Chapter15: The Building Deal
It was early Friday morning when the team gathered around Ethan's dining table. Papers and laptops covered every inch of the surface, and Ethan was in his element—organizing, delegating, and generally driving everyone else a little crazy.
"We need to finalize the main structure of the company today," Ethan said, tapping furiously on his keyboard. "Emma, you've got training scheduled for the afternoon. Clara's going to start with company policies and general operations."
Emma groaned but nodded. "Got it. Anything else?"
Ethan glanced up, his expression serious. "You'll also need to decide on the roles you're comfortable with long-term. Leo and I will support you, but this is your show. Start thinking like a CEO."
Leo, leaning back in his chair with a coffee in hand, smirked. "No pressure or anything."
Emma shot him a glare. "Says the guy who gets to sit back and throw money at everything."
"Hey," Leo said, feigning offense. "I'm a silent partner. My job is to be silent and rich. I'm excelling at both."
Rebecca chuckled from the corner, flipping through a folder. "Don't mind him, Emma. He just wants to see you squirm a little."
Emma rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her small smile.
Later that afternoon, Leo found himself growing restless as Emma disappeared into her training session with Clara. Ethan was deep in negotiations over supplier contracts, leaving Leo with little to do. He wandered into the study where Rebecca was working, sprawled out on the couch with her laptop.
"Still on that security proposal?" Leo asked, plopping down beside her.
"Yep," she said without looking up. "Ethan's being picky. He wants everything perfect before he signs off."
Leo tilted his head, considering. "What do you think? Is it good enough?"
Rebecca smirked. "It's better than good. It's bulletproof. But you know Ethan—he's never satisfied."
Leo laughed. "True. He'd probably find a flaw in a diamond if you gave him long enough."
"Speaking of flaws," Rebecca said, closing her laptop and turning to Leo, "what are you up to? Don't you have classes or something?"
Leo shrugged. "Skipped them. College is boring."
Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "So, you're just going to... what? Hang around and annoy us?"
"Pretty much," Leo said with a grin. "Unless you have a better idea."
Rebecca sighed but couldn't help smiling. "You're hopeless."
By Saturday morning, the group reconvened to discuss the next steps. Ethan was already busy drafting plans for the company's organizational structure, but one major issue still loomed: the location of the main office.
"We've got three options," Ethan said, pulling up a map on his laptop. "All in the city center, and all within walking distance of each other. But I can't leave the negotiations I've got going on, so someone else will need to handle the site visits."
Emma, who was reviewing some notes, looked up. "I can go. It'll be good practice."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Real estate negotiations can get messy."
"I'll be fine," Emma said, her tone firm.
Leo leaned back, studying her for a moment. "Alright. But I'm coming with you."
Emma blinked in surprise. "What? Why?"
"Because I don't trust salespeople," Leo said, standing up. "And because I don't have anything better to do."
Rebecca smirked from her seat. "Translation: He's bored and wants to meddle."
Leo ignored her, grabbing his jacket. "Let's go."
The first building they visited was a modern glass structure with sleek lines and a prime location. However, when they walked into the office to meet the sales team, they were greeted by an unexpected sight: a man and woman, clearly sales staff, locked in a passionate embrace behind the reception desk.
Emma froze, her face turning red. "Uh... are we interrupting something?"
The couple scrambled apart, their faces a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "Can we help you?" the man asked, straightening his tie.
Leo raised an eyebrow. "That depends. Are you usually this professional, or did we just catch you on a bad day?"
The woman's face darkened. "Look, we're busy. If you're not here for anything serious—"
"We're here to buy a building," Emma said sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument.
The man snorted. "Sure you are." His gaze swept over her and Leo, his smirk growing. "Let me guess—college students on some prank?"
Leo's eyes narrowed, but he didn't react immediately. Instead, he turned to Emma. "You want to handle this, or should I?"
Emma crossed her arms. "Be my guest."
Leo stepped forward, his tone cold. "Call your boss. Now."
The man hesitated, his confidence faltering slightly. "Why? Who do you think you are?"
"Someone with enough money to buy this building—and the two next to it," Leo said, his voice low and menacing. "Call. Your. Boss."
It didn't take long for the manager to arrive, a middle-aged man with a harried expression. He listened to the situation, his face growing increasingly pale.
"You've cost us a sale," he said to the salesman, his voice shaking. "Do you have any idea how much this building is worth? How much all three are worth?"
The salesman tried to protest, but the manager cut him off. "Save it. You're fired. And if your brother in upper management tries to cover for you, he's fired too. We can't afford to lose clients like this."
The man turned to Leo and Emma, bowing deeply. "Please accept our sincerest apologies. We'll have everything prepared for you immediately."
Leo waved him off. "Just get it done."
As they left the office, Emma glanced at Leo, a small smile playing on her lips. "That was... something."
"Just another day," Leo said casually, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.