boss owns the lot behind the building. He’d like to hold on to it until he gets the right offer. If we buy the building, he’s agreed to give us first right of refusal when he’s ready to sell the lot. That would give us the opportunity to expand, which I think we should be open to considering.” Katie couldn’t help but feel excited. What he was proposing was so much more than she ever could have hoped to achieve. “Based on these projections, here’s what our dividends would look like.” He moved his cursor over a number that made Katie’s eye bulge.
“Surely you don’t mean I’d make that much money in addition to my salary?” She’d never thought it possible to earn that much money in her lifetime, never mind in a few years.
Chris smiled at her surprise. “That’s how it works. As a partner you’d be entitled to—”
“You deserve to own the majority of the business.” She felt guilty even drawing a salary like that when she hadn’t put up any of the money to get the business off the ground. “It’s your money.”
“But it was your idea. I wouldn’t even be considering this if not for you.”
She couldn’t argue with that, but she refused to agree to a majority interest. He was the one with the money and the business knowledge. “How about a seventy-thirty split, with you owning the majority? I couldn’t agree to more than that. It wouldn’t feel right.”
“Honey, you have a lot to learn about business negotiations,” he said, smiling. “You’re supposed to negotiate for a larger percentage, not a smaller one.”
Extending her hand, she smiled. “Those are my terms, Mr. Rozen. Do we have a deal?”
His lips twitched as he slipped his hand in hers. “Fine, we have a deal.”
“What’s the next step?” Katie hoped he intended to act quickly before she had time to change her mind.
“We check the zoning, licensing, and insurance requirements. In the meantime, we make a conditional offer on the property. I’ll need to look at some comparable properties before I decide what to go in at. I’ll email you the links to the listings and get your feedback.”
She knew nothing about commercial real estate, but she appreciated that he was trying to keep her in the loop. “Sounds good.” She stood and made her way to the door. Before she could reach for the knob, Chris’s hand closed over hers. Her heart hammered when she saw the predatory look in his eyes.
“Now that we’ve got business out of the way...” He stepped closer, flattening her back against the door. “I just wanted to remind you that I’ll be having a little chat with your soon-to-be ex tonight, and when I do, you’re the first person I intend to call.”
“Okay.” Her voice sounded breathless, but she tried valiantly to keep from trembling.
“You and I have a date to plan.”
If it was anything like the dinner he’d treated her to the previous night, she couldn’t wait. Katie couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed a man’s company more. “Okay.”
“Is that all you’re going to say?” His eyes traveled all over her face before landing on her mouth. Katie held her breath, the anticipation nearly doing her in. She wanted him to kiss her, but she was afraid of what that kiss might unleash. “We’ll talk tonight.” He reached for the door handle without taking his eyes off her lips.
That’s it? He wasn’t going to kiss her? Katie knew she was frowning when she saw Chris smirk. “What’s so funny?”
“The anticipation is half the fun, sweetheart. Try to remember that.”
Chapter Nine
Chris was in a bad mood by the time he entered his home that evening. He’d learned there was a security breach at one of his yards in Oklahoma, and he had to drive out there that weekend to investigate. He wouldn’t be able to see Bianca. He hated when business robbed him of precious time with his daughter, but sometimes it couldn’t be helped. Thankfully, she and her mother seemed
“Surely you don’t mean I’d make that much money in addition to my salary?” She’d never thought it possible to earn that much money in her lifetime, never mind in a few years.
Chris smiled at her surprise. “That’s how it works. As a partner you’d be entitled to—”
“You deserve to own the majority of the business.” She felt guilty even drawing a salary like that when she hadn’t put up any of the money to get the business off the ground. “It’s your money.”
“But it was your idea. I wouldn’t even be considering this if not for you.”
She couldn’t argue with that, but she refused to agree to a majority interest. He was the one with the money and the business knowledge. “How about a seventy-thirty split, with you owning the majority? I couldn’t agree to more than that. It wouldn’t feel right.”
“Honey, you have a lot to learn about business negotiations,” he said, smiling. “You’re supposed to negotiate for a larger percentage, not a smaller one.”
Extending her hand, she smiled. “Those are my terms, Mr. Rozen. Do we have a deal?”
His lips twitched as he slipped his hand in hers. “Fine, we have a deal.”
“What’s the next step?” Katie hoped he intended to act quickly before she had time to change her mind.
“We check the zoning, licensing, and insurance requirements. In the meantime, we make a conditional offer on the property. I’ll need to look at some comparable properties before I decide what to go in at. I’ll email you the links to the listings and get your feedback.”
She knew nothing about commercial real estate, but she appreciated that he was trying to keep her in the loop. “Sounds good.” She stood and made her way to the door. Before she could reach for the knob, Chris’s hand closed over hers. Her heart hammered when she saw the predatory look in his eyes.
“Now that we’ve got business out of the way...” He stepped closer, flattening her back against the door. “I just wanted to remind you that I’ll be having a little chat with your soon-to-be ex tonight, and when I do, you’re the first person I intend to call.”
“Okay.” Her voice sounded breathless, but she tried valiantly to keep from trembling.
“You and I have a date to plan.”
If it was anything like the dinner he’d treated her to the previous night, she couldn’t wait. Katie couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed a man’s company more. “Okay.”
“Is that all you’re going to say?” His eyes traveled all over her face before landing on her mouth. Katie held her breath, the anticipation nearly doing her in. She wanted him to kiss her, but she was afraid of what that kiss might unleash. “We’ll talk tonight.” He reached for the door handle without taking his eyes off her lips.
That’s it? He wasn’t going to kiss her? Katie knew she was frowning when she saw Chris smirk. “What’s so funny?”
“The anticipation is half the fun, sweetheart. Try to remember that.”
Chapter Nine
Chris was in a bad mood by the time he entered his home that evening. He’d learned there was a security breach at one of his yards in Oklahoma, and he had to drive out there that weekend to investigate. He wouldn’t be able to see Bianca. He hated when business robbed him of precious time with his daughter, but sometimes it couldn’t be helped. Thankfully, she and her mother seemed
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