Romance: The Billionaire's Proposal (5 page)

There’s a huge cherry oak bookshelf on the side of the room, big screen TVs on the back wall, pictures and models of buildings that he’s developed, and various pictures of him shaking other people’s hands.

He motions for me to take a seat so I do.

I’m still fuming mad, but I’m trying to hold it in check, hoping that this meeting goes fine.

It is already starting to look bad for me, especially since I just threatened his assistant.

“So, Tara, what brings a beautiful lady like you to my office this early in the morning?” he asks. “Do you miss me already? I must say that I miss you a little. You’ve been on my mind quite a lot.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t try and sweet talk me mister. I think you know exactly why I’m sitting in your office; you’re a smart businessman. I’m sure that if you weren’t, you wouldn’t be where you are today.”

He nods his head. “You’re correct—it’s how I got to be worth billions. But why don’t you enlighten me?”

“I’m here about the piece of land at the edge of town. The same piece of land that I told you I wanted to develop into a nursing home, library, and community center. There was no one interested in that land until you came along. I find it odd that you only showed interest in it after we’ve met. Don’t you?”

“You’re very wrong about that: I was always interested in buying it. It’s a prime place to put a parking garage as well as a set of newer warehouses. It’ll also make the land worth even more if I decide to sell it in the future. Which I may, and then who knows? You could have it then.”

“The city already has enough parking garages. Why would you want to add another one?”

“You can never have too many of them. Especially in the city. There is never enough parking, and people don’t like to use the meter for fear of getting a ticket or someone sideswiping their car. The latter happens more often than you think.”

He had a point, but I wasn’t ready to tell that to him. I would never admit to him that he was right about anything. He already seems like he has a massive ego, and I don’t want to make it any bigger by agreeing with him on anything.

“My vision would serve the community better. Not yours.”

“Why, because it came from you? Do you think you’re the only person around with a good idea? Because I can tell you right now, sweetheart, you’re not. There are plenty of people out there with great ideas. Some of those great ideas are never anything but just that, though: great ideas.”

“My vision will be giving back to the community. Helping out the families who need it, and so much more.”

“Warehouses will give people jobs, which will allow them to provide for their families. Hopefully they’ll make enough money to put their kids in an after-school program. Or move to a better part of the city. In my eyes, my idea seems a lot better than yours; at least I want to employ people.”

“Why are you being so difficult? I’m trying to be reasonable but you insist on having it your way or no way.”

“No, you’re here because you’re getting emotional over a business move. And I’m the one who’s looking at this rationally. You’re so wrapped up in your own ideas that you don’t care what anyone has to say, because no idea could ever be better than yours. Right? That’s what you’re trying to say.”

“I’m not getting emotional over anything. I’m just very passionate about what I do, unlike some mindless guy who cares only about making money and not really helping anyone in the process. As long as you can get a check, it’s all right, isn’t it? But that’s not why I got into this business. I got into it to make a difference in the community, not to add stuff to it that it doesn’t really need.”

“Sounds idealist.”

“Is that why you slept with me? So that you could get information on what I was planning to do with the land? You had to know that I was interested in buying it; I’m sure you know about everything that goes on in this town when it comes to business.”

He sits behind his desk, not saying a word.

“I knew it!” my eyes glare at him. “You did, didn’t you?”

He doesn’t respond, only fuelling my anger.

“You’re a worthless piece of scum,” I continue. “You didn’t have to sleep with me; I would’ve willingly told you anyway, being that I like to talk about my work. But whatever. I don’t have time to sit here and go back and forth with you because I have another place I need to be. I just hope you know that karma is a bitch and she always gets what’s hers,” I say as I walk out of the door, fuming.

I press the button to go down on the elevator and hope that my meeting with the councilman goes a lot better than this one.

Alexander

A smile tugs on my lips as I watch Tara’s cute behind storm out of the office.

I knew that she’d be upset, but I didn’t foresee her thinking that I slept with her to get information.

She must’ve remembered the night wrong, because she’d already given all that information up when I started talking to her. I didn’t sex it out of her, no matter how pleasant the thought sounded—and believe me, it sounded very pleasant.

Besides, I didn’t even know that anyone else was interested in the property until that very night.

Seeing her dressed in that all-white suit…it hugged every one of her curves just right, as if they were calling me to hold them.

All I wanted to do was bend her over my desk and have my way with her, but I restrained myself from trying it.

I know that she isn’t going to take my under-the-table move lying down, and I’m ready to see what she’s got.

And I know there’s a fire burning beneath that beautiful heart of hers that I want to bring out.

What I’m doing will make her a better business person, but I’m hoping that it’ll also help her see that I’m just a man who cares about my business and will do anything for it.

And then maybe I’ll reveal to her that the whole reason I’m bothering with any of this is to stay close to her. I doubt she’ll believe it if I told her, but it’s true.

I pick up my briefcase and head out the door.

I have a meeting to get to and there was no way I can be late.

It was also another big deal that I was trying to close, but I was sure that this one will make Tara a lot happier.

I just have to wait and see where the cards will fall after the storm.

Chapter Seven

Tara

“Councilman Jones will see you now,” says his assistant.

I take a deep breath and walk into his office.

I have mulled over what I am going to say to him the entire ride over here and thought that I finally found the words to convince him to give me the land.

I know it’s not as much as Alexander’s offer, but it should be enough to at least get the councilman interested in taking me more seriously. Maybe he has a heart and actually took office to improve the community?

“So, Ms. Timmons, I heard you have another proposal you want to pitch to me,” he says.

“Not really another one. It’s still the same concept; I’m just prepared to offer a little bit more money. I’m not sure what Mr. Hudson has offered to demolish the community but I have a new offer,” I say.

He looks at the file and smiles at me. “It’s not as high, but it’s still a pretty good offer. But I must ask you something, Ms. Timmons: what made you want to make a new offer? I was still considering your previous one. What makes you think that I’ll sell the property to Mr. Hudson?”

“Money,” I say flatly.

He smiles. “It does rule everything around us.”

I nod. “Yes, it does, but not everything in life has to be about money. Sure, what I’m proposing won’t bring in as much money as he will, but then again mine will actually help out the community. They may not mean much to you, but they should. Those kids will be future voters and as you know, baby boomers have quite an influence to. I wouldn’t count them out—they just might be the ones you need someday. Plus it’ll be better publicity than cutting the rope at a parking garage.”

He sits quiet for a minute. I hope that his silence is a good thing.

“I understand what you’re saying—” he begins.

“Look, the community needs those. Sure, it sucks to have to drive up all those flights to get a parking space, but the point is you get one. These kids don’t really have anywhere to go and could fall victim to the rough street life if we don’t help them. Then the crime rate will go up and do you really want that on your conscience?” I ask him.

It may be a little dramatic, but I can sense that I am starting to get through to him.

He sighs. “Okay, Ms. Timmons. You make some really good points. I will consider your new offer.”

I smile. “Thank you so much sir.”

“You’re a very persuasive woman. I can tell that this means a lot more to you than it probably does to Mr. Hudson, and you’re also right about the kids and the community. I promise that I will take everything into consideration before I make my decision,” he says.

I smile again and hope he isn’t just talking that way so that I’ll quit bothering him. I know politicians can be sneaky; the way he let Alexander get in on the deal already showed me that he wasn’t that much different from the rest of them.

But he was still better than most.

“All right. Thanks, Councilman Jones. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome, Ms. Timmons.”

I leave his office with one of the biggest smiles on my face. The way I see it, Alexander and I are becoming even. If he wants to play this little game then I’ll play it, but I’ll play it better.

My phone rings. I look at the caller ID and see that it’s Amber again.

“Hello?”

“Hey girl, what are you doing?” she asks.

“I’m walking out of another meeting with the councilman. And you?”

“I’m heading down to the Italian bistro and wanted to see if you could join me.”

“Sure, I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Okay.”

I drive the short distance to the bistro, then walk in and see that Amber is already seated.

I spot her red hair literally as soon as I step through the door.

She had bright red hair and freckles all over a little button nose, but her eyes were the brightest shade of green. It was just a very unique, and seductive, contrast.

I sit across her and she smiles at me.

“Why does it feel like I haven’t seen you in forever?” she says.

“Probably because it’s been forever,” I say.

“I already ordered for us. Two pink lemonades, loaded fries, and a Philly cheesesteak with cheese, peppers, and onions.”

“Perfect.”

“So how’d your meeting go?”

“It went pretty well. Someone else put an offer in, so now it’s become this bidding war. But I’m hoping I’ll get it because that location is in a central area and could really work with what I want to do,” I say as the waitress places our drinks on the table.

Amber takes a sip from her drink. “Look, don’t worry about it. You’ve been in this position before and nailed it. I’m sure that you can do it again.”

“You’re right. It’s just that this project means a lot more for the community than it does others.”

“Yeah, I feel you.”

Amber and I grew up rough.

We both grew up being thrown from foster home to foster home until we were taken in by Mamma Townsend. I was fourteen and about to go off the rails and Amber came under the same roof a year later. Mamma Townsend was our savior, along with countless other foster children.

She helped us focus, become disciplined and showed us how sexiness could save a life. She was a strong, feisty woman with a heart of gold.

“What are you thinking about?” Amber asks as my eyes gaze off to the distance.

“Mamma.”

Amber nods, “She’d be proud of what you’re doing.”

As Amber’s hand reaches across the table and squeezes mine, my eyes glaze over. It’s the reason I do anything.

Mamma taught us the value of community and the value of belonging. Without her, I would be on the streets, scrapping to survive every day.

That’s why it’s so important to me to drive this community spirit.

When I was welcomed into her community, my life changed. It wasn’t just Mamma Townsend that showed us the way – it was the whole community that she was a part of.

Her neighbors, her church, her friends.

The love of that community changed my life from being a drug addict’s daughter to a woman with a college degree and her own property development business.

I will forever be grateful to that community.

And that’s why I am driven to develop community spirit across a range of neighborhoods, not just my own. It’s my own little way of saving lives.

“So enough about me. What’s been going on in your life?”

She laughs. “Nothing much; just work, work, work. I think I should get married to my job since it’s the only thing that ever sees me.”

Amber works in drug counseling – also the result of having drug addict parents and ending up under the roof of Mamma Townsend.

I laugh. “I know the feeling. It’s like that when I start on a project—I don’t really have time for anything or anyone.”

“That’s why I usually try to hang out with you between projects.”

The waitress places our food on the table and I pop a cheese-covered fry into my mouth. “I know, but I wouldn’t trade my job for anything in the world.”

“Says the woman who works for herself.”

“Which means that it’s even more work.”

“Yeah, you’re right about that. It’s the one thing that I don’t envy about your job.”

I laugh. “I think it’s the one thing most people don’t envy about it.”

“Did you find a date to go with you to the charity event this weekend?”