CHAPTER FOUR Connections
“WHY ARE YOU here?”
A smile sliced through the normally serious mien he wore on his face, elevating him from dangerous to decadently handsome. I hated the fact that he was so attractive. All the fine ones had to be crazy . Francesca and her husband’s friend's group, including the man in front of me, were proof of that.
“Why else does one come to a realtor, habibi ?”
He slowly unbuttoned the top button of his suit jacket as he walked to my desk and sat down. He moved like a model—no that wasn’t accurate. Xerxes moved through a room like he owned it. As though everything within it recognized that he was the one at the top of the food chain and they would do well to make a friend of him instead of an enemy. I could see that air about him, but the one that projected to me was worse. As I watched him move so effortlessly toward me his hunter green suit custom tailored to his broad athletic frame almost made me forget he was more than just a businessman. Xerxes intoxicated me. Motioned for me to come closer like the wisps of smoke from a genie’s lamp promising to fulfill the desires of my heart. Only instead of offering me three wishes, he offered me a lifetime of endless possibilities. Hope. The promise of love. And I wasn’t sure I could handle that.
It wasn’t until he sat down that I realized I’d been gawking at him unblinkingly as he made his way to me.
“By all means, have a seat.”
He grinned at my sarcasm, and it bothered me that I didn’t affect him. Nothing I did annoyed him. He always smiled at me as though he knew I was attempting to keep him at arm’s length. And failing.
Xerxes was a man with looks that would make anyone look three or four times. Hell, I’d been in the same room as him when women just openly stared despite him not paying them any attention. I wasn’t trying to be around someone who had that kind of magnetism because I’d spend too much time cussin’ people out.
And I didn’t want to be anywhere near another man with the type of all-consuming power that leapt off of him like static whenever I got too close.
Been burned enough in this lifetime thank you very much.
I shifted in my desk chair, yet another move that seemed to make his smile deepen and that damn dimple pop out. Why God gave this man a dimple was just pure visual torture for everyone that came in contact with him.
“From what I understood, you live in Tennessee, and while I’m licensed and insured there, I’m not currently taking traveling clients.”
Because of my boutique service, I dealt with high-profile clients who preferred to work with one agent no matter what state or country they wished to make a purchase. Because of that, I’d sat through exams in multiple states to ensure I could fit their needs. Most major markets were covered, and for those I didn’t have access to, I studied up and got it. There was a time in my life that I was controlled by money. Controlled period, if we’re being honest and I swore I would do everything to never return to that life. Having been brought up to be a pretty fool was the goal, but jokes on them because I was naturally smart. Whenever business conversations were had at the dinner table, I soaked in the knowledge they’d thought they were dispensing to my brother. More times than not, I was there to help him when he had issues. If only I would’ve known how that help would slap me in the face literally years down the line. I would’ve kept my mouth shut.
“I plan to move and zhere is no one else I trust to handle zhis purchase zhan you. Your reputation in zhis city speaks for you and I’m sure zhat you will find me exactly what I need. Besides, we don’t allow money zhat could be spent wiz family to be handed to strangers. We take care of our own.” His eyes were the epitome of bedroom: deep brown, heavily lashed so thick and dark they didn’t look real. His eyes were dreamy, seducing orbs that had me once again mesmerized until he winked at me and I snapped out of the trance.
I smiled tightly, sitting back to put some space between us. “I’m not family.”
“Are you not Francesca’s best friend? Zhat provides you with our care and protection. Not to brag, but zhe commission for zhe house alone would match your profits for last year.”
My brain filtered through his words before parts of it began to register and questions started to fire off in my brain. “First off, what do you mean for the house alone ? What are you planning to buy?”
“I need a house and business location, ma beauté. Preferably a complex. Zhat way I can lease out other businesses or even a high rise would be suitable. If nozing is available we can look for land to purchase to build.” He was speaking about investing tens of millions of dollars into a location like it was nothing. For him to trust me with this was a really big deal.
“Build a high rise. In Uptown?” I was wondering if he understood what that would entail and how much he would need to spend to get what he wanted. But judging by the arrogant, no confident, look on his face, he was completely undaunted at whatever number I would throw at him.
“I have never understood zhis place’s need to be different by calling zheir downtown Uptown.”
“It’s because of the elevation of Trade and Tryon. They are the highest elevation in the city. But honestly, it’s just propaganda.” I shrugged and he had a smile dancing on his full lips, that dimple playing peekaboo in the hollow of his cheek.
“Most zhings in zhis world are.”
“So tell me, what are you looking for in a home?”
He hesitated as though he was undecided, which seemed patently against this man’s nature. “I’m not sure. It has to be large. As you can see, I have a very large friend group who have the desire to expand their bloodlines immediately. With three children currently and with Jahmir’s wife due in the summer and Bhaltair’s due in the early fall, we will need space.”
I hesitated to speak on anything because he spoke about the people he hung around with as though they were just his friends. His brothers. And not… an organization. Of course, my best friend was married into it and she had to be as crazy as her husband to handle him so…
I made a mental note of what he was going to need because homes that had upward of seven bedrooms weren’t rare in Charlotte but we would need to move fast. “A lot of bedrooms. How about privacy?”
“What would you zhink a man of my background would need?” His brow rose, not in offense, but almost like he was questioning what I knew about him. Since I wasn’t crazy, I was going to play dumb.
“Well, I would assume that you would need more space than normal. That comes at a premium.”
“Zhere is no price limit I can’t afford to pay wiz cash, Vanya.”
I paused not wanting to assume anything about his finances because he, of course wasn’t broke. The most expensive house in Charlotte was still something that would make even a wealthy person blink twice. “So you won’t need financing?”
“I have a friend who owns a bank, habibi . If I needed it, it would be zhere. Would zhat ease your mind zhat you weren’t doing somezing illegal?”
“Considering the people you call friends? No.”
He barked a laugh that pulled one from me and some of the tension ebbed out of my spine.
“A smart business woman who is blunt. I like you very much Vanya.” The words were loaded but there was no need for me to ask him to elaborate. The look on his face spoke louder than his words.
“I’m not trying to be nosy—”
“Zhere is no offense taken. You have been more zhan vetted to have zhe knowledge zhat you do. We trust you, which is a very high honor.”
“Thank you. But I will say, if you don’t want people wanting access to your financial information, at least get him to write you a letter on what your funding limit would be. People might get the ideas to cheat you if they see what you have available.” I bit my lip hoping my suggestion wasn’t deemed as disrespectful.
“I’ve handled many deals before and I understand completely.” He leaned back, his deep brown hair looking like he had the perfect blow out. It was parted slightly off center and fell in deep waves that looked as though they wanted to turn into curls.
“Any family?”
“My mozer and fazer.”
“Siblings?”
His swift shake of his head meant that was a point of pain and I would make sure not to mention it again. “Zhe brothers zhat you have met are my only siblings. How about you?”
I shook my head, my curls doing their best imitation of a mane since it had been so many days since I washed it. I didn’t care how people saw them, taming my hair was the one thing I would always refuse to do. “I don’t speak to my adoptive siblings anymore. You’ve seen my ex…”
He made a sound of disgust in his throat his tongue flickering out to demonstrate his annoyance but instead had me wondering how good it would feel against mine.
“Nasty business we will discuss at anozer time. I am enjoying my time wiz you too much to sully it with a miscreant who deserved far worse than he received. Back to business, zhe house will need to have a guest house on zhe property.”
I was nodding and pulled out my tablet to make a note of the new requirement. “For your parents?”
“No, zhey will want to purchase zheir own property for when zhey visit. Zhe guest house is for my security.”
“You have security?” I knew I sounded ridiculous asking him the question again, but I didn’t know anyone who lived like that.
“Yes.” He answered as though it were the most normal thing in the world. But then again, I guess it was to him.
“In your home?”
“Not in my home. Zhey provide me with securing my home and zhen zhey stay on zhe property.”
“Always?” Again I felt dumb but my inquiring mind wanted to know what to expect. And even that was odd because he was just a client.
“Yes.”
“When did this become a thing? Is this what success has forced you into?”
He seemed to like me asking questions about him, which was a dangerous thing for me to do. Zhis is what being born part of an important family forced me into. From birz I’ve had someone to watch over me. It’s tradition so I don’t know of any other way.”
I loved how he thought of himself as royal even if so many others would’ve looked down on what he and his friends did. Having a high sense of self in the Black community was something that people seemed to hate us for as a whole. At least that was my perception as a girl who’d tried to have her self-love beat out of her. “I’m not sure if I’m fascinated or heartbroken for you.”
“For you to feel an emotion zhat strongly toward me would be refreshing. Normally I receive indifference. We are making progress.” He put his hands together as thought pray bouncing them slightly against his lips as they moved.
“Xerxes—”
“Zhe house must have a pool. I prefer somezing zhat is no more zhan ten years old. I would need to have information on zhe builder and several inspectors to provide a full report on all aspects of it and the land. Zhe smallest lot I could handle is five acres. Zhe most is twenty.”
“And you think you’re going to find that within Charlotte’s city limits?”