"Great the wire transfer came through, can I get two managers cheques made out for twenty five million in the name of Citron Homes Limited and the balance to High End Luxury SUV International respectively please and can I wait on them?"
"Sure where should I take the processing fees from?
"Debit my account," Dominique responded.
"Why are you buying a house and a vehicle using a manager'scheque when we could give you a mortgage and you would be able to keep your funds in your account? We have very attractive rates and our processing time will allow you take possession in less than six weeks."
"No, Michelle a mortgage might be too complicated based on my business plan and I need the motor vehicle today to meet the demand of a contract I just acquired."
"If you don't mind me asking what you are going todo with the house, because I note that your primary address is Havendale. I am in the market for somewhere to rent and unfortunately I've not been lucky enough to find landlords that don't want to collect their rent in kind instead."
"That is rather unfortunate for you to have encountered such unscrupulous people, but you have not asked me where I am purchasing the house."
Mr Martin you assumed that I was not familiar with the housing developments and where they are putting up their units. It is the hardest thing for a young single woman with a young child to get a nice place to rent in a respectable neighbourhood, and therefore I have been trolling the real estate pages, website trying to find somewhere and I am at my wits end."
"Well the house is for investment purposes, and it's a two bedroom town house in an upscale development and it should bring in a reasonable return over the medium and long term. And oh yes, I seemed to have underestimated your knowledge of the real estate market." He smiled. "So on a personal note how old is your child and how come a nice looking young lady like you could be single?"
Michelle smiled at his probing question and it showed that he had been listening to her plea and the line evidently worked.
"Well Mr Martin at twenty eight with a masters and failed relationship with a man I met in university that resulted in me having a four year old child, I've hopped right back on the cycle of life. Working hard to be a mummy and daddy to my daughter, the best thing about my position at this bank is that they are willing to pay for my accommodation and they have an after-care programme for children of their employees.
While we chat a little, let me request your cheques and are you sure I could not work something out that you reconsider using your personal funds with these purchases. Even if it means coming to your office and working through the papers or even over a few drinks, Dominique. I am sure that I could convince you after a few rounds into doing some business with me. How does your wife feel about the transaction?"
"Oh my wife does not know about the transactions yet and I am not much of a drinker these days," Dominique replied with a sheepish look on his face.
Michelle smiled and pushed back her chair from the desk as Dominique watched as she crossed her legs slowly revealing the yellow brick road beneath her skirt.
"Who says it has to be drinks, Dominique? Since Mrs. Martin is in the dark already I am sure I can be very discreet about our business transaction. I am in full support of the acquisition of the house, and maybe in a few weeks when you acquire the key I can ensure that your payback is guaranteed in person every month."
As he was about to respond his phone rang and he looked on the screen.
"Mr B?" he listened for a moment, then turned to Michelle, "Excuse me Michelle I must take this call," and he got up from the chair.
"Ok, let me give you some privacy and go and collect your cheques."
Michelle went through the door and closed it behind her.
"Yes Mr B," Dominique answered the phone.
"Dominique, I got your proposal from Yanique about diversifying your business with a mixture of real estate and transportation. Based on your very lucrative rate of return, I have transferred the funds to your account. Let me remind there can be no delays in paying back in the short to medium term. I have made some international commitments based on the terms of your rates."
"Thanks Mr. B, I have someone lined up already ready to take up on our investment already."
"Have you said anything to Marsha yet? I don't want her know anything about this transaction or any other thing that we will be doing in the future."
"No, what happens between us Mr B stays between us."
"Ok Dominique let it stay that way. Later."
Michelle knocked on the door and entered the room
"I have your cheques, but we can always reverse them or you can always delay utilising them until after I try to convince you otherwise."
The words of Mr B were still fresh in his mind and he started to second guess using private equity as a source of investment in the company.
"So Michelle, just in case the space become available what is the average cost the bank pays for a place for their management team?"
"Does that mean you are considering me Dominique for the space?"
"I never said that, but it depends on your answer," he replied.
"Ok between US$3,500- US$5,500.00 per month."
Dominique smiled and thought for a little while.
"So what do I have to do to get the highest range?"
"It depends on the location, if it's a town house located in Norbrook, Cherry Gardens."
"So if my unit is located in this upscale area and it cost around twenty six million what would be the average mortgage payment overa period of say twenty years?"
"It sounds like I should prepare a proposal for you and come to your office later this evening to discuss it with you over a drink or some dinner with nice bottle of wine, but off the top of my head for a full mortgage you could be paying back about US$2,500.00 per month."
"So is that the type of service all your customers get?" Dominique asked.
"Certainly not only those that I have a connection with," she reached and held his hand. "It's not every day a man comes into my life that I feel in an instant that I can just open up to and bond with."
"Michelle, remember that I am a married man and that means that I am already committed to someone else already."
"I have no issue with that Dominique, from what I've seen and heard today, your wife does not and should not be an issue in our business arrangement since she is not a party to the transactions we're planning to execexecute."
"Who said you were not a smart girl Michelle? You do have a point, so can I expect you about 6:30 pm? Would you like me to send a car for you? Here is my card."
"No I will drive because I want to be the one that decides when I want to leave and here is my personal number."
She reached up for his phone in his shirt pocket, and slowly removed it.
"I don't want to give you a card, and by accident you misplace it, so I will place directly in your phone just in case you want to find me at any time of night I am available."
"Michelle, I know you are going to be trouble, but you remind me of my wife when she was younger. The very thought of dinner with you could be complicated, but it is the kind of trouble that I need to push my business and anything that allows me to have a greater handle on my finances I greatly appreciate it."
"Oh Mr Martin, I can assure you I am purely innocent and I at some time in the not too distant future I hope to meet your wife. I am sure I could be your eldest daughter so you have nothing to worry about and I am professional."
Dominique sighed.
"I will look forward to seeing you later and I like red wine," he smiled revealing his pearly white teeth.
Dominique Martin left the bank a happy man with a smile on his face, Michelle had given him a lot to think about the prospects of earning an extra income from the townhouse. The interaction with her was tantalising and intriguing. He had to thank Maxine at the office for setting up the meeting and a nice piece of pastry should do the trick. Cheese cake came to mind.
Dominique watched as Maxine's face lit up like the stadium's bulb as he gave her the small cheesecake.
"Thank you boss.Thank you, have made my day, but as it relates to this morning and the bank I was only doing myjob to ensure that my boss achieves the best results. Oh yes, before I forget, your wife called on you cell phone that you left on your desk."
"And?" Dominique responded and the hair on the back of his neck stood up and his blood got hot, "Did you answer it?"
"No are you crazy I would never do that, not without your permission.
"Ok thank God, I'd have too much explaining to do," he replied.
"What is there something I need to know about Mr Martin?"
"No Maxine," he replied everything is perfectly fine. "What time are you planning to leave work today?"
"The regular time I suspect about 5:30 p.m. Why Boss?"
"Nothing I just thought that because things were kind of slow around here you could actually leave by 4 today, I have a lot of things to catch up on so I think you can take an early evening."
Maxine frowned a little, but the frown gave way to a smile and then she jumped with glee and the floor shook