Haley
I felt strangely nervous all day. Although I ke
pt telling myself I was just going out to eat with my roommates and to not think past that, I couldn’t help it. I was wondering if I had made a huge mistake. Why hadn’t I stuck to my original plan and gone to the club? Malcolm kept looking at me and smirking too which was pissing me off. I did not have the energy to deal with his crap today. I was so nervous about the date tonight that my meeting with Arthur and the developer went like a dream. My presentation was immaculate.
I could tell Arthur was pleased. His face stayed relaxed throughout the meeting and he didn’t remove his jacket. If Arthur got tense, he got hot and the jacket came off. The developer, Elias King, took me by surprise. I didn’t know what I expected but it hadn’t been a good-looking older man. He looked to be in his mid-forties with a sprinkling of black and gray stubble to his chin and salt and pepper hair, spiked on the top. Most men his age wouldn’t get away with that hairstyle but he did. The pull of his shirt across his chest suggested he kept in shape. When we first met, his handshake had been firm and his hands soft, an indication that he may have started out in construction but now his business was conducted in boardrooms.
“I want someone I can work closely with on this development. Someone I can trust implicitly. I anticipate most of the properties will sell off to wealthy clientele…clientele who may not want others to be aware of their purchase. At this price range they could be, how can I put it, choosy, with their requirements.”
“Haley handles many of our more exclusive residences. That’s why I felt she would be a good fit for your development.” Arthur commented.
I smiled. “I’ve dealt with very many wealthy clients and choosy requests. Obviously, I can’t give you details as it’s all entirely confidential, but I can assure you that your potential buyers will all be handled with the utmost discretion.”
“Well, I’m very happy with what I’ve seen here today, Arthur, and I would like to accept Haley as my Realtor for the development. Haley, my PA will be in touch to arrange for us to meet at the development so I can show you around personally. I know you’ve visited before but I’d like to ensure you have all my vision for the place. King Park, is, in my mind, a unique development.”
“Of course.” I nodded. “I will wait to hear from your Assistant. Thank you for allowing me to take on your development. You have my promise that your vision will be carried through. I’m looking forward to working for you.”
“With me, not for me, Haley. No one I work with is my subordinate. I hate bosses who make their staff feel like they’re somehow inferior.”
Arthur clapped him on the back, taking me by surprise. “That’s because your father brought you up right. I can’t tell you how much I miss him. Haley is a superstar. You’ll not have a finer Realtor.”
Arthur turned to me. “Thank you, Haley.”
I got up to leave.
“Ah, just one more thing,” Elias announced. “Can we not announce yet who is leading the development. I have another little deal happening where they might be put off if they know they have not got this as part of the package.”
“We’ll leave it until you give us the go ahead,” Arthur said.
“My lips are sealed,” I told Elias. His mouth twitched as I said it. Surely he’s not flirting with me a little?
I had left the meeting and headed straight into the ladies bathroom. Checking no-one was around I’d squealed and done a little dance. I had got the development! Fuck you, Malcolm, I thought. I was going to have to try very hard not to do a little dance in front of his face with an accompanying smug grin.
Speaking of the devil; I hadn’t even been back at my desk for ten minutes before he sidled over.
“You look nice today, Haley. Not that you usually don’t but you look extra nice today. Have you been or are you going anywhere nice? I noticed you left your desk earlier.”
“Not that it’s any of your business but Arthur wanted to check in with me about something.”
His jaw tensed. “About King Park?”
“You’re obsessed with that project. Not everything centers around it you know? There are other properties to sell.”
“Yes, but Elias King is a billionaire. To work for him could be to set yourself up for life. Word on the street is he’s going to set up his own property management company so he can keep it in-house.”
“Well, I wouldn’t know about that and I am perfectly happy working here at Greens, so if that is all, I have work to do.”
“Fine. Catch you later, Haley.” He gave me that smirk again. I would have liked to slap it off his face.
I got home and went straight to my room to prepare for my date. I decided on a Nine West navy blue fit and flare dress that skimmed over my ass. It was sleeveless with a round neck and had a brown belt that cinched in my waist. I added some Michael Kor’s ‘Becky’ dress sandals to my feet to give me some height and grabbed my MK ‘Mercer’ clutch. My make-up was all smoky eyes and a red lip and my dark hair was fixed up in a messy bun with a few stray tendrils around my face. I did the mirror shuffle where you tried to see yourself from all angles and I was pleased to see that I’d washed up quite well. I headed out to the living room to wait for my dates. Todd had agreed to drive us, saying that he was fine with not having a drink that evening.
“Cancel the restaurant, let’s just take her to bed,” Chase yelled out, jumping up and walking around me. “Fuck, Miss Martin, you look HOT.”
“Chase. She is going to run back to her room in a minute.” Todd scolded him.
“No, I’m not. I am totally used to him by now.” I giggled. “You both look very nice yourselves. Anyone would think you were involved in property development,” I winked.
“Do you really think sleaze ball will turn up tonight?” Chase asked.