Chapter 8
Walid and his men walked through the vast open space of the skyscraper’s 37th floor. His American partner walked beside him, pointing out how the floor had been setup before with cubicle walls, and sections split off for offices.
Of course, when the floor went vacant, the failed business sold off all of that stuff to makeup as much of the cost as possible. As he listened to his partner speak, Walid was acutely aware of the lack of cover. Should another attack happen, there would be nowhere to hide.
His cautious nature warred with his need to remain stoic and fearless. His men constantly repositioned themselves so that every entrance was watched. If something were to happen, they would no doubt notify him. It was his job to remain the wall, the stone pillar.
Unfazed by the potential danger, he listened to this short fat man drone on about square footage and so on. Walid was a businessman, and as such of course understood the importance of such things. That did not, however, make it interesting at all to listen to.
“This location really is a steal,” his partner said.
The deal was for floors 34 through 39. It was the foolish entrepreneur that did not inspect their own goods, but Walid could only take so much of this.
“Yes, they are very nice. We will take this floor and the one below.”
His partner flustered for a moment and struggled to find the words. “The deal is for –“
Walid held up a hand. Closing his eyes, he resisted the urge to slap the man for arguing as though this was the first time Walid had ever done business. “Yes, I know what the bargain is. Our foothold in this country is tenuous, the profit we will make in the first two years will cover costs and little else.”
“If you would just listen to me, I’ve told you I can help with that. I know ways we can make back costs in six months, turn a profit in nine, and double that by the end of a year!”
“And the business will collapse three months after that!” Walid clenched his fists and held them behind his back. “My family is a dynasty. The business we wage is not, as you say, fly-by-night. Your quick schemes are a way to make a fast dollar at the expense of the people, but is not a lasting solution. When you and I first agreed to this partnership, I told you it would be my way. I fund you, I dictate how that money is to be spent. We will not cheat the people. We will provide them the services they need affordably. That means time, quality, and growth. You wish to build a castle on sand. I seek a fortress on a granite foundation. In twenty years, our children will be among the richest in the continent.”
The fat man puffed air through his nostrils. He was obviously not accustomed to being berated, but he handled the harsh words well enough. “That’s just not the way it’s done here.”
“And that,” Walid said, straightening out his jacket and tie, “is why I am here.”
“Are you certain the two floors are all you want? It won’t leave us room for growth, like you wanted.”
Walid gave a sly smirk. “I wish to build a foundation, but that does not mean I will not slice throats to do it. This floor and the one below split the available floors. We will offer double the asking price. They cannot refuse. This will force only smaller businesses to take the remaining floors above and below us. They will fail. When they do, we will have grown and turned profit that we can expand into those spaces.”
“Double? But if you want to buy the two levels to save money…?”
Walid gestured to the empty space. “It is not the initial cost that gives me pause, it is the upkeep. Two floors versus six adds up after six months, a year, or however long it may take. It is an added cost we do not need.”
The fat man held up his hands in surrender. “All right, all right. I’ll have them draw up the papers and send them over.”
“Send them to me directly. I wish to look them over before turning them to my lawyer for review.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
As Walid and his men entered into the limo, one of his men gave him a look. Walid tried to ignore it, but as the car took off down the street, he couldn’t put it aside. At least his partner had taken his own car. That freed Walid up to have the conversation without listening ears. He was sure he didn’t want anyone outside of his circle to hear what was about to be said.
“What is it?”
“You are distracted.”
There it was. No hesitation, no attempt at subtly. “Am I not allowed to be?”
The man kept his hands in his lap, his posture straight and respectful, yet Walid could see in the man’s eyes a defiance not found among the business people here.
“Your life is in constant threat from an unknown enemy and you prolong this process by having him send you the documents? Just so that you can see that woman.”
“She is not ‘that woman’ and her name is Lacy.”
“My point remains.”
“It does,” Walid admitted and propped his elbow on the rest in the door. “I had no intention to develop feelings for a woman while here conducting my business. You are right, it is a distraction, and one I can ill afford. And yet…”
“And yet?” his man asked dubiously.
“And yet I cannot help myself. There is a draw inside of me. I’ve never found myself thinking of a woman when she was outside of my presence. Always it was they who thought of me while I tended to other matters. But now I find myself questioning, wondering what it is she is doing in that moment.”
“You fear she betrays you?”
Walid laughed. “No, I do not fear betrayal from her. It is curiosity. I am interested in all she does. She interests me.”
“You have had three business dinners with her, yet I suspect you’ve not spoken of any business during these times.”
“Your suspicions are well founded. We have indeed not.”
His man took a deep breath through his nose and sighed softly. “Sir, a question.”
“Yes?”
“Do you love this woman?”
Walid smiled and tried to hide it under his hand by idly propping his chin in his palm and looking out the window. “If I were? Do I not have your permission?”
This time it was his man’s turn to smile. “I apologize. I do not mean to overstep my bounds. Of course you need not my permission. I had thought she was a conquest, a needless demand on your attention.”
“But if we speak of love…?”
“If it’s love, then you should consider the dangers. Not just to you, but that you bring to her.”
The smile faded from Walid’s face and his features hardened. “I have. Repeatedly.”
“Then why do you not stop?”
Walid looked his man in the eye. “Because I cannot.”