“What’s so important you had to bully my secretary to get through to me?” Taylor snarled at him when he came on the line.
“It’s not important to me. But it is to you. Come to my office today and we’ll discuss it.”
Taylor laughed. “I don’t take orders from you.”
“Serenity Valley,” Harlan said, mentioning the name of the development Taylor was currently deep in debt over.
There was a stunned silence. “What the hell do you know about that?”
“Enough to know you’re up shit creek. My office. Eleven. Savannah won’t be here.” He hung up. He was about ninety-nine percent sure Taylor would show. If he didn’t, that was tough shit.
A little before eleven, Harlan sent Savannah out to the airport with some preliminary sketches of placement for the new buildings to show Travis, Levi and Zack. Just to make sure, he’d told Travis to keep her there a while.
Taylor showed up a little after eleven. As usual, he came in like the arrogant prick Harlan knew him to be. “I’m here. Now what the hell are you playing?”
“Come in and sit down,” Harlan said. “We might as well be comfortable. Do you want some coffee?”
“No, I don’t want coffee,” he said, but he took a seat. “What do you want?”
“I hear you’re in deep shit over the Serenity Valley deal.”
“That’s a damn lie! I don’t know who told you—”
“Save it. My contacts are gold. I know your bank is holding the loan for that land. I know you invested in it personally. And I know your partners are in jail awaiting trial on fraud charges. Which leaves you up shit creek.”
Taylor glared at him. “If you only called me here to gloat—”
“No. I called you here to bail you out.”
“The hell you did. Assuming you even could, why would you?”
“I not only can, but I will. You need an investor. I’d be willing, under certain conditions.”
“I don’t need your goddamn money.”
“What do you plan to do about that multimillion-dollar investment? Cover the whole thing yourself?” Harlan knew damn well the man couldn’t. Not without putting most of his personal assets on the line, as well as the bank’s.
“Whatever I do, it’s none of your concern. I’ll ask you again. Why would you help me?”
“Because, God knows why, Savannah loves you. And I love her. So even though I think you’re a piece of shit, it’s worth it to me to save your ass for her sake.” Taylor had been looking steadily more confused. Harlan added, “Sure, she’s upset with you right now but you have to know she’ll forgive you. So do you want to be bankrupt when she does?”
“What’s in it for you?”
“I told you, I want Savannah to be happy. She won’t be if you’re in a financial meltdown.” Taylor didn’t look like he believed Harlan. Which wasn’t a shock. To be honest, if the situation were reversed, Harlan wouldn’t buy it either.
“Say I believe you and take you up on the offer. You’d be the majority shareholder?”
“Yes. And I’ll tell you right now we won’t be building the spa complex you had planned.”
“Oh, you have a better idea?” Taylor sneered.
“Yes, I do. Condos. Affordable condos that will be tucked in along the river. They’ll be vacation investments, rentals, and some permanent tenants. Rather than having to sink all the money into a single complex, we’ll be able to plan on a few structures at a time. But we can discuss the details later.”
“You’re crazy if you think I’ll agree to any wild scheme of yours. Much less that you’d be in charge.”
“It’s non-negotiable. My money, my plan, I’m in control.” He smiled at the man’s look of disbelief. “It’s your choice. Think about it and let me know your answer by tomorrow. If I’m going to do it, I’d like to get started.” He handed him a card. “That has my cell phone on it.”
Taylor looked down at the card, then back at Harlan. “We’d be partners?”
