She scoffed down laughter and averted her gaze, exhaling a deep breath as she nodded before looking at me again. “Yeah, I have, but what you just did? Coming right out and acknowledging it? No one in my family has ever done that and that’s why I’m here.”
My eyes narrowed. “You’re going to have to clarify.”
“My youngest brother just graduated from college with a 2.3 GPA,” she started, an inferno sparking to life behind those eyes as she spoke. “I say this with all the love in the world, but he’s an idiot. He’s smart, but lazy. He acts like he’s entitled to the world on a silver platter, but he won’t lift a finger to take that platter from the people offering it to him. You’d have to gently place it in his lap if you want him to have it.”
My eyebrows jumped. “That...sucks?”
“Yeah, it does.” She offered me a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Mikey is Mikey though, you know? He’s a great guy, the life of every party, and he’s got the best heart. He really is smart. He’s just more frat boy than businessman.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “Why are you telling me all this?”
“Because on Friday night when you made me that offer, I really would’ve eaten glass rather than to take you up on it, but when I got to the office yesterday, I found out that Dad has given Michael a job at Van Alen & Associates. A senior position. Much higher up the food chain than mine. He’s also getting a seat on the board.”
My jaw nearly broke off, it dropped so hard. “What?”
“Yep. I’ve been working my ass off for three years, but he’s getting everything I’ve been killing myself to earn just because Columbia went ahead and handed him a diploma.”
Genuine pain seared through my insides. “I’m sorry. That’s actually infuriating. I thought I had problems, but that... I get why you’re angry?—”
“You have no idea, and I’m not angry,” she said, cutting me off. “Yesterday, I was angry. Today, I’m just done. I know more about finance and putting deals together than all three of my brothers combined and they know it, but they insist on treating me as insignificant. I’ve realized that’s not going to change.”
I leaned back and whistled softly. “Let me guess, you want to set fire to the world for the way they’re treating you.”
“Something like that, but I figure sweet revenge is better than arson. It’ll be a lot more satisfying and that, Harrison Westwood, is why I’m here.”
I finally understood, and without even meaning for it to happen, I smiled at her. “I like it. It’s calculated. Efficient. Dangerous. Very us.”
Her head tilted. “Excuse me?”
“Us,” I repeated. “You and me. We think alike. I’m glad you reached out. I definitely think we can help each other.”
“Good.” She flashed me the barest hint of a smile in return and pulled her laptop closer, quickly keying in her password, and pulling something up. “Let’s get to work, then. You haven’t heard from the client yet, have you?”
My eyebrows lifted a little higher. I had no idea how she’d guessed that, but she was right and since we were on this whole honesty kick right now, I just nodded instead of playing it off. “I haven’t heard a peep. I’m assuming his attorneys are whispering sweet nothings in his ears about how he’ll get more if he plays hardball. It’s so typical.”
Her head cocked. “How would you know?”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“What I mean is how do you know what’s typical, and is that your assumption or your brother’s?” She leaned in a little, eyes searching mine. “Let’s get real here, Harrison. I’ve been in this game long enough to know that you’re new to it. Sterling? He’s a legend. I’ve heard his name dropped in meetings as a threat and I’ve seen it cause grown men to tremble in their boots. Most of the people I’ve asked about you don’t even seem to know that you’re back in town.”
I leaned forward too, my gaze locked on hers. “Don’t underestimate me, Aurelia. It’s true that I’ve only just started working in acquisitions, but I’ve been learning from Sterling and from my dad my entire life. You’re not the only one with something to prove, but I guarantee that if you underestimate me, this isn’t going to work.”
She was silent for a beat, not flustered at all, but more contemplative before she finally nodded. “Alright, Westwood. Good to know. In that case, I’ll tell you that I’ve done the math and I know why he hasn’t agreed.”
“You do?”
“It’s because between gambling debts, pending foreclosures on many of his properties due to unpaid taxes, and issues with his personal tax, he’s facing real pressure. If you really want this portfolio, we’ll need to offer him one-hundred-seventy-five million. That leaves him with a few million he can use to start over and obviously, that’ll make him a lot more inclined to sign.”
“One-seventy-five, huh?” I leaned back in my chair and inhaled, mentally doing the math. “What was your offer? You already know mine.”
“Fifty million,” she said calmly. “That’s what I offered him and that’s what I’m offering you now.”
“And in exchange?”
“Once the last properties are acquired and sold, I want thirty percent of the profits.”
I studied her, impressed despite myself. “Do you have buyers lined up for the overseas properties? I assume you do, given the size of your cut.”
