Page 12 of Shar: A Woman Alone

“What’s worrying you?” He asks, and I spin to look at him.

“Well, I like the place, and I think I could give you anoffer on it if you were interested in selling the place, but I’m worried thatthe hydraulics on the vehicle lifts won’t work. Will all the tools come withthe business, or do I have to buy the building and then buy everything else,which could be a tad over what I want to pay?”

“I wasn’t thinking of selling the place, to be honest, butyou seem like you want to get a business in your pop’s name, depending on whatyour offer would be I could consider selling to you.”‘WHOOP, WHOOP, gotyou, you old bastard,’I’m thinking to myself.

We wander back through the building and I place the lowestoffer that Bank told me to lay out. “I think with all the problems and the costto bring the place up to specifications. You know, health and safety and allthat shit, I’ll give you an offer of $50,000 and not a penny more.”

“Oh, I’m not sure I can let it go for that.”

“I understand, really I do, but I can’t go higher as I’d nothave enough left to cover the cost of getting the place opened. It’s going tocost a fair amount, and that’s just inside. The parking lot will need repavingtoo and I suppose the back of the building is needing doing as well?” I lift aneyebrow and make him admit it does, so he knows he’s pushing his luck.

“How about I let you have the place for $75,000?” He makesthis counteroffer, which is still far below the $120,000 that Bank told me wasour top offer and the offer they had given already at one time.

“Hm, I’m not sure.” I walk around again, running my fingerover things, then rubbing my fingers together, making sure he could see thegrime I’ve moved. Then I bend down and look under the counter in reception,tutting, and mumbling that the counter needs replacing as it has woodworm.“I’ll give you $55,000.”

I can see he’s weakening, but he’s not with me yet. But hewill be, I’ll make sure of it. Taking out my phone, I take photographs andmumble to myself about new shelving, oh, and new flooring as the tiles arerotten. I murmur to myself, that’ll add up, probably another $10,000. Hmm, I’mnow giving him a worried look.

“Okay, I’ll let you have it for $55,000.”

I’m getting this locked down now. “Oh, that is fantastic.I’ll make an appointment with the lawyers to get the sale through legally, andI’ll make sure they pay you as soon as you’ve signed on the dotted line. Butmake sure you take your trailer with you, I don’t want that left here.”

The old fucker spits on his hand and holds it out to me, andnot to be outdone, I spit on mine and slap it down hard on top of his, causinghim to cringe.

I get his phone number and give him mine, keeping him happythat he’s done himself a good deal. We arrange I’ll contact him as soon as thelawyer can fit him in and get this deal to bed.

Back at the clubhouse, I jump out of my vehicle and rushinside, quickly up to my room, slamming the door behind me. Stripping off myclothes, and into the shower, before it’s even warmed fully. That place has mescratching something fierce and even though I used wipes to clean my hands, Istill feel dirty.

Once I’m clean, I throw on yoga pants, a sports bra,trainers, and a loose t-shirt. I need to run for a while, and if I can findsomeone to run with me, then good. If not, I’ll run on my own. I’ve done mostthings in my life alone, so I’m used to it.

Downstairs, Trip catches me before I can leave by the frontdoor. “What happened, Shar?”

“I’ll fill you in later, but get the lawyer ready to do afast transfer of ownership.” I laugh and Trip heads off. I head out to thecompound and once I’m alone, I do a few stretches before setting off at a jog.

Out of the main gate and onto the road. I pace myself,looking at my watch now and again to make sure I’m making time. When I’ve runfor forty minutes, I turn and make my way back, running all out for the lastten minutes. Leaning my hands on my knees, I take large gulps of air whilewaiting for my heart rate to drop slightly. Once it does, I do a few cool-downexercises that Meat had taught me because I get a cramp in the back of mythigh.

Done now, I walk inside and back to my room, where I haveanother shower and grab a pair of sweatpants and another clean t-shirt. Mystomach lets off a huge growl and I know I’ve got to eat soon or I’m going tostart feeling sick.

Downstairs, there is a fabulous smell coming from thekitchen and walking in, I see Bank and Trip dishing out Chinese food. Smiling,I catch them both unawares when I speak out. “Well, that smells good. I hopethere is enough for me?”

“There sure is. Come and sit down. Do you want a drink?”Bank asks and opens a bottle of red wine that actually looks like a good one,and not cheap crap.

“Oh, I’d love one. Thank you.” Sitting with my meal and aglass of wine, I talk to them about the garage while other brothers wander inand take a plate of food. Sharp, Crack, and Brawl, who I learn is the Sgt atArms, take a seat and listen to my description of the run-down garage.

I’m purposely omitting the offer I made and I can see allthe brothers getting fidgety as they want to know if I got the garage and, ifso, how much.

Sharp breaks. “Did you get the garage?”

“Yes, of course I did,” I reply, but don’t say more, towhich Sharp gives me the come-on sign with his hand. I laugh, before pityingthem enough to tell them. “Okay. I got the deal. We need the lawyer to quicklyget the paperwork done so I can get the money over and done. Now, it was a bitof a haggle, but he wanted $75,000.”

The brothers were not dissatisfied with that because it wasmuch lower than the offer they had given the old man. “But I didn’t like that,so I made a counteroffer.”

Crack chuckles. “Okay, okay, what did you get the placefor?”

“Well, I told him all the things wrong with the place, tooka few pictures, mumbled about my pops not wanting me to buy something thatwasn’t worth the money, and eventually I got the deal for $55,000.”

Nobody said a word. They all just looked at me. Crackfrowned. Sharp pursed his lips, although his eyebrows had shot up. Then heturned, grabbed me out of my seat, and whirled me around and around. Thebrothers were all laughing and whooping and Crack grabbed me from Sharp,kissing my forehead and squeezing me tightly.

“Fucking amazing. That’s what that is, just fucking amazing.You got the old bastard to sell the place for less than half of what we offeredhim.” Sharp laughs and turns to Bank. “Get the paperwork done as quick as wecan, make sure the cash is ready, and let’s lock this the fuck down.”

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