mild. Eagerness was easily read as desperation.
“I believe Mr. Noble has a deal, Mr. Finlay,” he said, holding out his hand for me to shake it. “And I hope that means we get to enjoy more of his—and your—hospitality in the future. Please pass on our compliments.”
I gave his hand a solid shake, holding back the sense of triumph racing through me. “I’ll be sure to do that.”
The joy of the victory stayed with me through the rest of the brunch and the walk out to my car. As I got in, checking my phone and confirming I had no missed messages, the urge hit me to call my dad and tell him how well the meeting had gone.
Not that he’d known I even had a meeting or had any clue what I did for work these days. Chances were he was either already three sheets to the wind or still sleeping off whatever cheap alcohol he’d drowned himself in last night.
