Should be easy, right?
Seven
Beck
Normally, I was all about finding creative solutions to impossible problems. That was what real estate development was all about, but normal was not the situation I was in.
A shit-storm—that was the situation I was currently in.
“Look, Beck, I’ve done as much as I can. Your time is up.” Craig’s voice rang out from the speakerphone on my shiny glass desk.
Chills ran down my body. There had to be more I could do. I couldn’t just walk away from the Mayfair project. I spun my chair to the side, so I got a view of St Paul’s dome towering above me. The sight through the windows was a reminder to me of how far I’d come. “It’s not as simple as putting it behind me. The market’s changed. No one can hold property for a few months without developing it and come out with a profit.”
I’d lose ten million pounds.
At least.
And if it was just ten million pounds, it would be easier to walk away. But this development offered me more than money could buy.
Craig wasn’t the one who’d have to swallow the loss and he certainly wasn’t going to lose sleep over me walking away from a lifetime’s ambition.
“So, you’ll make a loss. It’s a sunk cost. Move on.”
I shook my head. That wasn’t going to happen. I hadn’t given up on Henry. If I could just get five minutes, I was sure I could convince him to sell.
“I know it’s not what you want to hear, but the bank can’t extend terms anymore. We’re going to have to pull the funding. You’ll get an official notice by courier later today setting out that you have thirty days to either start works, or we’ll step in and put the property on the market if you still refuse to.”
I sat back in my chair, running a finger around the collar of my shirt, as if trying to loosen the noose I felt tightening around my throat. The words had been said. Craig had dressed it up but effectively I’d be in default of my loan if I didn’t make progress within the month. I’d lose money, my dream, and my reputation was going to take a kicking.
I was down for the count. I had to stumble to my feet somehow—find the energy from somewhere.
There was no way I could let the bank step in. If the development failed, there would be whispers in the industry about whether I’d lost my edge. It might even put off future lenders funding other projects. I couldn’t go backward. I’d come a long way from developing one-off flats in the East End.
Stella bloody London.
I’d thought she’d be the answer to everything. But I hadn’t given up on her.
I had to think creatively. But at the moment I was out of ideas, my brain was blank, and hope was the only thing left.
“I’m not going to default,” I told Craig. “I’ll have the signatures on the Dawnay building, believe me.”
“I hope so, but like I said, you get thirty days to get that transfer to happen or we take steps to recover the loan.”
A knock on my office door interrupted my quick comeback. “I’ll keep you updated,” I said, and turned to see the door open and the receptionist enter. “I have to go, my next meeting’s arrived.” I didn’t have a meeting for a couple of hours, but there was no point in rehashing old ground with Craig. I understood him loud and clear. He’d lowered the sword of Damocles a couple of centimeters more.
“Sorry to interrupt, sir,” Gina said, “but I have a Stella London in reception who insists that you’ll want to see her.”
The pressure around my ribs abated a little, allowing me to take a breath and register the grin that was nudging at the corners of my mouth.
Just when I thought my arse was about to hit the floor, lady luck smiled on me and brought me Stella London. There was only one reason she’d be here—to make a deal.
Right about now, I’d say yes to anything she wanted to get me into that wedding.
I asked Gina to bring her in, then dragged my fingers through my hair.
Stella entered the room, her blonde hair swept back from her face, her red skirt clinging to her perfect hourglass figure. The hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention as if about to be inspected by a sergeant major. Perhaps it was because she’d been sitting when I’d met her, but I hadn’t remembered her as being quite so attractive.
“Thanks for coming in,” I said. “Can I offer you something to drink? Tea, coffee?”