11!Five Hundred Million Dollars!

MABEL

“Worthwhile, you say?” He scoffed and walked towards his desk. I took a look around and I couldn't help but dazzle at the downfall of a man so powerful as Mr. Lane.

The room itself was plain. White lights buzzed overhead, shining down on desks cluttered with papers, ashtrays, and half-finished cups of coffee.

A faint gaze still lingered in the air, as if someone had smoked not too long ago.

Mr. Lane walked behind the desk and sat down heavily on his chair. His stomach pushed against his shirt button, showing how big it is. His bald head gleamed under the light.

The sight in front of me was too funny not to notice and I almost betrayed myself by laughing instead I smiled.

“So, what can I do for you Ms. James?” He asked and I smiled.

“Oh good, you remembered my name,” I said as I walked towards the desk.

“You barged in here telling you are going to make it worthwhile…so…,” he clapped his head. “You can sit,” he said.

I looked around, wondering where specifically he was telling me to sit. Every inch of this place is being covered with an ashtray or a cigarette paper.

I can tell by the color of the cushion by the side of the window, alcohol isn't the only thing that has been spilled on it.

“I'm good standing,” I said and he smiled. “I want to buy your hotel,” I said and he looked at me shocked.

“I'm sorry I'm going to rephrase…I want to buy all of your hotels,” I said and he opened his mouth wide.

“This must be a joke, right?” He asked, after closing his mouth for a while.

“Mr. Lane, you were right when you said I barged into your office,” I walked closer to his desk.

“So, do I strike you as someone who could make such a joke?” I asked him and he shook his head.

“You strike me as bold,” he said, drinking from a paper coffee cup.

“How long has that been here?” I asked him, feeling disgusted.

“Uhm, I wouldn't know but I need to be sober to talk to you,” he said and I scoffed.

“It's not even 12pm yet and you are already drunk….”

“Hey!” He yelled. “You are here to talk about buying my hotels, not about my sobriety.”

“Maybe, I don't want anything to do with either,” I said and turned to walk away.

“Stop, Ms. James,” he said. I heard the chair squeak as he got up on his feet. “I'm sober enough to get through this meeting.”

“That's not good enough,” I turned back, and walked towards his desk.

“You used to be such a force of nature and now…I mean look at you,” I scanned him from head to toe. “I don't think you're even worth my time.”

“A billion dollars,” he said and I looked up at him. “A billion dollars for the hotel.”

“A billion dollars?” I scoffed. “No one will ever give you a billion dollars in the state you are.”

“Seven hundred million,” he said, and I turned to walk away.

“Bye, Mr. Lane,” I waved to him.

“Five hundred million dollars,” he said and I stopped walking. Now, we are talking.

“When you barged in here. You said I'll know your name and you will make it worthwhile…so make it worthwhile, five hundred million dollars.”

“Well, well. Mr. Lane, I didn't think you had it in you,” I said and he scoffed.

“I'm not the same man I was ten years ago,” he said and I scoffed.

“I can tell…”

“Don't judge me,” he cuts me off.

“I'm not…judging you but I'm very disappointed. You made a name for yourself, helped a lot of people make a name for themselves and now look at you. A shadow of yourself.”

“Well, your five hundred million dollars might change that,” I rolled my eyes and looked up to see a camera light.

“Good, your camera was on when we made this deal,” I walked closer to him with my hands stretched forward for a handshake.

“Five hundred million dollars?” I asked.

“Five hundred million dollars,” he took my hand for the handshake.

“Good, because I also have the recording of this conversation on my phone,” I brought a card out of the back pocket of my pants.

“This is the contact of my attorney, have yours call him within the hour, and this deal will be closed today,” I said, and began walking towards the door.

“You took my course on business negotiation, didn't you?” he asked and I turned to him.

“Now, I wouldn't be a good negotiator if I tell you that,” I said and he laughed.

“Good luck, Mabel James. You will need it, but I think you can handle it,” he said and I nodded.

“Thank you, Mr. Lane, and I wish you all the best,” I said and with that I walked out of his office, hearing his telephone beep with each number he pressed.

I got outside to see Angie waiting, her eyes lit up when she saw me.

“How did it go?” She asked.

“How did what go?” I asked her back her questions.

“Is everything okay now, are people being laid off. Is my job safe?” She asked and I chuckled.

“That's a lot of questions coming from someone who is friends with Hailey to me,” I said and she sighed.

“I just want to know if everything is alright?” She asked.

“This is my contact,” I handed her my card. “Let me know the moment Mr. Lane exits the building,” I said and she looked at me confused.

“Exit the building, why?” She asked as I began to walk back towards the elevator.

“Too many questions, Angie,” I said to her and walked into the elevator.

I exhaled the breath I had been holding the moment I got into the elevator the first time and my stomach dropped.

“Oh my goodness, I can't believe I just did that,” I said to myself. “I just bought a frickin hotel company.”

The elevator doors opened and walked straight to my room. I need a glass of water.

“Oh thank goodness you're here,” Rose said immediately as I walked in.

“What are you doing in my room?” I asked her, she was even more fidgeting than I was.

“Uhm, well, your attorney called. He said the deal is done and he sent a bunch of files,” she said.

“That's good…can I see them,” I said as I walked towards the counter to get a glass of water.

“I don't know you to be a spontaneous person, Mabel. So tell me this isn't what I think it is,” she said.

“Okay ... .it isn't what you think it is,” I said to her and she scoffed.

“Well, I don't believe that because five hundred million dollars just left your account!” She yelled.

“And now, your attorney just sent you the deed of the hotel and it is in your name.”

“Hmm,” I shrugged as I drank from the glass of water.

“Girl, is that all you have to say?” She asked.

“For now,” I set the glass down, still in shock.

“I can’t believe I just bought a whole hotel company,” I muttered.

Rose paced the room, eyes wide. “Mabel, this isn’t a joke. That was five hundred million dollars!”

Before I could answer, she glanced at her phone and froze. “It’s already out. The Hosses know.”

My chest tightened. “What?”

She showed me the screen: MABEL JAMES BUYS LANE HOTELS FOR $500M. No Response From The Hoss Family

I swallowed hard.

Rose whispered, “Hailey won’t take this quietly. You just started a war.”

I straightened my back, my voice steady. “Good. I’m ready.”