Chapter 21 #2
He groaned. The hand stilled even as the fingers pressed more firmly into my skin.
“I need you to be the one to walk away,” he said.
Shit. I wasn’t sure I had the willpower either.
“Okay. Just a second.” I held still, breathing and trying to calm down.
“I’ll give you three more, and then we’re going to—”
I got off his lap.
He leaned back against the lounge and closed his eyes. The rise and fall of his chest was more pronounced, but not necessarily rapid. More like fiercely controlled.
The tension in his jaw called to me. I wanted to ease it. To comfort him.
The mark on my shoulder warmed, and I turned away and sat at the table by myself.
A few minutes later, our food arrived, and he joined me.
“What should I know about the upcoming meeting?” I asked.
“Meetings at the Nexus are less about the details of the project and more about establishing a relationship with the client.”
“So more like team building?”
“Exactly.”
“I’ve never been in the Nexus. I’ve only heard of it. Are there any rules?”
“Money talks there. Don’t leave my side.”
“What if I have to go to the bathroom?”
“I go with you.”
“Maybe you should have invited Lianna instead. Doesn’t sound like a fun place.”
“I promise you’ll be fine, and I don’t want to spend my evening with Lianna. I want to spend it with you.”
The heated look he gave me indicated how he’d like to spend his evening with me.
“Eat your food, Konni.”
He smirked, but listened.
Once we finished, Harlow drove us to Nexus—a sleek, mirrored building that rose several stories high in the club district. It was easy to distinguish Nexus’s clientele from other club goers in the foot traffic by their custom suits and cocktail dresses.
“Don’t bother waiting for us,” Konni said to Harlow. “We’ll get a rideshare after. Enjoy your evening.”
Konni offered his hand as we got out, but I was quick to let go this time and watched the people entering nod to one another in greeting.
“Are you sure I’m the best choice for this?” I asked Konni quietly.
“Yes.”
Did his certainty stem from knowing I could help build better relationships with the client, or from his neediness and just wanting to be with me all the time?
I glanced at him, guessing the latter, and he caught my look.
“You’re incredibly smart and talented. Doubt will only slow you down from achieving whatever you want.”
“And what do you think I want to achieve?” I asked as we started toward the entrance.
“You want to establish your career, but I don’t know what career specifically. I was hoping you’d tell me.”
“Why, so you can pave the way for me?”
He made a dissatisfied sound. “If only you’d let me hand you the world like that. I know better, though. You want to do it on your own.”
“Exactly. Which is why I’ll keep my goals to myself for now.”
In reality, my goal was simple: use my degree to get an office job and start learning all the aspects of running a business.
Without knowing it, he’d already paved the way for me by pulling me into his secretariat. I just needed to soak up everything and become useful so he wouldn’t regret the unintended help.
An attendant opened the door at our approach, and I stepped into a different world.
Nexus’s main lounge felt like an exclusive cocktail party with tinted mirrored walls, low lighting, and soft music as guests mingled over drinks from the main bar.
Konni led me toward a hallway off the main lounge. An attendant nodded us through to a corridor lined with numbered doors, like Seventeen Twenty-One. Except these rooms were open to anyone who could afford privacy for the night.
As we passed, I glanced through the narrow glass panels in the doors. Inside, people drank and talked. In one room, a woman straddled a man’s lap while other men watched.
After that room, the doors had no windows.
Thankfully, when Konni opened ours, nothing questionable was happening inside.
Three men paused their conversation as we entered.
“Mr. Steele, I’m glad you could make it,” a man said, standing to offer his hand to Konni.
“Mr. Pennly. Good to see you again. This is Ms. Elmantas. She’s been working on the Southside build and giving valuable insight. I thought you might appreciate her keen observation on your build as well.”
He shook my hand, his gaze briefly assessing and dismissive. I wasn’t offended. I was still a nobody.
Konni led me to a sofa perpendicular to the door, giving me the seat closest to the clients while taking the spot next to me. The taller of the two men poured us both two fingers of an alcohol that I knew cost more than I’d ever want to spend on a drink.
“I’ve heard you want to change the scope of the project,” Konni said, jumping right into the conversation.
“Yes. It’s a large lot and should be able to accommodate another twenty rooms at least.”
Konni thoughtfully nodded. “The lot does have the space. Not sure your budget does, though.”
“It could if we change some of the materials.” Pennly reached for a folder on the table and tried to hand it to Konni.
Konni glanced at me.
Understanding, I took the folder and opened it.
The list of building materials didn’t make much sense to me, but I spotted the changes. Thinner wood. Fewer nails. A decrease in every item, essentially, whether in count, size, or quality.
The second page started listing things I understood, thanks to the tour of the Southside project. Electrical. Plumbing. They wanted to cut everything from outlets to light fixtures to the way the water lines run.
The final list was for fixtures themselves. They were proposing to replace items with high-end names I knew with off-brands for a fraction of the cost.
I glanced at Konni. He was watching me closely.
Was he testing me?
He arched a brow, and I realized this wasn’t a test. He honestly thought I could deal with this. What was this, though?
I thought back to what Lianna had said and understood what Konni wanted.
This wasn’t a negotiation. Steele wouldn’t cut corners. This was an opportunity to steer the client back on track or cancel the contract.
I closed the folder and looked at Mr. Pennly, who was sipping his drink, an indication of his disregard and assurance that he’d get his way.
“What are your goals for the build?” I asked.
“To make money, obviously,” he said with a condescending chuckle.
“Well, you could have invested in an established franchise if that’s all you were interested in,” I said. “But you don’t strike me as a man who wants to be known for making his money off fried chicken enthusiasts.”
His expression lost some of its humor. He cleared his throat and sat up straighter, looking from me to Konni.
“The riverfront property is perfect for vacationers. It’s a convenient distance to the downtown shops and close to the more exclusive ones outside of downtown, like Zellon.”
“So you’re hoping to attract vacationers who are interested in pieces from Zellon with knock-off finishes and cheap building products?” I asked neutrally.
Pennly’s gaze flicked back to me. I saw the telltale angry flush creeping into his face and cut off his indignation before it bloomed.
“We want to help you meet your goal, but I’m not sure you have realistic expectations.
“At this point, I’d suggest some market research before making any changes.
I can have our marketing team create a 3D room model with the finishes you selected and send it over.
If you’re targeting Zellon’s clientele, find at least twelve who actually own a Zellon piece to preview the model and give feedback on how much they would spend to stay at a hotel with those finishes. ”
“It’s not a hotel. It’s a vacation resort,” Pennly said. He focused on Konni. “Next time, bring someone who knows what they’re talking about.”
“I did,” Konni said. “And she’s right. With these finishes, it won’t be the vacation resort you initially approached Steele to build; it’ll be a two-star hotel at best. I suggest you find another builder.”
Konni started to stand. The men who’d been quietly listening to everything looked at Pennly in a panic. Pennly’s expression immediately shifted.
“Wait. Just wait.” He motioned for Konni to sit again. “There has to be a way to make this work.”
I spoke before Konni could.
“If you want a resort that will attract Zellon’s patrons, you don’t need more rooms—you need fewer. Decreasing the number means lower build costs and more budget for even higher-end finishes. People with the kind of money you want at your resort don’t want to be crowded; they want exclusivity.
“Make every room distinct—something worth coming back for because they’ll hear about ‘that one suite’ from an acquaintance.
Cater to their expectations. Add a wine bar.
A spa. A cigar lounge. Better yet, an attached cafe open to the public, so that those who can’t afford to stay can still see those who can.
That’s how you build prestige—by making people aspire to be inside. ”
The silence when I finished had me questioning if I’d gone too far.
“You decide, Pennly,” Konni said. “If you’re looking for something other than the elegant resort my team pitched to you, Steele Corp is no longer a good fit for this build. We don’t cut corners. Ever.”
The shorter of the two men beside Pennly cleared his throat and looked at me.
“Would it be possible to get two 3D room models? One with the newly proposed finishes and one with the higher level finishes you mentioned?”
“Of course. I can have that to you by the end of the day Thursday.”
The three of them shared a look, and the third man stood suddenly and lifted his glass with a smile.
“A toast. To friendships and listening to reason.”
Konni stood with his glass, and I did the same. The alcohol was smooth on the way down, but it wasn’t Konni’s typical sweet preference.
I saw he’d only taken a small sip, and I suppressed a smirk.
“You handle your alcohol well, Ms. Elmantas,” the shorter man said. “Here, allow me.”
He poured more into my glass as Konni’s phone rang. I saw Lianna’s name and mentally rolled my eyes. Konni audibly sighed and answered with a crisp hello.
“How long have you been at Steele Corp?” Mr. Pennly asked.
“Not long,” I said. “It was a quick assimilation.”
“Steele has a good eye for talent,” he said at the same time Konni gave the room number.
“I agree.” With a smile, I silently toasted the compliment.
“What’s your background?” the shorter man asked. “You seem to have an eye for design.”
“I majored in business, but have diverse interests, which is why Steele Corp is a perfect fit for me.”
Konni hung up and proved he’d been listening by saying, “Steele Corp’s hiring manager got a bonus for finding Ms. Elmantas.”
Their gazes carried more respect when they shifted back to me.
“An equally beneficial find,” I said.
The door opened, and Lianna walked in.
“Ms. Stonestock,” Pennly said, looking pleased. “I’m glad you could join us.”
She’d changed into a cocktail dress that fit her like a second skin, dipping low enough in front to attract attention but not enough to cross into trashy.
She returned Pennly’s smile with warmth I never would have guessed she had.
“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Pennly. Unfortunately, I’m just here to get a contract signed.”
“Excuse me for a moment,” Konni said, standing.
He joined her by the door and scanned the contract as Lianna whispered to him.
“How many active projects does Steele Corp have?” the shorter man asked me.
“Enough to keep its five thousand employees busy,” I said. “And to always be on the lookout for more talent.”
They chuckled, not minding my deflective answer.
Konni signed the contract and turned toward us.
“Ms. Stonestock, you should stay for a drink,” Pennly said.
I internally groaned. It wouldn’t take much alcohol to melt my professionalism when it came to her. And that was something I definitely didn’t want to happen in front of clients.
My regret for downing that last drink was real.