BAM-The Beginning (Vested Interest) Read online

  “That’s all?” Maddox drawled sarcastically.

  “No,” I laughed. “I want more—but we’ll react and grow as the market and the company develop. Plus, I still want to flip houses. Find the hidden gems, buy them for a song, and refurbish. Like this place. I plan on an entire division dedicated to just that.”

  “I see.”

  “Most importantly, I want you with me.”

  “Where do you see us in your company?” Maddox asked.

  “Our company,” I replied. “Just like the market kiosk we worked on. We all have our strengths, and I want to use them.”

  “Keep going,” Aiden said, his shoulders relaxing a little.

  “I have the vision, the money, and the leadership. Maddox, you’re the numbers guy. You’re fucking brilliant with them. You’ll oversee the entire financial department.”

  “What am I?” Aiden asked. “The muscle? The idiot that stands behind you and intimidates people?”

  “Stop it,” I demanded.

  “I can’t work in a business field, Bentley. How the hell would I keep up with all the paperwork and reading that needs to be done? You know how I’ve been struggling.”

  I fought back my frustration. Lately, Aiden had concentrated on the physical aspect of his education. He had decided he was only worth employing for his muscles. The thought of him being a personal trainer or a bodyguard was unacceptable to me. He was as smart as Maddox or me—he just processed things in an unusual manner. I was determined to make him see that.

  I tapped the top of the hard wooden table. “You can and you will. I want you as my right hand, Aiden. There is no one I trust more. You can listen to a conversation and replay it back without a thought. Your memory retention is amazing. You may have trouble reading, but you’re not an idiot. You’re one of the smartest people I know. You have a brilliant mind—it just works differently from other people. Stop running yourself down.”

  He blinked. “You want me as your right hand?”

  “Yes. Involved in every decision. Same with you, Maddox. We’re a team.”

  They were both quiet, thinking over my words.

  “Businessmen—especially rich businessmen—need protection,” Aiden said, his voice firm. “That needs to be part of what I do. I can’t just sit behind a desk—I would hate that. I want to be the guy who has your back.” At my frown, he lifted his hands. “I like that part of my personality, Bent. I work hard at my body and knowing how things work. I can take some other courses, learn new skills. Teach you and Maddox to defend yourself. I can do more than one job—in fact, I want to.”

  It made sense, and I nodded.

  “How are you going to structure this?” Maddox questioned.

  That was where I got nervous. I wanted to be fair, and I wanted them as part of the company, but I also had to be cautious and make sure we were all on the same page and that the arrangement would work out.

  “I’ll bring you both on as employees. Salaries, benefits, bonus structure—everything for the first year. If things go the way I think they will, I’ll make you VPs and equal partners.”

  They stared at me.

  “I think we need to make sure things work between us,” I explained. “I don’t foresee any difficulties, but I was advised to do this slowly.”

  Maddox smiled. “Good advice. I have no issue with that.”

  “Nor do I,” Aiden muttered.

  “We can work out contracts. You can both be part of the business right away. Aiden will graduate next year and come on board full time, and Maddox, you can follow when you graduate.”

  “I can start setting up systems for you.”

  “Great.”

  “I can attend some meetings,” Aiden mused. “My schedule is lighter this year.”

  “Perfect.”

  My phone rang, and I glanced down, needing to take the call. “Excuse me.”

  I spoke with the real estate agent briefly, confirming some dates and numbers, then returned to the kitchen. Maddox and Aiden were in a deep conversation, their voices low. Maddox said something to Aiden, who replied with a shake of his head. Maddox responded with a firm nod. “Yes, Aiden. That is exactly how it should be.”

  They stopped talking as I sat down.

  “Everything okay?” Maddox asked.

  “Yes. The deal with the building is going through.”

  Maddox smirked. “You need a whole building, Bentley?”

  I laughed. “Just the top floor for now. The rest is leased or vacant. I plan on doing some major renos, taking over the empty space, and creating a high demand for the rest on short-term leases. And upping the rent once that happens.”

  “And so it begins,” Aiden droned.

  I grinned.

  “So, Bent, Aiden and I were talking.”

  “And?”

  “You need to be the majority shareholder.” Maddox spoke up.

  I frowned.

  Maddox bent forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. He glanced at Aiden, who nodded, then spoke. “We’re both incredibly flattered.” He paused.

  “That sounds like a rejection.”

  “Nope. Not at all. As you said, this is your vision, your money—your company. You need to own the majority stake. You need to have the peace of mind knowing Aiden and I can never outvote you.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “Fifty-one percent is yours. The other between Aiden and me. Twenty-five for him, twenty-four for me.”

  “Why not a fifty-fifty split between you?”

  Maddox smiled. “He’s going to be your right hand. Way more hands on than I will be—than I want to be. Numbers are my thing. Computers, figures. I have no desire to attend meetings or be part of every decision unless it involves finance. And he’s your best friend. That’s how it should be.” He sat back with a wink. “If this company is as successful as you say it will be, I’ll be well taken care of.”

  “I’ll make sure of it. I honestly think we’ll be the most successful company around.”

  “Your trust in us is flattering.”

  I shrugged. “No. I know you. I know what you each bring to the table. We work well together.” I ran a hand through my hair. “You trust me with your future, and I’ll look after you. Simple. Our friendship means the world to me. You guys are my family—and you know how I feel about that.”

  “Have you talked to Sandy?”

  Sandy Preston—our den mother, friend, housekeeper, and adopted mother. She’d stepped in one day when she heard us arguing in the backyard about how to do laundry and took over. The wife of a successful but much older doctor, she had become the calm in our storm. She needed something to do and looking after us became what she chose to keep herself busy. Even after we moved, she came over, looked after the house and us, making sure we were okay. We all adored her.

  “You mean my new assistant?”

  Aiden burst out laughing. “Oh man, she is gonna keep you on your toes.”

  “I have no doubt of that.”

  “Max is okay with her working? I mean, he thought it was amusing the way she jumped in and took over our household, but something like this?” Maddox asked with a frown. “He retires soon, doesn’t he?”

  “Yes. When I had this idea, I spoke with both of them. Max encouraged me and got me in touch with a few people to talk to. Sandy was all over the idea of coming to work for me. She’s as bored at home as I am in classes. Max was thrilled by her enthusiasm and encouraged her to do it when I asked. He wants her happy, and this seems to make her so. He has plans for his retirement which will keep him busy.”

  “She’s gonna boss you around.”

  I chuckled. “I look forward to it. She’s coming to see the building tomorrow. You guys want to see it?”

  “Yes,” they both said.

  “What are you calling your company?” Maddox asked. “Have you thought about it?”

  I grinned. “Yep. I’m sticking with what works. BAM. It’s ours.”

  Aiden held up his
hand for a high five. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

  I picked up Sandy the next morning. She slipped into the car, her hair swept up, wearing a classic suit and looking elegant and put together. She leaned across the console and kissed my cheek. She was an affectionate woman with all of us, and since we lacked a mother figure in our lives, she stepped right into the role. She was one of the few people I allowed to get close.

  She sat back and clipped her seat belt in place.

  “How did it go?”

  I pulled into traffic and headed toward our first stop. “Well, actually. Once the shock wore off and I was able to make Aiden understand what was going on, things went well.”

  “He was worried about being left behind?”

  I checked over my shoulder and changed lanes. “Yes. Exactly what you told me he would do.”

  “Maddox took it all in stride and then was up all night thinking?”

  “Yep. He came upstairs about four and talked for over an hour.”

  “Did you answer all his questions?”

  “I think so. They’re both meeting us later at the building.”

  “Okay, where is our first stop? After you get me a coffee, that is.”

  I chuckled. “The lawyer, then the Audi dealership.”

  Sandy frowned. “The Audi dealership? What’s wrong with this car?”

  I pulled into the Tim Hortons’ drive-through and waited for our turn to order. “Nothing is wrong with it except it says ‘university student.’ I’m already a step behind, Sandy. My age is going to go against me when I’m making my first deals. I need to present an image. A successful one. The building, my car, attitude, my suits—all of it—first class. Once I cut my teeth and gain a reputation, things will be different.”

  She laughed under her breath as I placed our coffee order. She still looked amused as I accepted the tray and pulled back into traffic.

  “What is so funny?”

  “If you think I believe that once you start getting ‘a reputation,’ the cars won’t get fancier, the buildings bigger, and the suits only custom made, you’re mistaken, young man. As for your image, that’s a pile of bullshit too. You are your image, Bentley. You already have that removed, haughty persona going for you.” She patted my cheek. “Don’t worry—those few of us who really know you understand. But to the rest of the world, you’re already there.”

  I had to laugh because she was right. I was rigid. Formal. Even snooty. That was how I was brought up to be, and I had been a good student and learned the lesson well. I had no qualms about running a business; using whatever skills it took to be a success, and playing hardball with seasoned pros.

  I planned on wiping the floor with them.

  This business would be my life. It already consumed my every waking thought, and I knew once I was able to give it one hundred percent, it would be my entire world. I had no room for love, a social life, or any of the other distractions that made other men weak.

  This was it for me. And given what I knew of Aiden’s and Maddox’s histories, I was certain they felt the same way.

  I winked at Sandy to let her know I was okay with her words. Aside from Aiden and Maddox, she knew me better than anyone. In fact, at times, she knew me better than I knew myself. She understood all of us.

  And, for some reason, still loved us.

  I pulled into the dealership.

  “So big, expensive, yet tasteful?” she asked. “Something that screams money, but in an understated, refined way?”

  “Yep.”

  “Got it. Let’s go spend some money.”

  We arrived at the building later that afternoon, and I parked in the back. I stepped out of my new silver-gray Audi S4, then waited for Sandy to come around the car. I tugged on the sleeves of my white shirt, then ran my hand over my freshly cut hair. Sandy clucked her tongue as she stood beside me.

  “Leave your hair alone. I wish you’d just let it go instead of slicking it down.”

  I shook my head. “I look like a child with curls.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  “Whatever, woman. Let’s go meet the boys and show them around.”

  We rounded the corner, discovering Aiden and Maddox already there. They were pointing to different features on the building, gesturing and talking rapidly. As we approached, they turned. Aiden looked me over with a grin.

  “Nice suit, Bent. What the hell happened to your hair?”

  “It’s a look.”

  “That’s one way to describe it. You look like an old man.”

  “Good.”

  Maddox tilted his head. “You need a brighter tie. Something to give the navy suit some splash.”

  I glanced down at the gray striped tie I had chosen and shook my head. “Nope. That’s you, not me. I prefer understated.”

  “Like the Audi you just drove up in?” he replied with a lift of his eyebrow. “What happened to the Jetta?”

  “It’s at the dealer, waiting for you to pick it up. You and Aiden can have it.”

  He blinked. “Well, that’s a bonus.” He rubbed his chin. “Part of the image?” he guessed.

  “Yes.”

  “Like this building.”

  I glanced up, looking it over. Three floors, big windows, and in great shape. It had a huge parking lot out back and a ton of potential. Slightly off the main track in Toronto, it was still accessible without the constant choke hold of the traffic in the downtown core. Dark-red brick, some nice structural details, and well-built, it was perfect for what I wanted. I could already see the name BAM Corporation etched in steel and hung on the front of the building.

  Sandy was right about many things in our future, but not this building. I could see our office here for a very long time. Eventually, I wanted to take over the entire building with my own company, but for now, I planned on renting empty office space to help pay the bills.

  “Yes, like this building.” I held up the keys I had picked up from the real estate agent. It was amazing what money allowed you to do. Buy a car and take it with you that day, step ahead in lines, avoid crowds at airports, have tours of building you don’t yet own, but get access to.

  We walked in, stopping in the lobby.

  “A little restaurant would be great in that space,” Sandy murmured. “I noticed there weren’t a lot of them on this street.”

  “It wouldn’t get much walk-in traffic at night,” I mused.

  “Develop it with a breakfast-lunch place in mind,” she replied. “Good coffee, bagels, sandwiches—that sort of thing.”

  Aiden grinned. “Yeah. Once I’m here, I can keep them in business myself.”

  We laughed and headed to the elevators. We started on the top floor, which was vacant. We walked through the mass of small offices and I explained how I wanted it opened up.

  “A central station for Sandy, with a waiting area. Our private offices behind it with a large conference room in the middle. A few smaller offices at the front part of the building. Clean lines, modern touches, a variance of light, and dark walls.”

  “The other floors?” Aiden asked.

  Sandy spoke up. “They’re laid out much the same as this one. At the moment, the second floor has only two tenants, and the leases are up soon. We plan to move them to the back of the main floor so Bentley can develop that floor for the BAM expansion.”

  “There’s a server room, although it needs updating. Ultimately, I want to run all our own systems so we can keep everything in-house. So the second floor would house techs and IT, extra finance and management teams for leasing and property maintenance, plus whatever else is needed,” I added.

  “And the main floor? Rent it all?” Maddox asked, scribbling details in a small notebook.

  “No. The front part, yes. Sandy’s idea is a good one—some sort of deli since it is already set up with a walk-in entrance. The back, though? I want an entire building team. Construction, designers, everything we need to flip houses, take on bigger builds—the whole gamut. There�
�s a huge loading dock out back, so that works well. Tons of storage in the basement for tools, files, everything.”

  “Not a lot of income toward the cost of the building,” Maddox observed.

  “No. I hadn’t planned on that once we are full throttle. We’ll have enough to look after without tenants in our own building. I like the idea of a deli so there is food easily available, but other than that, the place will be ours.”

  “The scope of what you have planned is vast, Bent. Expensive.” Maddox looked around. “Eight mil for this place?”

  I grinned. “It’s been on the market for over a year. Not close enough to downtown for foot traffic and not zoned for condos. I walked in with a cash offer of six and got it.”

  Aiden’s face paled at the number.

  I clapped him on the shoulder. “Relax, Aiden. It’s all good. I promise.”

  He shook his head. “I will never get used to money like that.”

  “Good,” Sandy replied, rubbing his arm in a comforting gesture. “Then you will appreciate what you have when it happens.”

  He looked down at her, a soft expression on his face. “I appreciate what I have now.” He smiled, his voice low. “Especially you, Sandy.”

  She beamed up at him, her eyes glassy. We all appreciated the special place Sandy held in our hearts. She watched over Aiden carefully, knowing his past and what he had endured as a kid. She filled a void in his life he desperately needed.

  She took care of all of us well, and I knew with her by our side, this place would be everything I dreamed of.

  “There’s room in the basement for a gym,” I offered with a grin.

  Aiden’s expression changed. “Oh yeah?”

  “Absolutely. We can make this building whatever we want it to be. I want it to be our vision, not just mine.”