“Thank you, Arthur. As you may, or may not, know, Kings has expanded into the property market during the last year with a vision to develop a brand of elite housing. I am pleased to announce today that not only have we chosen a person from the team to represent the King Park development, we have also, as Kings Enterprises, signed on the dotted line for another three developments which will all be coming Green’s way in terms of sale and management. So, today, I’d like to formally announce that Haley Martin will be our key link person between Greens and Kings.”
“Congratulations, Haley.” Arthur added, “and if you’d like to come forward, we would like to present you with these flowers and the bottle of champagne as a token of our appreciation.”
Everyone cheered and clapped. Well, everyone except for Malcolm, who left the room. You see Greens was mainly a family-style business and although
we may get a little jealous of each other’s good fortune and landing big commission deals—-after all we were only human—-in the main we cheered each other on as every success meant Greens went from strength to strength and guaranteed us future employment.
I took the offered gifts and shook both Arthur and Eli’s hands and then I went and sat back down.
Eli spoke again. “Whilst we congratulate Haley today on her new role, it goes without saying that it’s the team who attracted me to Greens. You are led by a fine gentleman-“
He was interrupted in his speech at this time as everyone cheered Arthur. After the whooping and cheering calmed down, Eli carried on. “The business I intend to bring to Green’s will make an impact on everyone’s workload and as a thank you for you all being so accepting and encouraging of our new business arrangements, I’m hosting a free bar tonight at my bar in Manhattan. So, we have the private room held for us at eight and there will be food also for you. Please come along to PlayKing’s tonight and let’s let loose and welcome the weekend in style.”
Everyone whooped and hollered again.
“Thank you, Eli, for this opportunity. I promise I won’t let you down.”
Eli smiled. “Haley, I’m feeling like a new man lately. Obviously, I needed the new direction with the business. I was becoming jaded and then your youth and vitality must have rubbed off. I’m feeling invigorated. What happened with Malcolm?”
“He’s left me alone ever since. I guess I can’t ask for more than that.”
“Actually you can,” Arthur interrupted, holding a piece of paper in his hand. “Malcolm just quit. He’ll be gone immediately. Thank God, he was the one bad apple at Green’s, a poisonous red one.” He chuckled. “Now, I usually don’t condone drinking at work, but I have another bottle of champagne in my office and I think we should drink to throwing out the old and bringing in the new.”
And we did.
I returned home elated about the new direction of my career and the disappearance of Malcolm from my life. Eli had told me to bring the guys along to PlayKing’s that evening. I walked into the living room to find Chase almost bouncing off the walls.
“Haley, we have news.”
“I have news too.” This was probably obvious to the fact I had flowers and champagne in my hand, but hey I wanted to join in with the announcements.
Todd interjected. “Haley, you go first.”
“What?” Chase looked like he’d been told there was no Santa.
“Haley?” Todd prompted.
“The deal was announced today. Eli has invited us out to PlayKing’s tonight for an open bar, and Malcolm quit. It’s been a fucking fabulous day.”
“Oh, honey, it’s about to get better. We sold the business.” Chase almost screamed.
“What?”
“The movie business. We were made an offer we couldn’t refuse by someone who wants to take what we do and expand it. We got our retirement pot and I’m not even thirty. You know what that means, babe? The vacation is on us. Forget your bonuses, we want to take you, our treat. You pay for massages and stuff if you want to contribute.”
Todd shook his head and walked over to kiss my cheek, then took the flowers and champagne from my hands and put them on the counter top. “Huge congratulations, Haley, and Malcolm is gone, really? That’s the best news I heard all day.” He looked over at Chase, “even better than our deal.”
“You are so full of shit, sometimes Todd.” Chase pouted. “Anyway, no time to waste. Let’s get ourselves ready for the free bar. It’s time to paarrttyyy.”
And party we did. We let loose, we got drunk, we danced the night away even though there was no dance floor in the bar. Eli came over briefly, although most of the time he was still conducting business. I met his Personal Assistant, Alexandra, who followed him around all night like his shadow. Eli was blissfully unaware of the look of pure longing and hero-worshiping that was on her face. I had hesitated to point it out to him in case it complicated their business relationship but the drinks got the better of me.
“Eli. I think your PA wants more than a business relationship with you.”
Eli’s eyes widened and he gave a half-laugh. “You’re mistaken. Alexandra is twenty-six, just five years older than my daughter.”
“I know want when I see it and she wants you.”
“Well, I’m too old for her.”