Just as a heads up this chapter contains some thoughts of incest. Mother/Daughter & Mother/Son. They are not full blown adventures just thoughts, but you never know what the future holds for Ben.
As always I appreciate all the comments.
The free publicity from Natalie on the morning news was Awsome. Sorting through literally hundreds of emails, not so much. It literally took me most of a day just to weed out the junk, and stupid shit. Once that was done approximately 320 emails became 40. So for round numbers 90% of the emails from the morning news were junk.
From there 36 were lower priced homes in other areas of the state. I give them to Ron to farm out to his other offices local to them. That left 4. 1.2% of the 320 emails!
They all look decent, and if they aren't already under contract etc it will be great, but one catches my eye. An email from Lisa, she mentions her husband works for the same brokerage firm Beth's boyfriend BJ does. I reach out to BJ by text.
ME - I have a semi work related question. Can you call me when you get a minute?
BJ - will be calling from desk phone
A few seconds later a strange number is calling. "Hi BJ. Well this is BJ right?" I say.
He laughs. "Yes it's me."
"I should remind you, I am calling from a recorded line." He says.
Got It. "I understand BJ. I have hopefully a simple question. I got an email from what I am guessing is a high up executives wife in your firm. I got an email from a Lisa Cohen, she mentions her husband..."
"Dick Cohen?" BJ asks with a little reverence.
"Yes, that's him. So you know him?" I ask
"Um yeah I know of him. He is a big rainmaker in the company. I don't know him personally though." BJ says. "Hey umm listen. Like I said I am at work and I have a conference call I have to get on. Can we catch up some other time? Maybe get a beer like we usually do?"
Like we usually do? He is giving me a brush off to get off the recorded line. "Sure BJ. That would be great." I say.
"Great, I will text you and we can set a time. Talk to you later." And BJ hangs up. That was weird. I am 99% sure he didn't want to say something on the recorded line.
I text him.
ME - Call me tonight
BJ - after 6pm.
I have had enough for today. I send back a pretty generic email to the other three, and play the wait and see game. I close up the laptop and call it a day. I turn and see Mr B's supplier contracts in the folders. Fuck I have been putting this off.
I start pouring over them. Two of them are a little older agreements originally agreed to based on lower sales. Not only does Mr B give them more business the last two years since another supply house closed, but he will be giving them even more with the Reynolds contract I got him.
I look at my watch, it's later than I thought. I text Karen.
ME - If you will give me 20 minutes with your Dad I will come over and take you out to dinner.
Karen - I am going to get a complex. I swear sometimes you want to talk to my Dad more than me.
ME - NEVER!
Karen - It's a good thing I love you
ME - See you soon.
I splash some water on my face, round up the contracts and head out. I tell Mom on the way through the kitchen I am taking Karen out to dinner. I hear an I love you as the screen door closes behind me.
I head over to Karen's. She greets me with a big kiss and hug. "Alright, alright. A father doesn't want to see this." I hear Mr B say as he rounds the corner. He points at me. "You! Let's talk business."
I smile at Karen and mouth. "I love you." And follow Mr B.
We talk about business. I lay out my numbers and ideas. "Sounds good." Says Mr B. "I will send you the contact information I have for them. Call them, set up an appointment and renegotiate the deal."
"Umm, you don't want to be there?" I ask.
"Ben, you don't need me. You are more than capable of doing this. You know your stuff and know the numbers better than I do. Go do it. Make me proud." He says.
"Yes sir I will." I say a bit shocked.
Karen and I head out for dinner. I take her to a restaurant attached to the mall. I am thinking after dinner we will walk around the mall. Since she knows it's coming, I was thinking about stopping at a jeweler and find out her ring size and maybe what style she likes and doesn't.
I enjoy just being with her. Talking to her, looking into her eyes, and listening to her laugh. We are talking about Uncle Ray's Labor Day party. I am glad Uncle Ray has mellowed out some. I think it took Karen yelling at him in the car, but I am glad for it. We are walking around the mall, and approaching a big jeweler.
"Ezzie, could you release Karen from the, no talking to other people about the proposal while we are in the store, and then put it back in place?" I ask.
"I can Ben." Ezzie says.
I would swear Ezzie has a little attitude with me asking her to keep Karen from talking. Ezzie doesn't say in my head, but she doesn't have to. Great, now my magic ring doesn't want to talk to me. I can't win.
Karen looks up, and realizes I am steering us towards the jeweler. "Really?" She squeals.
"Easy Karen. We are just looking, and finding out your ring size and maybe what style you like and don't like." I say.
She squeezes my arm tight to her. "I Love You. I Love You. I Love You."
I smile and walk us into the store. An hour later we walked out. I have learned a couple of things, most importantly Karen's ring size, and that she doesn't like square diamonds. I was a bit of a cheapskate with her in the store. She would look at a slightly bigger nicer one and I would say quietly to her. "Wow, these get expensive."
After a comment like that she would usually turn and look at a slightly smaller version. While I have every intention of buying a slightly bigger ring than what she was originally looking at.
Anyway we leave the store and Karen is floating on cloud nine. Ezzie hasn't said anything to me since earlier. Karen heads to the ladies room. I sit on a bench and say "Out with it Ezzie."
"Out with what Ben? I don't understand what you are asking?" Says Ezzie.
"Oh I think you do Ezzie. You disapprove of me asking you to keep Karen from talking to anyone about me proposing to her."
"Ben, it's not my place to disapprove. I am just here to do as you wish."
I swear I could hear smugness in her voice. "You know for someone that is 700 plus years old, you are acting like a child."
"Sure, turn this on me, make it about me being childish. Let's skip over the part where you are changing the woman you love." She yells in my head.
I sigh. "Ezzie, come on. You know I am not trying to change her."