“No.Hell no.”
“It’s a good idea,” Anthony whispered. “It’ll make you look human.”
“I pay people to do my landscaping for a reason.” I rolled my eyes. “Next idea.”
“You could help clean up the lobby at one of the mid-tier complexes,” Alisha’s voice wavered. “We could make it a photo opportunity to show how much you care about everything in your portfolio.”
“I say ‘no’ to gardening, but you think I’ll say yes to scrubbing toilets?”
Her face paled and she looked around the room.
“What else?” I glared at her. “What are the other ideas that will make me come off less ruthless and more ‘let me buy The Holden?’”
“There’s also the idea of you giving all your tenants a few free months of rent?” Her voice was faint. “Everyone would run wild with how generous you are if you did that.”
“If I let people get away with not paying rent, how do I make money?”
“Well, you won’t…but just for like three months.”
“Then how about everyone in this room surrenders their paychecks instead?”
The room fell silent.
“These are the ideas you’ve been working on forweeks?” I felt my blood simmering. “This is it?”
“We’re working very hard, sir.”
“This meeting is over.” I stood up. “You all need to start looking for new jobs by the end of the week.”
I left the room and felt Anthony rushing after me.
“You literally did the exact opposite of what I suggested, Dante.” He groaned. “It’s not their fault you have a terrible reputation.”
“I just want to buy a goddamn building,” I said. “I shouldn’t have to do circus tricks to write a check.”
“I agree,” he said, sighing. “But if your heart is set on The Holden, you can start by being a bit nicer to everyone around you. You should also meet with the mayor again.”
“I’m not sucking up to him,” I said. “If he doesn’t want to sell it to me?—”
“Hedoesn’t, Dante.” He narrowed his eyes. “He doesn’t want your name on it at all.”
“I’ll send him a gift basket.”
“That’s a start.” He looked at his watch. “I’ll go tell the team to try again.”
“Thank you.” I made my way down the hall, ready to call this day a loss already.
When I made it to my office, my favorite assistant Stacy was pacing near my windows.
“Give me some good news.” I sat at my desk. “Only good news.”
“You have someone who wants to tour your exclusive penthouse suite at The Bergman.”
“That is very good news.” I smiled. “How serious is the client?”
“Very serious.” She stepped closer, handing me a folder. “His name is Bryan Fleming. I looked into his financials and he can definitely afford it.”
“You said that with the last guy, and he wasn’t a prince from Nigeria like he claimed.”