Chapter Thirteen
RHOADES
During the flight home the next morning, I’d planned on doing work but instead spent my time staring out the window at the clouds below. I felt badly for treating Austin as I did, but I was determined to follow the rules he set down at our dinner. Keeping our relationship at arm’s length was best for both of us. If he knew how often during the past two weeks I’d canceled calls to him or deleted texts, he’d consider me a problem and run. This business trip, first to California, then Florida to look over our properties, came at the perfect time for me to take advantage of my solitude and get my priorities and my head straight.
Admittedly, it surprised me when he’d emailed, and I wondered if he was testing me. But when it became evident that Austin had contacted me to talk business, it felt safe enough for me to call and talk to him. When the talk took a more intimate turn, when he asked me about James, I couldn’t continue.
I was a coward.
The television screen on the back of the seat in front of me caught my eye, and I listened to the news story with growing dismay. A shelter for homeless gay men and women had lost their lease, and the people living there had nowhere to go. I listened to one young man in his midtwenties being interviewed.
“I came here after my last boyfriend beat me up. I was in the hospital for two weeks. My parents said, ‘Don’t come home.’ So now I don’t know where I’m gonna live.”
“Another drink, Mr. MacKenzie?”
The flight attendant waited by my seat. I had been lucky to never want for material things; a meal, a warm place to live, and money came second nature to me and were taken for granted. Living in my bubble of privilege, I failed to see the reality that festered right in front of my eyes.
“No, thank you. I’m good.”
In the time I spent with Austin, he’d opened my eyes to domestic violence in the gay community. He might not have elaborated on his story, but from his hands-off attitude and mistrust, plus his reaction the one time we were together in the car and I put my hand out, I deduced he’d been knocked around and couldn’t go home to his father. Frankie I already knew had an abusive ex-boyfriend but was lucky enough to have family support.
I watched several more interviews with women and men who now feared they’d be back on the street. This shouldn’t be allowed to happen. Something had to change, and now that my eyes were opened, I couldn’t unsee what was occurring right in front of me. Nor could I sit by, making platitudes while sipping my expensive scotch, and do nothing. Four years had slipped away from me in a fog. Now the mist had cleared, and it was time for me to take control again. Time to stop sleepwalking through life. I pulled out my phone and typed a brief message to Clare, giving her explicit instructions on what I wanted.
This isn’t your usual.
Maybe it’s time it should be. Let’s get it done.
I decided not to tell Austin yet what I planned. He might assume there was an ulterior motive behind my actions. But once the arrangements were complete, I intended him to be an integral part of the plan.
Four hours later I was back in the brownstone, getting changed after a reenergizing shower, when my phone rang.
“Rhoades MacKenzie.”
“George Espinoza. I’m the attorney for the building owners of 694 West 110th Street.”
I put him on speaker, so I could continue getting dressed. “How can I help you?”
“We’re in receipt of your offer, but the building isn’t for sale.”
“I offered you eight million dollars.”
“I’m aware. The owners aren’t interested in selling.”
One thing I’d never been was a fool. And because of that, I always did my research.
“Mr. Espinoza. I’d understand if my offer was insulting. But the price is over market ask. And I’d hate for the owners, who I know own other buildings, to have to shut down because of code violations.”
I disliked playing dirty, but they forced my hand. Doing business in New York City for so many years, I knew the right people to call in order to make, or not make, things happen. Real estate, like anything else where large sums of money is involved, could be an ugly business, and while I tried to play nice, sometimes one had to get down in the mud.
“Are you threatening us?” The astonishment in his voice was laughable. Espinoza was an old hand in this game.
“I would never. I’m merely stating a fact of what might happen. See, I did a little homework, and your owners have multiple health and housing code violations on the property I want to purchase as well as three others in the city. And after we talk about that, there are the unpaid property taxes. All a matter of public record, but not something your clients would want revealed in the newspapers. I’m sure they shielded themselves through corporations, but it isn’t too hard to pierce that corporate veil, now is it?”
Espinoza’s heavy breathing filled my bedroom. “Eight million?”
“You know what?” I might enjoy this too much. “I’m down to seven point five million now. Because I don’t like people thinking I’m a fool. Shall I have my assistant draw up the papers and send them over?”
“Fuck you, MacKenzie. The offer was eight.”
“That was before I saw how your clients allowed those people to live. The squalor they attempted to justify because they gave these people a place when they had nowhere else to go, simply because they were desperate.” My fingers shook as I buttoned my shirt. “They never gave them a second thought when they laid their heads down on their thousand-dollar sheets at night. It’s time someone did.”
“Aren’t you the selfless one.”
When I didn’t answer, Espinoza grunted. “Fine. We’ll accept the seven point five. I’ll fax you over everything in about an hour. I presume it’s all cash, correct?”
“Yes. I’ll be waiting for the paperwork.”
I disconnected and sat on the edge of the bed. I was now the owner of a building that housed a shelter, and I had no idea what to do. I slung my tie around my neck and hurried out of the bedroom and down the steps to the first floor.
“Edgar?”
“Yes, I’m right here.”
“I’ve done something out of the ordinary.”
After explaining, I waited for Edgar to tell me I was crazy or stupid. Or both.
“Your mother would’ve been incredibly proud of you. Well done.”
That response rocked me back on my heels and took my breath away. For the first time in a while, I was speechless.
“I’ve been waiting for you to regain that spark of humanity you lost when Lance died. And to be honest, even before then, you held yourself back. I’ve never seen you be who you’re really capable of being.”
“I didn’t want to fail the business.”
“Considering how your father failed not only you, but your mother…and James,” Edgar said, a frown pinching a deep line in his brow, “I’m surprised that’s even an issue.”
All true. He wasn’t a good man or a good father, and yet every deal I made, I wondered if he’d approve. And he definitely would not approve of this building purchase, which perversely made me all the more invested in its success.
“I’m going to the office now, and then I’ll be out for the evening.”
He handed me my coat. “And what about the man you brought here for dinner?”
“Austin?” The name alone conjured up our last kiss, and I tried to hold myself in check and not give away any telltale signs.
“Yes. Will you be seeing him?”
“I’m not sure. See you tonight.”
I hurried out before Edgar could ask me anything more and climbed into the waiting car. “Good afternoon.”
“How was your trip?” Felix put the car in gear and maneuvered out of the spot, heading down Broadway. “Accomplish everything you needed to?”
“I did and more.” I filled him in on my building purchase.
“Wow. That’s a switch for you. Luxury condos to homeless shelters? It wouldn’t have anything to do with Austin, now would it?”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because ever since you’ve hired him for the Charles Street project, you’ve seemed a bit more your old self. Like you’re coming out of exile and noticing life more.”
“Austin doesn’t know anything about this. I watched a news report on the flight back and arranged everything in the past five hours.”
We rode in silence until Felix pulled into the No Standing zone in front of my office building to drop me off.
“I’ll be done around six. See you then.”
“Okay. And you know, Austin doesn’t have to know about it for him to have had an influence on your decision. I think it’s a good thing.”
I gave him a nod and shut the car door, then entered the building, barely acknowledging the guard at the front. Austin weighed heavily on my mind, and my fingers itched to text him, to tell him what I’d done, but I refrained.
Clare had put the fax from the sellers on my desk along with my coffee. I read while I sipped, made small corrections to the documents, and then buzzed Clare to come in.
“I have to admit,” Clare said, “I was shocked but so happy you’ve done this. The city has changed so much—homelessness has increased, and a more working-class population. You’re a good man, Rhoades. I know you care. You’ll make things right for these people.”
“First thing I need to do is find people who can run the building and give them the basic services they need like heat, hot water, and security.”
“You have enough contacts to do so. You know all the best management companies in the city. I’m sure one of them will partner with you.”
“You’re correct as usual. Can you get me Sterling Properties? Mira Khan is their contact person.”
“You got it.”
She gave me a broad smile and left me to finish going through the papers. Once I’d finished, I faxed them to my attorneys with a cover sheet that merely stated, “Urgent for Immediate Handling.” They’d know it was top priority. My phone rang.
“Mira on line two.”
“Thanks.” I hit the button. “Mira, how are you?”
“I’m good but a little confused. Clare was explaining to me you bought a building with a homeless shelter? Are you planning on knocking it down? I understand you wanting to expand to Upper Manhattan, but tossing out homeless people? That would do some serious damage to your reputation.”
“You’ve known me how many years? Does that sound like me?” I leaned back in my chair and loosened my tie.
After only a moment’s hesitation, she answered, “No. That’s why I’m confused.”
“So let me explain.”
Working out the details with Mira and then wrangling with the sellers on the final details took longer than expected, but when the sun went down, I owned the property. The first thing I did was call the director, Brenda Hunte, and introduce myself.
“And you promise me you’re not going to kick us out? I’ve been burned before.”
The suspicion in her voice was understandable after the way they’d been treated, and I knew I had work to do if I wanted to gain her trust.
“Not only that, I’ve hired a new property manager who promised to work with you to meet your needs and the needs of the people there. You’re going to have all new heating and electric, and a state-of-the-art security system. Plus, we’re going to paint and fix whatever is needed throughout the building, and my firm will donate a brand-new kitchen and all new furniture and beds.”
“Is this some sort of joke?”
I’d expected this reaction. “Not at all. I saw your story on the news, and I thought what you and the residents were facing was totally unacceptable. I’m here to tell you that change happens now.”
“Praise Jesus. And bless you, Mr. MacKenzie. Bless you and your family.”
“Call me Rhoades. I have a feeling we’re going to become very well acquainted.”
“I can’t wait to tell everyone. Thank you. You truly are an angel, and I promise you won’t regret it.”
Regret and I had been unhappy bedfellows for too long, and with this step, I might be ready to kick off the covers.
“I know I won’t. Now, my property manager, Mira Khan, will be in touch. The sale will take place within twenty days, and then I promise it will be a new chapter for you and everyone there.”
“It sounds so inadequate for me to keep saying thank you, but that’s all I have right now. I wish there was something else I could do for you.”
“Keep taking care of these people, Brenda. That’s all.”
We disconnected, and I set my phone on the desk and spun my chair around to face the glass wall behind me. Dusk had overtaken the sky, and the lights of skyscrapers on Broadway and beyond twinkled outside my windows. I’d been up since before dawn and was so bone-weary that going anywhere tonight but straight into my bed seemed an impossible feat. Despite the beauty of the cityscape before me, my eyes slid shut. Not even the prospect of seeing Austin could rouse me from my near somnambulant state.
The office phone buzzed, and I jumped, unaware I’d been lightly dozing. “Yes?” I yawned and rubbed my face. “What is it?”
“It’s after seven, Rhoades. Are you leaving?”
“Oh.” I checked the time, not realizing it was closer to half past seven. “I am. You can go home, Clare. Thank you for everything today.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I reached for my phone and texted Felix.
I’ll be down in a moment. I gathered up my papers and shut the light off to my office, anxious to be on my way.
I’m downstairs.
Felix had the uncanny ability to sense when I was ready to leave, but I shocked him when, settling myself in the back seat, I said, “Home, please.”
His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. “Not going to Man Up tonight?”
“I’m completely wrung out from the trip. The only thing I’m looking forward to is my bed.”
No matter how much I wanted to see Austin, I was so tired, I might say something I’d regret. Like how much I missed seeing him.