Chapter 2 #2
Time to change the subject. “Barrett, I want you to come on board of York Properties, LLC as my chief financial officer. I’d like you to perform a critical assessment of the portfolio and the employees at the company to objectively determine where we can consolidate and divest some of the underperforming properties.
Maybe get rid of some of the overseas properties?
The tax implications have become less lucrative since the new administration took over. ”
Barrett’s eyes grew wide. “What?”
“It’s too much for me to handle alone, and if you quote me on this, I’ll deny it, but I’m tired of moving every year to keep up with the business.
The company is making good money, but it’s grown faster than I thought it would, and I need help running it.
” It wasn’t easy to admit to needing more hands on the wheel, but I was sure my friend would understand.
“Look, Barrett, I trust you. I want you to help me find good people in each office to make crucial decisions without one of us having to fly to that place to make the decision for them. I don’t want us to miss great opportunities if we’re unavailable.
“I’ll give you a twenty-five percent share in the profits, plus a salary, and we’ll allot a percentage of shares to the new vice presidents we name in each office.
We can base the percentages on the size of their market and assess their staffing needs based on maintaining the properties we already hold, without adding new properties to the portfolio—unless there’s something we can’t walk away from.
I’ll depend on you to help me determine the viability of any properties we hold or any new ones we acquire. ” I meant every word I said.
Barrett appeared to be a bit staggered by my comment. “Okay. When did you decide this?”
“I’ve thought about this for a couple of years, Barrett, and I could only see you in this role, even after you left York Properties. What do you say?”
Maizie returned to the table and glanced between us. “I don’t want to interrupt if you’re discussing something important. I can go wait in the bar if you’d prefer.”
Barrett reached for her hand. “You stay right here, baby girl. I have nothing to hide from you.”
“Daddy, did you tell Mr. York about the party at the club? Telly’s going to make me special pajamas for it,” Maizie asked.
It was sweet, the way she looked at him. I was yearning to have the same thing for myself. What I was trying to do with York Properties would hopefully free up some time to pursue some private interests. With Barrett on my team, the possibilities were endless.
“No, baby girl, I didn’t mention it because I forgot. Thank you for reminding me. I’ll explain other things to you when we get home. You’re still coming home with me, right?” Barrett asked her. Something was up there that I wasn’t sure about, but I knew it wasn’t my place to ask.
“Daddy, I’m scheduled to work tomorrow. My apartment is on a convenient bus line, and it’s close to school. I have one more year of college, and then I can move. Right now, I need to be at Shitty Arms,” she responded.
I chuckled at her turn of phrase. “What’s Shitty Arms?”
Barrett turned to me and gritted his teeth.
“She lives in the worst fucking apartment building in Hillsdale. Shelton Arms. I’ve been begging her to move in with me for six months, but she refuses because she’s in her final year of college.
I said I’d buy her a car, but she insists on staying in that rundown building because her best friend, Telly, lives there.
The fucking plumbing leaks, and the landlord refuses to do anything about it. ”
“Where do you work, Maizie, if I can ask?”
She had big brown eyes and a great smile. “Bloomfield’s Department Store. I work in the women’s department.”
That was interesting. Would the Teller I’d met the other day be the Telly she knew? “I was just there the other day to pick up a gag gift for my office’s holiday grab bag. A nice young man in the men’s department waited on me. Uh, Trent?”
I pretended I didn’t know his name to see what answer she’d give me. His face had been floating through my mind over and over since I’d met him, and I might have done some very dirty things with his beautiful features behind my eyes.
“Oh! Men’s department? That’s my best friend, Teller Buchanan. He lives on the floor above me at the Shelton Arms.”
That piqued my interest. “Where’s this building?”
“Hillsdale Heights,” Maizie responded.
I didn’t feel as if I should go any further into it, but ideas were popping up in my mind like shooting stars. “Okay. Barrett, think about my offer and call me, please. Maizie, it was a pleasure meeting you. I’d love to go to the party at your club. Have your Daddy send me details.”
I stood, popping a kiss on Maizie’s cheek and giving Barrett a hug before I paid the bill and left. I had a lot to think about, but I knew I’d made the best decision to offer the job to Barrett. I hoped to fuck he seriously considered it.