“Was there anything else?”
Steve shook his head. “No, I think that’s it. I’ll get going.”
He stood, nodded at Chaz in greeting, and left.
When we were alone again, Chaz stood and came toward my desk. He stopped in front of the window and looked out over LA.
“You can’t just give everyone money, Park,” he said.
“I’m not giving everyone money.”
He glanced at me. “If your Mr. Roth can’t afford to stay, he should move.”
I shrugged. “He’s going through a tough time. And I have the money; it’s not like I’m doing anything with it. So, why not? The poor guy is going through so much already.”
“Do you know him?” Chaz asked. “I mean, personally.”
I shook my head. “I wasn’t going to go to his place and meet his family or anything.”
“Then why do you care so much?”
I shook my head. “Why the fuck does it matter? I put up the guy’s rent for a while. It’s not a bad thing, Chazzy.”
“No, you’re right. It’s not a bad thing. But what happens when the next tenant gets sick, or fired, or loses a family member? You can’t give them all money; you’d be out of a job.”
“I’m not giving them all money,” I defended. “It’s not like Mr. Roth is going to tell the whole building I’ll foot the rent for them.”
“Maybe not, although you don’t know that. But you can’t do business this way.”
I waved my hand in dismissal. “I’m making a profit. So, I’m doing business just fine. Besides, how is this any different than what Bas is doing?”
Chaz shook his head and walked to the chair Steve had vacated. He perched on the edge, elbows on his knees. “First of all, the charity thing is Lexi’s.” Our younger brother’s girlfriend ran a wellness center that offered retreats and healing courses for free to those who needed them. She had always been involved in charity, and since they’d gotten together, Bas had expanded his hotel business to take that into account.
“Second, what they’re doing is a lot more controlled,” Chaz continued. “They’re not just throwing money around, giving it to anyone who happens to walk by. And it’s not affecting them personally.”
“It’s not affecting me personally either,” I said. “Come on, Chaz. Have a heart. Mr. Roth was dealt a shit hand, and it’s not hurting me to help him out. If we can help, shouldn’t we?”
Chaz shook his head. He didn’t agree with me. And that was fine; the three of us were never in complete agreement. But it was still my money and my tenant.
“I’m not just pissing away my money,” I added.
“I think you’re looking for trouble. You have to be careful. People will start using you and abusing your kindness.”
“What people?” I asked.
Chaz groaned and stood. “Look, I have a meeting soon.” I was pretty sure it was just an excuse to leave. “Just be careful, okay? What would Dad say?”
“Fuck you for bringing him into this,” I snapped. Bringing up our late father, who’d left us all the money to start our businesses in the first place, was a low blow. “Dad would be proud of what we’re doing. All of us. And he wouldn’t have shit on me about being nice to someone either.”
“Whatever,” Chaz said. “If you want to sink yourself by giving all your money away, I guess it’s got nothing to do with me.”
“You couldn’t have thought about that before getting in my business?” I asked.
Chaz shook his head and left my office. I let out a breath, frustrated.
Who the fuck was Chaz to tell me how to live my life? He of all people should have known what it was like when life spun out of control. But even after losing Jenna, and having to deal with their daughter alone, Chaz had always had it under control.
Chaz was a superhero that way.