Whenever I decided what that big thing would be, that was.
Zachary raised a bushy eyebrow my way. “Bullshit. You can’t swing it.”
“You’re right,” I acknowledged. “But I can come closer than you think. And you know that half this city owes me a favor. Hell, I spent my twenties building connections, and I haven’t cashed in on them yet.”
“So what?” Zachary asked. “That’s your plan? You’re going to spend the weekend buying out Passages New York? You won’t even have time to sleep, man.”
A grin filled my face. It had been a few months since I had an opportunity to really flex my muscles, but fighting off a shady corporate takeover was just the right occasion.
“Damn right,” I said. “You want to come along for the ride?”
* * *
It was a toss of the coin that landed me in the steam room Saturday night. Zachary was off at a five-course meal with three controlling shareholders in Passages New York, a few fresh-faced business types who were about to receive the most lucrative offer of their careers, as well as a little friendly pressure on their bottom line if they turned us down. I’d managed to cobble together a few eager investors, ready to throw some clout my way and endear themselves permanently to my firm.
Smart moves, considering we were about to start growing like no one could have anticipated.
And me? I had a very important meeting with the heads of Research and Development from my home firm. A meeting so important, in fact, we could only hold it with terrycloth robes around our waists and sweat dripping down our faces.
“And how the hell are we supposed to explain that we met with you tonight?” Daryl asked, pouring some more water on the hot coals to send another cloud of steam into the air. “You’re supposed to be in Denver.”
“I’m sure you can find an excuse,” I said, leaning back against the wooden bench. “You managed to cover up your meetings last week, didn’t you?”
Daryl’s face fell. He didn’t say a word, but he didn’t have to. I hadn’t been certain he was one of the guys selling his shares, but reviewing the information Zachary sent me, I found some pretty clear indications.
“Damn it, Daryl,” Clark said, sighing. “Really?”
Reliable Clark. Always trustworthy, always a bit gullible, and always working on his side project in Long Island City.
“Daryl, your one percent isn’t going to make or break this deal,” I said, sweat dripping down my chest. “But I know better than to appeal to your sense of loyalty. That’s why I asked you both here.”
“If you think you can give me a better deal than the other guys,” Daryl said carefully, “you’re out of your damn mind.”
I turned to Clark. “What if I told you I could hook you up with some very cheap leases and very lucrative deals in Long Island City?”
Clark shook his head, wiping sweat from his forehead. “I’m not looking to sell anyway,” he said. “And I only have half a percent.”
“And a lot of liquid capital,” I pointed out. “Unlike Daryl.”
“I’ve got plenty of liquid,” Daryl snarled.
“No,” I said flatly. “You don’t. That’s why you’re so easy to manipulate. You’re swimming in debt, man. No one else has caught on yet, but I’ve been watching your projects flounder for years.”
Tense silence filled the room, punctuated only by the hiss of steam. I could only imagine how anxious Daryl was, but I couldn’t lie.
I fucking loved it.
I had him in the corner, and I could taste his fear. There were about twenty ways I could ruin him if I wanted, but that wasn’t the point of my trip.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” I said. “I’m going to buy Passages New York and all their associated properties in Long Island City. Clark, you’re going to float me some cash to help make it happen.”
“I am?” he asked.
“When you see the contract I’ve written up, you’ll thank me,” I assured him. “And Daryl? You’re going to keep ownership of your one percent, and Zachary’s tech team is going to throw you a fucking lifeline before you drown in debt. Maybe even turn one of your apps into a success for the hell of it.”
Daryl scoffed. “I’ve dealt with these guys,” he said. “Passages New York will never sell to you.”
I tightened my fist, cracking one knuckle at a time with my thumb. “If you think the dirt I got on you is good, you should see what those guys have been getting up to.”
