First thing in the morning, I draw up the contracts officially confirming Oberlin Enterprises as a client and courier them over to Alec. They’re delivered back to me by noon, signed.
No backing out now. And anyway, I find I don’t want to. Now that he’s stopped hitting on me long enough to talk to me, Alec is turning out to be a great business partner.
I still have a massive crush on him, mind you, but I also can’t wait to get started on some of his ideas.
The day flies by, and I’m startled when Maddie knocks on my door to let me know that everyone has already left for the bar. I look at my watch: 6 p.m.
Not wanting to get a reputation as the resident workaholic, I gather my things and join my new colleagues at the bar across the street.
The ladies have secured a table by the window, and they’re already halfway through their second pitcher of margaritas when I arrive.
I recognize Maddie, Kelly from reception, and two of the assistants, Trisha and Alison. There are also five other realtors: Karen, Sarah, Rochelle, Jenna, and Bridget. I don’t really know any of them well yet.
“Chelsea,” they all cheer when they spot me, letting me know they’re already buzzed. I laugh, greet them back, and run to the bar to down a shot before getting myself a glass for the margaritas. I clearly have some catching up to do!
The evening is really lovely, and I get to know everyone a lot better.
Of the seven agents in attendance, Trisha has been at Lockwood the longest, and she’s close friends with Anne. “If you need any favors from the boss lady,” she says with a wink, “just ask me. I’ve got lots of pull.”
Karen is newly engaged and loves showing off her sparkling diamond ring to anyone she meets. She shows it to me at least four times over the course of the night, and I make sure to ooh and aah appropriately.
It’s Jenna’s first night out since having a baby in December. I think about offering her a few tips on how to “pump and dump,” but I don’t feel like answering any questions about why I know about breastfeeding.
Rochelle and Bridget are actually a couple, something I figure out when they start making out on the dance floor, unable to keep their hands off each other. Something in my gut aches, watching that display of young love.
I know I’ll find someone to love again. I’m still excited about my new start. But sometimes I do still mourn what I’ve lost.
I call it a night around ten, knowing I haven’t been drinking like this for a while. I still want to be able to actually get some work done tomorrow.
“What do you think?” Maddie asks, catching my arm as I’m saying goodbye to everybody. “Ready to be indoctrinated into our girl gang?”
I laugh, quietly pleased. “You know, I just might be.”
I spend all of Wednesday and Thursday working, wanting to get all my ideas and sketches ready for my meeting with Chelsea on Friday. We’ve decided on a working lunch at her office, and afterward, we’ll go out and look at some possible lots.
Finding the right place to build three high-rises isn’t the easiest task, but I’m confident we’ll figure it out together. Chelsea seems to have a good understanding of what I want to develop here, and her firm has connections in all the right places.
When I arrive at the Lockwood office on Friday, Kelly guides me to the same meeting room as last time. “Still feeling protective?” I ask, throwing the diminutive receptionist a teasing smile.
“Always,” she says seriously, giving me a firm nod to show she means business. “But it seems you’ve been behaving so far. Keep it up.”
I feel a little like a dog being praised for not peeing on the carpet. But I nod gamely, and Kelly leaves me to it.
Looking at all the glass and open space in the office elsewhere, I’m glad this room has an actual wall, providing a little privacy from any other over-interested coworkers.
Chelsea shows up soon after, holding a bag of Chinese food so huge I can’t even see her face.
“I didn’t know what you liked, so I got a little bit of everything,” she says, laughing when she sees the shocked expression on my face. I’m pretty sure there’s enough food for five people here, but it smells amazing.
We eat and chat about nothing much—she tells me about her night out with her coworkers, and I tell her about my hotel valet’s obvious crush on one of the bellhops. “I wonder if I should be trying to set them up somehow.”
She laughs. “How? Trip the valet so he falls into the bellhop’s big strong arms? That kind of thing only works in cheap romance novels.”
“Are you telling me you read cheap romance novels?” I ask, waggling my eyebrows at her.
“Excuse you,” she says, shoving playfully at my arm. “I read exclusively cheap, medieval fantasy.” And then she’s telling me about the novel she’s been reading lately, and I’m trying to follow the intricacies of the battles over the throne or whatever.
It’s easy and fun in a way I’m not used to feeling around a woman I want to sleep with. I’m starting to suspect I want to do a lot more than just sleep with her.
After lunch, we head down to Chelsea’s car and she drives me to the first property on my wish list. The view is gorgeous, right out over the Magnificent Mile, but I find myself frowning as I look around.
“You don’t like it,” Chelsea says, matter-of-fact.
“No, no, it’s great, just—”
“You’re right,” she says, looking around. “Not nearly enough space for the mixed-use residential and commercial you wanted.” It’s wild how easy it is for her to read my mind like that.
We move on to my second pick, and this one is a good size, but I don’t really like the neighborhood.
After three more failures, Chelsea takes charge and drives us to her top choice, a space I haven’t even considered.
And guess what—it’s absolutely perfect! Nice neighborhood, more than enough space, and a spectacular view. It’s close to Millennium Park, great for both residential and commercial properties.
The plan is to build two skyscrapers with storefronts at the street level and two to three floors up, with offices to the top in one, and offices and apartments in the other.
The third building will be completely residential, with a concierge service and all possible amenities. The apartments in the third building will be the most expensive, but the penthouses in both the residential buildings should go for at least $15 million.
Building this project is going to be pricey, but Oberlin Enterprises will rake it in when we sell the apartments and lease office spaces and stores.
“This is it,” I breathe, turning toward Chelsea. “You’re a genius; this space wasn’t even on my radar.”
“I knew you’d like it,” she says, sounding smug. “Let me make a call. It’s Friday; we want to put in the offer before the weekend.”
She walks away from me to make her call in private, and comes back a few minutes later. “They want twelve and a half million for the lot,” she says with a cheeky smile.
$12.5 million is on the high end of the project budget, but doable. Still… “What aren’t you telling me?” I narrow my eyes, trying to figure her out.
“Well, we talked for a bit, and…if you put down three million today, I talked them into lowering it to ten and a half.”
Chelsea grins like the fucking Cheshire Cat, knowing she’s gotten me an amazing deal.
“Oh my god, Chelsea, I could kiss you right now!” I hug her, feeling excitement take over, and hold on for a minute, enjoying her body pressed against mine. She hugs me back just as tight.
Finally, I take a step back. “I’ll call my dad and arrange for a transfer right now. You call the seller back and get the contracts started,” I say, pulling out my phone.
“Son,” says my father’s wary voice over the phone. “Everything okay? You’re staying out of trouble over there, right?”
It sucks a little that Dad thinks I only call him when I’m in trouble. But to be fair to him, I haven’t had a lot of good news for him lately. “No trouble at all,” I assure him. “We’ve got our first location!”
Once I explain, Dad is over the moon. In Manhattan, we’d probably have to pay double for a place like this.
When Chelsea and I are both off the phone again, I throw her a crooked smile. “Thank you, Chelsea. You’re truly amazing at your job, and I’m so sorry I misjudged you.”
I feel genuinely guilty for the way I treated her when we first met. When it comes to women, I’m so used to thinking with my dick, I guess I’d actually forgotten how to use my brain.
“Well, I forgive you.” Chelsea smiles, and I’m so relieved that I have to grab her for another hug.
