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“My decision is made. If we don’t keep that part of the build my design is walking with me. I pour my all into what I do. I’ll give you, gentleman, some time to think on things.”
I got up and walked out. I know it was crazy, but if I couldn’t bet on myself, who could I bet on? This was my design—the one I envisioned in my dreams—and the last thing I wanted to do was compromise that for anyone. The elevator opened up and I rode down.When will an opportunity come up like this again?
“That’s why I need to do it right,” I spoke aloud once I got to the ground floor. It opened up and two awaiting guests looked inside of the elevator to see who the hell I was talking to. I shook my head and walked by. No one got it. This was what I wanted todo with my life and I was finally reaching the pinnacle. I wanted to do it my way.
I got in the house around seven and Le was buzzing around. She was such a light, and right now, I needed to borrow some of her shine.
“How’d the meeting go?” she asked attentively.
“They trying to change my design. I’m not going for the shit.” My tone came out forceful and her eyes widened. “My bad baby. I’m sure it would seem small to someone else but I promise it will make all the difference to me.” I pulled her in and kissed her forehead.
“Well, good thing you aren’t talking to someone else, and you are talking to me. What are they trying to change?”
“The presidential suites. The best part of the hotel. This was where I was gone show the fuck out with the design. Everything that I’m going to place in the room they are okay with, but they want me to stick a sensible balcony on it. I pretty much told them to kiss my ass.”
“Presidentials are for luxury. Why upscale everything else but one part?” She scrunched her nose.
“That’s what I’m saying. I would be behind them, cutting costs almost anywhere but there.” She hit me with a look. “Okay, not really, but shit still. This is my future. This is what will set me up for everything in the future. The money is more than anything I have earned, but at the same time, at what cost? I know it’s crazy to be trippin’ over something so small but—"
“You aren’t crazy. I mean, maybe a little radical, but it’s your work, and I understand. It’s like baking soda.”
“What?”
“Like baking soda in my cakes. It’s such a small ingredient but it makes the biggest difference. Without it, the final product is just…lacking.”
“I guess you do get it.” I pulled her in front of me and she blushed. No matter what I went through that smile made anything better.
“Now that you vented on it, can I say something?”
“What’s up?”
“You have to step up your negotiation tactics.”
“There wasn’t room for negotiation. They flat the hell out told me no.”
“People don’t know what they want until you show them. Especially men.” She slipped from me and walked toward the kitchen as I followed.
“What’s that supposed to mean.”
“Exactly what I said. The same thing I told you about your houses. You have another meeting, right? We just have to show them what they can do with it.”
“I could try to set something up. What you have in mind?” I raised my eyebrow.
“Don’t worry about that. Just tell me when.” She winked and put a plate in front of me. I couldn’t take my eyes off her and she disappeared into the next room.
***
As soon as I walked through the door of the hotel room, the scents that tickled my nose made my stomach grumble. My woman had showed the fuck out on the spread she set up for the owners. I was one stubborn muthafucka, but she had thepower to make me listen. She could get that any day but I still was sticking to what I felt was important to me. I was willing to walk away, but the power of persuasion was something I knew I needed to master to get in the doors I needed to. I couldn’t take everything by force. They agreed to meet with me so that meant they were still interested.
I looked for her in the open room, and her delicious scent lingered, letting me know she had been there but had left. I couldn’t shake the nerves. I rubbed my hands through my hair and checked my watch. They were due here any minute. I checked the balcony for the one-hundredth time knowing that everything was already perfect. I didn’t know if they would be with it or not. If elegance was what they were after then that’s what I could provide. Men with big money would pay top dollar. I knew that.Stop second guessing your gift.I was made for this.
“Wow, Prince. It smells delicious. I’m glad I brought my appetite.” Brandon entered the room with his suit coat over his arm. It looked like he had just gotten done with a hard day’s work the way he was already loosening his tie and unbuttoning his wrist buttons on his collared shirt.
“Yeah, where is everyone else?”
“They should be on the way. I wanted to come early to get a word in with you. For what it’s worth, I love your design, and I believe it is worth every penny. As you know, though, it is a majority vote. I hope this presentation goes well, but even if it doesn’t, I have a few business ventures on my own that I would love for you to look into. It isn’t a chain like this one but it’s good work and fair pay. Stick to your guns.” He finished his statement right as the door opened, and his three other partners walked inside.
I hated that out of place feeling I got when I stood in the room with men who felt like they had my fate in their hands. I felt their judgment. I never felt that way before my addiction, but now, every time I stepped, I was battling two things. The situation and myself. I had to get over the fact of how much time I lost. How many mistakes I made. I was here now.
