Chapter 3
Chapter Three
MARLOWE
A s usual, parking was miserable at Grappino’s. The back lot was small and from the looks of the outside patio, the popular gathering place was packed. Although usually Marlowe liked to keep her convertible in sight, she had no choice. But she put the top up before she left it on the street, about a block away.
She loved Naples at this time of year. After the cold in Charlevoix, this sixty degree weather felt comfortable. No need for coats, mittens or gloves. Still, she had really enjoyed that cold and snow. That kind of weather was all she'd known growing up. As she’d rediscovered over vacation, those had been good days.
Her black stilettos weren't made for walking on this sidewalk but they'd have to do. Marlowe smoothed a hand down her midnight blue dress that reached just above her knees and fluttered as she walked. Approaching Grappino’s she watched her step until she reached the back patio where a performer was crooning Frank Sinatra songs.
Welcome to Happy Hour and she felt the eyes her dress and stilettos were attracting. With her head high, she kept her eyes down and let her inner anger mount. Pushing open the door she breathed in the cool air. The Hardy Luxury Properties crew was gathered in a corner of the intimate bar area. Their raucous laughter found her before she saw them.
“Marlowe!” Jumping off a bar stool, Jenna motioned to her.
Although her smile might hurt, Marlowe pasted one on her face before she stepped around the small tables. The fireplace was going, probably more for show than because they needed it. She felt perspiration gathering at her hairline. Tonight she’d let her hair fall in thick waves that cascaded over her shoulders. Looking up from the center of the group, Landon noticed her all right.
His eyes swept her V-neck where her stunning diamond pendant nestled. That necklace meant a lot. She’d bought it after selling her first big ticket property. Landon was playing it cool. Instead of greeting her, he turned to Jonathon as if they were in the middle of an important conversation. Sean and Alberto turned to greet her while Jonathon hung on Landon’s every word. The younger guys thought Landon walked on water. She wanted to kill him.
Marlowe was relieved to see Shari Smart. Breaking away from the guys, Shari gave her a nod. An older woman who’d been with Hardy for a long time, Shari kept to herself. Her list of contacts was primo and everyone knew it. No one touched her lists. At least, Marlowe thought that was still true. Jenna was standing next to Shari and waved again.
“Marlowe, so glad you made it.” But Jenna didn’t look happy. Not at all. “I thought you might be too tired after the trip back.”
“Tired? Me?” Marlowe managed a smile while Jenna and Shari laughed as if it was a joke. Marlowe was known for her energy. She used her days for client contact and did all her paperwork late at night.
Although she wanted to drill Jenna with questions about the open house, Marlowe had to choose her moment. Leaning into the bar, she ordered a Garden Spritz, not wanting anything heavier. She had to keep her head clear for what lay ahead. As usual, Landon had ordered appetizers and they were displayed along the bar.
While Jenna concentrated on the platter of zucchini blossoms filled with mozzarella and anchovies, Shari turned to Marlowe. “I was wondering when you'd be back in town.”
“You mean I never should have left?” The bartender brought her drink and Marlowe lifted it to her lips, careful to take only a sip.
“It was quite an interesting holiday without you here.” Shari’s eyes danced as if she was enjoying this. Was she aware of what had happened to the Bobby Jensen deal? Probably. Nothing escaped Shari’s notice.
“I enjoyed spending time with my family.” The trip home to Charlevoix had been magical. Describing it was impossible and she didn't try. This was not the time to get all mushy with nostalgia.
Marlowe trained her eyes on Jenna until the girl must have felt her back burn. She turned and Shari brought her attention to Alberto. She liked to talk Italian with him. Said that it got her ready for her next trip to the Amalfi coast.
“So tell me,” Marlowe brought her head down. She was a bit taller than Jenna. “How did it happen that the date for my open house was changed without my input?”
Jenna blinked her blue eyes. “But Landon said you didn't answer your phone. He tried to contact you.”
In some ways Jenna was right and Marlowe could kick herself. But she refused to be reeled in by Jenna’s innocence. Not tonight. She was glad the place was jammed. Glad that the noise level was high. The truth was, she hadn't answered her phone while she was at Sunnycrest. Not when she thought it was just Landon, with his stupid flirtatious jokes. What part of his marriage did that man not understand?
Charlevoix had cleared her head about her boss and right now she struggled to maintain that clarity. How she wished Sam or her Aunt Cate was standing here to bolster her spirits and feed her anger. They knew how to cut right through to the chase.
“I'm surprised that you made such a drastic change without getting my input. I would have expected a call.”
As she spoke, Jenna's face grew pale. This was the girl who’d cowered nervously at her desk on the first day of work until Marlowe invited her to lunch. She'd seen herself in Jenna’s wide eyes and determination to succeed. They’d had a special bond, or so she thought. What had happened?
“So the traveler has returned.” There was no mistaking the gravely, teasing tone of Landon Hardy’s voice. Marlowe turned.
“Happy New Year, Landon.” Was her smile strained? Marlowe wanted to rip his eyes out. Bide your time.
She turned her head away to face Jenna. “So tell me how the open house went. Did you have a lot of visitors?”
The words “open house” had thrown a blanket over the entire group. Alberto looked to Jonathan as if he didn't know what to do. Secure in her position, Shari wore a smile that made Marlowe wonder what she knew about the situation. Poor Jenna looked totally panicked, as if she might faint or leave for the restroom at any moment. The poor girl . That’s what Marlowe would have thought two weeks ago. But now? Jenna better put on her big girl pants.
Landon shrugged, sending off a whiff of his expensive cologne. “The usual group with one or two I added at the last minute. Jenna did a great job. I finessed the situation with Bobby since you were…out of reach.” His words brought a flush to Jenna's cheeks. Of course he would try to own it. Poor Jenna. Landon had no doubt maneuvered around her. She’d probably been too intimidated to protest or send Marlowe an alert.
“Do you mean that the confirmed buyer was someone not on the original list?” Shari had come closer and Marlowe felt bolstered by her presence. Multi-million dollar deals were Shari’s specialty. She rarely took a listing below five million. A steady player, the older woman knew how to rub elbows with the high rollers. From what Marlowe saw in the papers and online, Shari was a constant figure at charity events, where Naple’s donors lifted flutes of French champagne and pledged amounts that others, Marlowe included, could never afford.
The habit Landon had of sucking in his cheeks when he was questioned was very familiar to her. “The list? Can't recall. But this was what Bobby wanted. A New Year’s Day open house. Pivotal point.” The word salad came spilling out.
So he was going to play that card? Marlowe dug one of her stiletto heels into the wood flooring, mentally apologizing to the owners. She’d cultivated Bobby Jensen. Had taken his Christmas present to him in person. But who was she kidding? This was a man who didn't really need another silver bowl or a box of holiday wrapping paper. He had just divorced his third wife and had children in four countries.
“So Bobby pushed for moving up the open house?”
A flush worked its way up from Landon’s open-collared shirt. “Yeah, sure. He was all in favor of it. I mean…”
Marlowe enjoyed watching him squirm. Shari wore a grim smile. Doubt rippled at the edges of her mind. Had she dropped the ball? She hadn't touched base with Bobby over the past two weeks. Standing there clutching her stemmed glass, she was mentally kicking herself until something occurred to her. “Bobby was in the Mediterranean over the holidays or so he told me.”
“Reachable by phone.” The patronizing tone told her Landon would not give up. Meanwhile, the guys had withdrawn and ordered another round. Jenna looked totally zoned out. But Shari’s bright eyes indicated she was enjoying it. Whose side was she on?
“He thought the New Year's Day open house was a fresh take on it.” When Landon dipped his head, Marlowe decided he was a little old for that gelled look of the younger men.
But back to business. “It would have been nice if the listing agent had a voice in that decision.”
“You didn’t?” Landon had the nerve to look surprised. Jenna edged farther away, while Shari stayed close. Marlowe thought the stemmed drink in her hand would snap. “Sorry, cupcake. Bobby wanted some changes made.”
The heat rushed to Marlowe's cheeks. Landon was a good fifteen years older than her, and that word showed his age. Her revulsion must have shown on her face and Marlowe didn’t care.
Jenna's eyes flitted between the two of them as if she were at a tennis match. After that last comment, the younger woman gripped the bar with one hand. Mouth pursed, Shari still wasn't going anywhere.
Marlowe knew that she had to be careful. Although she’d tossed around a lot of ideas with her aunt and sisters in Charlevoix, she wasn't ready to walk away from this career. Not yet, anyway. She needed some time. But letting Landon get away with this move, which was really theft, ran against the grain.
Marlowe tried another angle. “I'm surprised that you were able to gather such a group on a day when most of you would be nursing a hangover.”
“Melissa and I did have a great time that New Year's Eve.” Blowing out one of his deep chuckles, Landon shook his head as if something was wildly amusing. “She wants to have another kid. Can you believe it?”
Thinking about her sister Izzy and her darling baby Holly, Marlowe felt this comment as a personal blow. Here she was dressed to kill in her stiletto heels, with no husband and no baby. But she had her family. Remembering those three strong women and how they’d stand behind her, she took a deep breath. Back to business
“I’m the listing agent for that property, Landon, and we both know it.”
With a casual shrug, Landon shook his head. “Time was short and we had to make changes.”
What was this? An open house two weeks after New Year’s would have brought a buyer, and they both knew it. Circling the lip of her drink with one finger, she cast her eyes over Alberto and Jonathan, who were tuning into the conversation. Shari seemed to be waiting too. The air crackled with tension. “Although they may be unwritten, there are protocols,” Marlowe said quietly
Not too long ago, Marlowe and Landon had laughed about the guidelines that the company didn't have. How little she knew back then. The comradery now gone, Landon must still realize that he couldn't change an open house that one of his top realtors had organized.
“Right, let me know what those protocols are.” Smiling, Landon glanced over at Jenna as if sharing a joke. The poor girl didn't disappoint with her silly giggle. Had that been Marlowe a few years ago? Foolish and eager to get ahead in a career where there was big money to be made.
“Of course, there is the issue of the contract, Landon.” Shari’s voice made Marlowe turn with relief. The cavalry had arrived. “What name is down as the primary listing agent?”
It seemed as if the world stopped with that question. Shari had bought her time at the company and Marlowe was grateful. She had weight with Landon and right now he didn’t looked pleased.
But Marlowe had had enough. The people standing around them were becoming curious. This wasn’t the usual Happy Hour chatter. HALT strobed in Marlowe’s mind. She was more than hungry, and she sure was angry. The last two weeks had changed her. Without her family she was feeling lonely and tired. Her exhaustion went a lot deeper than simple flight fatigue. The feeling in the pit of her stomach went soul deep. She had a lot to think about.
“We'll have to see what we can do.” Looping one arm over Jenna's shoulder, Landon gave her a proprietary squeeze that seemed to make the young woman uncomfortable. “Maybe Jenna will give up part of her commission.”
Jenna’s stricken expression was overridden by Shari’s disgusted yelp. “Oh please, Landon. Really.”
At that point, Landon must have realized he'd gone too far. His arm released Jenna and he shook the empty glass in his hand. While the ice cubes rattled, Marlowe’s mind leapt ahead.
“The math is the math,” she said. “I have a few other properties open right now. But this has to be straightened out. And fast.” Was she threatening him? Maybe. Nostrils flaring, he took a deep breath. Looking like she might faint, Jenna grabbed the back of one of the bar stools.
After she'd gotten dressed that evening, Marlowe had pulled up her current listings. First she took Jenna's name off the two properties where she’d generously listed her protégée as secondary. That relationship was gone. Jenna had betrayed her. Marlowe knew the power of Landon’s flirtatious persuasion. But that didn’t make her feel any better.
The guys had ordered another drink and made inroads on the prosciutto and brie appetizers. Alberto drew closer to Jenna and looked as if he was comforting her. That would not work. It was always a bad idea to date within your company. But the days were gone when she would clue Jenna in on successful company policies.
Finally Landon gave them all a breezy goodbye and left. Feeling some relief, Marlowe tossed back a gulp of her drink. For some reason Shari had stayed close, as if she wanted to say something. Although she appreciated the moral support, Marlowe wasn’t in the mood for pity. The growl of Landon’s Ferrari was unmistakable as their boss left the parking lot.
“That Harry,” Shari murmured, so low that only Marlowe could hear.
“Harry who?” Marlowe looked at her blankly.
Sliding her empty glass onto the bar, Shari said, “That was Landon’s real name before his father left him the company. Harold Landon Hardy. Everyone called him Harry back then. And now I’ve got to run.”
Dumbfounded, Marlowe watched Shari swirl through the back door toward the parking lot. What else did Shari know?
After waiting a minute or two, Marlowe gave everyone a farewell wave and left. The sidewalk gave up the heat of the day, slowing her progress. The walk back to her car gave her time to think.
Had her life come to this? As difficult as it might be, she had to work through these troubling issues. This office fiasco might make it easier for her to make a change. The misgivings that had plagued her earlier were fading. Maybe she should take this as a sign.