by Alexia Praks
Sam Harrington frowned distractedly at the piles of papers in front of him, wondering what the heck had gotten into Daniel Wakefield and his team.
Blast it all! They should have had phase one sorted out months ago. Since the commencement of this project, however, they’d only managed to buy fifteen of the twenty houses he had his eyes on. At this rate, his plan to build a luxurious resort hotel right in front of that spectacular beach would never happened. And Sam wasn’t the type to allow the will-never-happen to happen.
He’d been an entrepreneur since he’d hit twenty years old, like his father and grandfather before him. His grandfather, bless his good soul, had told him many times when he’d been but a mere boy that Sam had the nose for the money. Sam had an extremely sharp business acumen with the natural ability to see unseen opportunities and sniff out great deals. And this particular zone of the city, which at the moment held a block of rundown houses, was certainly a great deal indeed. Sam refused to let the opportunities to build in one of the most prosperous and fastest growing cities in Australia go to waste.
“Let me take care of it, Sam,” Jeremy said, drawing Sam’s attention. “Let me talk to them. You’re too busy with your other deals, aren’t you? Besides, good old Jayden is coming to meet you this month, isn’t he?”
Sam had to agree with his cousin. He had three big deals going on at the moment, and one of those was with his childhood friend and business partner, Jayden McCartney, the man who had invited him to his grand wedding a year and a half ago in New York City. Even though he hadn’t been there to celebrate with the happy couple, Sam had heard from a very reliable source it was one of the hottest weddings of the decade and Jayden’s wife, Alexandra, was a pretty little thing and very likable. That reliable source was his mother, Fran Harrington. Of course, he didn’t doubt his mother’s words, as she had excellent eyes and exceptional taste.
Sam glanced at Daniel now, who was standing before them nervously, waiting for further instructions as to what to do with this sudden fall back in the progress of their project. The man shifted uncomfortably in his spot, knowing he’d failed his boss miserably. He and his team of seven couldn’t even convince the good people along the small, isolated block of Bay View to sell their ramshackle homes for just over a million dollars. It was supposed to be as easy as taking candy from a baby, but his team had misjudged the few who lived there and took things for granted. Now the project was delayed, deadline was tight, and on top of that, they’d wasted their big boss Sam Harrington’s, multibillionaire and head of the Harrington Empire, time and money.
Everyone, Daniel included, respected and worshiped Sam Harrington, a most hardworking, disciplined, generous, and honorable man. Sam was like the sun to them all, giving light to those in the dark and warmth to those in the cold. He helped many grow under his radiance through his ability to save companies that had gone under, startup inventive businesses before anyone saw the opportunity, and do ludicrous deals everyone was too afraid of.
He’d saved many people’s livelihood, and this included Daniel, a fifty-eight-year-old manager who’d been found redundant before Sam took him on. Of course, Daniel knew Sam could have taken on a much younger, brighter man than himself. What had made Sam chose him, Daniel wasn’t sure, and to be frankly honest, he was just glad. He was glad to have a job and a regular income to feed his family again and save for his and his wife’s retirement. Indeed, he was very grateful to Sam.
Be damned! He’d vowed to work his hardest and smartest to make Sam’s empire grow. And that was why Daniel felt rather sick knowing he’d let the good man down thus far. But it wasn’t over yet. Daniel was smart enough to know his limitations and knew when to ask for help. And that was what he was here for.
He said, “I will personally make sure we get the rest of the properties by the end of this month, Sam. I just need a little more time and help.”
Jeremy chimed in. “We understand how hard you work, Daniel. From what I’ve heard, you’re having a hard time dealing with a few of the owners, aren’t you?”
Daniel nodded. “Only two.”
“What about the other three of the five who haven’t yet decided to sell?” Sam asked.
“Two are getting back to me next week, and one is still thinking about it.” Of course, Daniel took the interpretation of not selling as still thinking about it. The exact words were from the three young women who’d just moved from New Zealand, the Chandler sisters. They’d said the property was an inheritance from their dead father and they weren’t selling.
Daniel was the kind of man who could tackle a bunch of hard, shrewd business guys any day of the week to sell properties and make Sam and Jeremy a good bargain in the process. But when it came to the three Chandler girls, he’d lost the battle before he even heard the words not selling from their mouths. He just couldn’t force those girls to sell simply because that house was their inheritance, the home they loved. They had that much power over him. That was why he needed reinforcements. That was why he needed Sam Harrington, with his stern personality and firm hands, to deal with the girls. To get them to sell the property.
“Like I said, how about I take care of it?” Jeremy’s voice penetrated Daniel’s thoughts.
Sam turned his attention to his cousin. Jeremy was right. As of now, the younger man would be the best person to seal these deals. With his good looks, charming smile, and gift of gab, Jeremy would make any stiff old crone smile and agree to whatever pacts he offered.
Sam relaxed back in his leather chair, his eyes on Daniel once again. “What happened?”
The elderly man knew what Sam was asking about. “Well, you see,” he began, “there wasn’t much I could do. They don’t want to sell.”
“Did you perhaps offer them too little?”
“Oh, no, Sam. A very good price we offered. They… well, they just don’t want to sell.”
Sam sighed and rubbed his temple, wondering himself what these people were like. Perhaps they were holding out for a higher bid. Though, to be honest, a million was a very fair price for those four-bedroom houses out of the city that almost no one wanted to buy.
“They’re mostly Cambodian,” Daniel chimed in, disrupting Sam’s thoughts. “Jolly good people if you ask me.” He smiled brightly, thinking about the Chandler sisters once again who lived in number six Bay View Avenue. Pretty lot with disarmingly charming personalities. Bright smiles. Just nice girls.
Sam noticed the older man was off in La-La Land and cleared his throat to get Daniel’s attention. Daniel jolted in his spot and went bright red.
Jeremy laughed merrily. “Sounds as if you’re rather cozy with them, Daniel.” He winked at the man. “Now I’m eager to lead the deals.”
Daniel looked as though he were about to choke on the air he’d just breathed in. He shook his head furiously. “No. I was just stating a fact.”
Sam shuffled the papers and came to a stop. “Number six,” he said. “The owner lives in New Zealand? A Mr. Michael Chandler.”
Daniel nodded. “Deceased. The property is his daughters’ now. Their names are… Hold on a second.” He shuffled through his papers in his hands for a few seconds. “Ah, yes,” he said as he found the one he wanted. He quickly handed it to Sam. “Chandra, Dara, and Soriya Chandler.”
Sam glanced at the report. “Have you contacted them?”
“Yes. Just moved in a couple weeks ago, actually.”
“Which are they? The ones who refused or the ones who’ll get back to you next week?”
“The ones who are still thinking about it,” Daniel supplied helpfully.
“They’re from New Zealand, too, yes?”
“Yes.”
“And are they migrating to Australia?”
“Ah, that I don’t know as yet.”
Sam threw the thin paper onto the desk and looked up at the elderly man. “Daniel, as of now, Jeremy will be taking charge in this project.”
Daniel sighed in relief. Though, to be honest, he was hoping it wa
s Sam himself who would take charge. Sam was the kind of rare man who had that special gift, the ability to naturally lead and wield great influence. His mere presence commanded authority that not only inspired people to want to work damn hard for him, but made them want to please him, especially the female staff, because, really, Sam Harrington was a damn good-looking man.
Dark hair, brown eyes, tanned skin, and over six feet tall with a lean, toned body—women wanted him. The female employees flirted with him shamelessly at the office, though Daniel knew Sam paid no heed to them. As a single parent, his attention was exclusively for his beloved six-year-old daughter Lilly and, of course, his business.
On second thought, though, Jeremy was very good at negotiating deals as well, in his own way. Daniel was pretty certain things would turn out all right.
Sam said, “Inform your staff, Daniel. I will be coming into the office tomorrow to see the full report.”
“Of course.” Daniel nodded, and after collecting the folders from Sam’s desk, he left the tastefully decorated office and then drove away from the three-story mansion.
It was a few minutes later when Sam voiced his suspicions to Jeremy. “Very unlike you to offer to do deals such as these.”
Jeremy laughed, his deep voice rumbling all the way from within his chest. “You got me, Sam. You got me. All right. All right.” He sighed and continued happily. “I heard stories, see, of three pretty girls of number six from New Zealand.”
Sam eyed his cousin intensely and knew what Jeremy was up to. “Make the deal, Jeremy, and do the dating in your own time. Preferably after the contract is signed.”
“I got you, Sam. Don’t worry your handsome head over it,” Jeremy said as he got up. “Now then, I’m off to see that little rat of yours to kiss her bye-bye.”
“Good luck for tomorrow,” Sam said as Jeremy walked out the door.
“Thanks, but no thanks. I make my own luck,” Jeremy said in the corridor and his merry laughter followed.
Sam had to admit Jeremy would never change. Good old Jeremy with his happy-go-lucky personality. He had no doubt whatever deal Jeremy proposed, he would succeed. This was partly due to his friendly and easygoing personality. Not to mention women tended to fall for him the moment they laid eyes on him.
Sam wasn’t surprised. Jeremy had the looks of a Scandinavian male model, with his sandy-blonde hair, hazel eyes, and boyish smile. He was very sure the three girls would fall for his cousin in an instant, like most women, and agree to their offer without a second thought. So Sam decided he had nothing to worry about.
Relaxing, he picked up the mug of black coffee and took a sip as he gazed out across his spacious office to the massive glass window that overlooked the blue sea beyond. The sun was in the west, just about to set in another hour or so. It gave off a distinctive beautiful orange glow across the mass expansion. The scenery took Sam’s breath for a second. Again, he felt that contentment within him, the appreciation that he had succeeded and gained so much in his thirty-three years. He counted himself as one of the lucky few and felt it only right he give back by helping those in need, those who wanted help to better their lives.
And yet… Yet at times he felt as if something was missing, especially during the lonely nights when he’d just lay there, staring into the void, feeling empty and cold inside.
A knock came at the door, drawing Sam’s attention. A second later, Jim Mane, Sam’s personal assistant, appeared.
Jim, a man in his forties with brown hair and gray eyes, came into the office with his tablet in hand, ready as usual for instructions. “I heard the project isn’t going too well. Just saw Daniel. What time will you be going in to see him and his staff tomorrow?”
Sam glanced at his watch and noted it was just after five thirty in the evening. He didn’t forget he’d made a promise to take his darling daughter Lilly to the Pacific Fair shopping center for the evening, since it would be open late on a Thursday. She’d been asking him to take her to buy new books to read.
“Make it nine,” he said to Jim as he got up. “That will be all for today. See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow,” Jim replied as he watched his boss heading out the door.
Sam walked through the maze of corridors and then came down via the grand stairs to the ground floor of the house. He walked toward the east wing and then came in through a door. He saw Lilly reading her favorite children’s book, the Sacred Sword series by Anna Chan.
“Hey,” he said.
Lilly lifted her head, a smile plastered on her cute face. Noting him, she threw the book to one side, rushed off the sofa, and raced into his wide-open arms.
“Daddy!” she called out delightfully. “Are we going to the book store now? Are we?”
Sam chuckled and kissed his daughter fondly. “Of course. I made a promise, didn’t I?”
Lilly smiled brightly and nodded her head. “Yeah, you did. You never break promises. I love you, Daddy. Can we go now?”
“Of course, sweetheart.” Sam lifted his daughter and tossed her high, to which Lilly squealed excitedly.
Some two hours later, with shopping done, Sam found himself with his daughter at the night market along the beach, exploring, since they had time to kill. The place was very busy and crowded, full of energy and entertainment. After popping in and out of a few stalls, Lilly finally found one she was excited about. It was a stand that sold posters of cartoons, anime, and manga. The little girl was enthusiastically browsing through posters of Pokémon. Sam was behind her, curious and wondering if these were related to some of the cartoons currently on TV that his daughter loved to watch.
“This is Pikachu, Daddy.” Lilly pointed out. “He’s an electric type. I love him. He’s the cutest. He’s so smart, too. Oh, and he can do a lot of stuff like thunderbolt.”
Sam laughed. “Do you like any of the posters?”
Lilly cocked her head to one side and thought about it for a moment. Then she browsed through more of the other posters.
It was then a group of Asian tourists shuffled amongst the crowd, and Sam felt a petit, soft body shoved against him. Thanks to his quick reflexes, he turned and caught her on time, embracing her in his arms before she had the chance to fall to the ground. Instantly, a spring scent greeted him seductively, lingering about his nose with a promise.
She felt warm and so damn soft in his arms, Sam simply wanted to continue holding on to her for a bit longer. But alas, the young woman made a sound and shivered, which puzzled him.
She murmured, “Sorry,” straightened herself, and then, without looking at him, started heading away, leaving Sam a little more than bewildered.
He watched her, fascinated at the slim body, long hair, and that tight little backside swaying delicately as she walked. Sam was interested. He wondered if she was one of the tourists as she lifted her camera and started taking photos.
“I don’t like any of them,” Lilly said finally, drawing Sam’s attention. He reluctantly flicked his gaze from the beauty to his daughter.
“Come on, then,” he said, nudging Lilly away from the stall and heading after the young woman.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 3
