Revolving Doors (13 page)

~*~*~

Settling on the fact that it would probably be later than sooner that I heard anything about 427 Harper Lane, I decided to pour myself a glass of Sangria and surrender to Lifetime movies for the night.

Two hours later, even with a slight buzz from my third glass of wine and a semi-entertaining movie playing, my thoughts traveled to the schedule I had in place for the next day: Meeting my agent at another property, new consultant training in the afternoon, plus I ha
d to get in gear with finding an assistant. I was spending far too much time on administrative items and I was ready to delegate.

I played with the idea of calling either Jesse or Todd and spending the night making love noises.

I was seeing them both, but not in a boyfriend-girlfriend kind of way, just in a
let’s pleasure each other as the mood hits,
kind of way.

The moment I remembered that they liked spooning afterwards, the thoughts were immediately halted.

I had a full day ahead of me – much too full to be cuddling and risking a less-than-restful night’s sleep.

I hadn’t encountered a man yet who had come close to making me feel like taking that chance.

I need my entire bed to myself that night.

CHAPTER
22

~*~*~

When I awoke the next morning, my head was slightly abuzz. One too many glasses of the Sangria, I’d deduced, as I rose
sluggishly from my bed.

Once I regained my coherency, I pressed forward with performing my daily ritual – to see what action items awaited me and which of those could wait until later in the afternoon when all my tasks and meetings, outside the house were completed.

I headed into my home office, flipped on the computer to check emails and respond to any emergency inquiries.

I checked for new consultant requests, party requests and sales figures from the previous day. I could tell it was going to be a long one.

The mass amount of emails that stared back at me, told an entire story…that just like that, my afternoon was spoken for.

No time to complain. I
t was me who decided to sign on as an entrepreneur and business owner so my sole option was to roll with the punches.

I created my priority list – a must in my world – saved it to my electronic planner and got into gear.

After I gathered my clothes for post-shower dressing, I was down to my panties about to enter the shower, when my cell phone rang.

I doubled back toward the vanity to see my mother’s number across the display screen. 

“Hey, Mom,” I answered. “I’m bukkit nekkit and ‘bout to hop in the shower. What ya need?”

“
Too much information
, little girl, for one. For two, just call me when you’re done. It can wait.”

“It’s cool, mama. I don’t have to get in right this second.”

I always felt some kind of way about ending conversations with my mother before she got the chance to say why she called. 

“It really isn’t important, I just wanted to know if you were going to be around this afternoon.” Then there was a pause. “I was gonna pop by for a bit. I needed to go through your inventory closet.”

“
Mama
! I told you when you get stuff outta there, I don’t want to know about it! You got a key, just come and get what you need. But I
do not
want to know or even imagine the stuff that you and daddy do –
unless
you’re trying to give me a sibling! Anything other than that, I am not interested.
Ugh
!”

“Ain’t no babies comin’ out of this, so you can release on those pipe dreams. Alexis and Gabriel are too old for that.”

“Whatever you say…
but not really
. There’s women who have babies in their 40’s all the time!”

“Yeah, but I’m closer to 50 than 40. It ain’t gonna happen.
The End
.”

“Tell that to all those 30-something dudes that still push up on you!”

It was true. My mama may have been a few years from fifty, but looking at her,
nobody
could tell. She looked
maybe
32. I hoped to be blessed with that gene magic when it was my turn!

“Gabriella…I love you…done with the baby talk, so you can jump your little nekkit self in the shower.”

I let out a light chuckle. “Love you too, mama.”

As I pulled the phone away from my ear, I could still hear her laughing as I pressed the end button.

No sooner than I turned my back to the phone and was headed toward the shower door, my cell rang again. I figured it was my mother calling back because she’d forgotten to say something, but when I looked at the caller ID, the number was one I didn’t recognize. Reluctantly, I pressed the button.

“Good morning, this is Gabriella,” I answered.

“Hi, Gabriella, just the person I was trying to reach. My name is Mya Hayden. You left a message about the property at 427 Harper Lane.”

“Yes, yes! Hi, Mya! Thank you so much for returning my phone call! I am really hoping you have good news for me.”

It didn’t matter in the least that I was standing in the middle of my bathroom a pair of panties from nude. I was too amped up to give it a second thought.

All I could think about was how happy I was that my mother called because had she not, I would have been in the midst of showering and missed Ms. Mya Hayden’s phone call.

I heard her release a giggle, probably amused by the amount of rowdy in my voice.

“That depends on what good news would be…” she responded.

“Just
please
tell me that the space is still available for lease and that nobody has claimed it between yesterday and now.”

We hadn’t talked pricing or any other specific details and I was already asking about availability. I wanted to claim that location as mine. My desire was to put an address with the vision so that I could start building, with clarity.

My heart was beating a thousand miles per minute, as I paced back and forth in my panties.

Then she uttered the words
, “The property
is
available,” and everything stood still.

All the sounds around me…birds, wind, kids playing outside. Everything stood still.

“Gabriella? You there?” she asked.

I took a deep breath
.

“Yes. I’m here.”

“You’re okay, right? This
is
the good news you were hoping for?”

“It is exactly what I was hoping for, Ms. Hayden.”

“Perfect” she continued. “The owner wants a 1-year lease and you have the option to buy at the end of that year. We have had a few offers, but the owner is more interested in getting someone there who he knows will take good care of it and who is interested in the purchase option.”

“I’ll just say this, Mya…” I started. “Is it okay for me to call you Mya?”

“Please do,” she responded.

“I have looked at
many
properties and came away empty, with no connection. I drove past 427 on my way to meet family for lunch and was stopped in my tracks. The building spoke to me. I
know
that sounds weird, but it’s the best way for me to put it. It matches my vision perfectly. I would love to see the inside for the complete package.”

“I can hear the passion and I would love to show you the inside. I hope that it lives up to what you have in mind because at this point…
my goodness!
I’m rooting for
you and would hate for any part of what you see to be a disappointment.”

“I don’t even want to entertain that as a thought,” I relayed optimistically.

Mya and I ended the conversation with plans to meet at the location at 6 PM that evening.

I sang the entire time I showered. I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t wait to walk through the doors of my potential new space.

Since I had never done well waiting for a specific time to arrive, the busy day I had awaiting me suddenly became a blessing in disguise as it would keep me busy until it was time to meet Mya.

One of the to-do’s for that day was to meet my agent at a property and since the appointment had already been made, I decided to show up.

With everything else he had shown me, I already knew that the property wouldn’t be too much better but I was in a different space.

Where it seemed a race against time before, now I saw hope and was less annoyed by his failure to produce.

When I arrived to the locale, it was exactly as I predicted – another epic fail and both the area, and the building lacked potential.

Had I not seen him standing outside when I pulled up, I might have kept driving, but as a courtesy I took a look. As I did the walkthrough, I silently thanked my lucky stars for my 6 o’clock meeting with Mya.

Please let things work in my favor!

CHAPTER 23

~*~*~

I parked in front of what I had already claimed as my new club space
, at exactly 5:30, and sat there for a bit to digest before the official meeting with Mya. I wanted to see the foot and car traffic, and assess the mood of the area.

I watched a couple walk past hand-in-hand and enter the quaint little café that sat several feet away.  A few tables and chairs were outside, with what looked like a small business meeting happening at one of them. An older gentleman sat with a book in one hand and sipping on a beverage of some sort.

I liked the calm busy of it.

427 Harper was detached and had a decent sized parking lot that looked to fit maybe 15 cars comfortably and adding to that perk was plenty of street parking.
Perfect
. I loved the accessibility.

Promptly at 6 PM a black Mercedes Benz drove up and a cute brunette exited. Even early evening she was all business in a cyan-colored dress, cream-colored blazer, 3” pumps and her briefcase to complete the outfit.

She appeared reserved, but like she could have a fun side to her also. Note to self:
extend an invitation to one of the upcoming pleasure parties
.

As she approached, I immediately noticed her friendly demeanor. Professional, yet personable.

“Hi, Gabriella!” she said, extending her hand.

“Hello, Mya! It’s nice to be able to put the face with the voice. Thank you so much for meeting me.”

“No…
Thank you
.”

We paired toward the door. Mya had the key out and ready
, and everything was in slow motion as she slid it into the lock and opened the door.

“Behind you…” she motioned, stepping aside to allow me in first.

I was rendered speechless, as a plethora of emotions invaded my mental space, and took over me. Had I spoken at that exact moment, tears would have been shed and vulnerability would have been on full display. I was trying hard to maintain my composure.

We walked in and several yards ahead I spotted a staircase that spiraled to a second floor and
was at least half the size of the first level.

On the first floor where I stood was an
area that had previously housed a bar.

Perfect.

Down a hallway, past the bar/lounge area, were two offices. Not one…but two!
Jackpot
! A few storage closets near the offices.
I could put toys in those
, I thought to myself.

Continuing down that same hallway we came upon a room that was approximately 600 square feet in measure and I immediately thought of a billiard room.

I was in love! From the outside, it didn’t appear as spacious as what I was witnessing. It offered tons more than I imagined. The possibilities seemed endless, and a hundred other possibilities circulated at full speed.

I always knew that once I connected with a space
, the vision would play out before my very eyes, and the moment had arrived.

Numbers, please be something I can work with and not have to sell my soul to do it
!

“So, Gabriella…you’ve been really quiet. Taking it all in, I assume?”

“You assume correctly,” I responded, still looking around to see if I missed anything. “There is so much character to the space,” I said slowly allowing it all to absorb.”

“Is it what you expected? You were so much more fired up earlier when we spoke.”

Mya sounded disappointed. I didn’t blame her. I had gone mute, and was probably close to impossible for her to read.

“It’s
more
than I expected,” I said in near whisper. It was the only voice I could find. “I love it. It meets my expectations…and then some. Please forgive me for checking out on you. It’s just that I had a vision for my club for a long time, yet I didn’t have the physical space to see it clearly. Now it’s right here. I can touch it. I’m standing inside of it and it makes all the difference in the world.”

“I understand
,” Mya empathized. “What type of business is it that you have in mind?”

Her question brought a smile to my face.

“Well, the best way for me to describe it is as a couples’ café.”

“
Okay
…” she said slightly squinting her eye. “Couples on the menu?” she said jokingly. “I’m trying to picture that. Sounds enticing.”

“Kinda…
” I laughed, “but not exactly,” I said realizing she had a sense of humor. “I wanted to have a place for couples only. An exclusive club – reservation style, where couples can be with one another, in an intimate setting. Unlike a regular club, here would be just couples, all with a common goal…to spend quality time together and re-familiarize themselves. Helping to put the spice back – or get it ignited, in some cases. I have so many plans for them! Movie night, pool, karaoke and a bunch of other activities. I want this to be
the place
for couples to come and feel at home.”

“That…is amazing.
Nice
. I would absolutely come with my man, without a doubt. I like the idea and I’m sure many will flock once you’re up and running. You are the exact type of tenant the owner is looking for. Someone whose passion breathes life into what they do.”

“Thank you.
Passionate
is the
exact
word to describe it.”

“So, let me just tell you this
,” she began, “…The owner has owned this building for 10 years and has only ever leased it once on a short term lease. Per his instruction, I was to feel the person out and if they were to my liking…
which you are
, I’m supposed to offer them a 1-year lease at the rate of $1200 per month.”

My mouth flew open! Big enough for a family of flies to cohabitate!

“
1200 dollars
?” I managed, “
In this area
? Are you serious?”

They could get three times that amount! 

Mya wore a half smile, but didn’t look to be kidding in the least. I was prepared to pay a lot more so I was in shock.

“Yes, I’m very serious,” she said. “His main focus was getting someone that would take care of the place like their own – until it is their own. He’s a very generous man and doesn’t believe in ripping people off. He’s a rare breed.”

“He sounds amazing…”

“He is. I’ve worked for him for 15 years and he’s never changed. Always been this way and it’s why I will never leave his employ. He has commercial property all over the San Francisco Bay Area and I manage most of them so I’m used to dealing with all types. I’m confident that you’re the right fit.”

“Wow. Thank you, Mya.”

I took a deep breath and felt weight lift from my shoulders that I hadn’t noticed was there.

“So…do we have a deal, Ms. Gabriella?”

“Hell yes! Oh my god! Of course!”

Her eyes grew in size before she let out a tickled laugh.

“Please excuse my language, but I am kinda unable to contain my excitement.”

“Gabriella, please don’t apologize. You neither said, nor did anything wrong. And if you had, I wore my big girl panties today,” she kidded.

“
Whew
!” I exclaimed, holding my chest. I would hate to have the offer rescinded before the ink was even dry.

The sky is the limit.

I stuck my hand out to her to shake on the deal.

“Well, partner…I am highly honored to be in business with you both, and am ready to meet and sign papers whenever the time is good. The sooner the better.”

“Sounds good to me. Why don’t we meet tomorrow morning at my office to finalize all the paperwork and get you your keys?”

“That sounds like a plan to me!”

When the building was locked and we were walking to our cars, instead of a final handshake, I hugged her. It was the natural thing to do.

“
I did it
!” I yelled to myself in the car on the drive home, with tears streaming down my face. I would have preferred to wait on the tears but they had other plans and before I knew it, I was crying like a baby.

Success had made a grand entrance into my life. It wasn’t the first time, it was just different.

It wasn’t like when I graduated from one of the top universities in the country – at the top of my business class or when I bought my house, or when I made the six-figure club with Romantica, or even when I opened Goodie Bagg.

I had set goals for myself and hadn’t stopped until they were met. I always had high aspirations, but never did I imagine them to unfold into something as large as what I had accomplished.

I wanted to shout it from rooftop of the highest building but I made the decision to refrain from divulging until I had the keys in my hand.

Until then I had to remain in the company of the butterflies overcrowding and doing a dance in my stomach.