Page 13 of Mr. Aster
“I’ll make you a bet, Mr. Aster,” she taunted with a smirk. “One hundred bucks says we will have our way with you, and you won’t have your way with us. You’ll be living a carefree life in muslin shirts, khaki shorts, and flip-flops when you board your private jet back to New York.”
The idea made me laugh for the first time in too long. “I highly doubt that,” I confirmed. “I think you get your wild ideas from your father.”
She stuck her hand out to me to extend a shake. “Let’s bet on it. One hundred bucks,” she challenged.
“Fine,” I said, shaking her hand. “At least I know you’ll be good for it after I’m done with this place and it’s thriving, making more than triple what it’s bringing in now. I’ll take the bet since you are certain to lose.”
She grinned. “I have my own money, thank you very much. I don’t take a dime from this place.”
Interesting.
“You don’t live off of your parents’ wealth from the vineyard?”
“I bet that’s confusing for you to figure out, huh? The daughter of a wealthy vineyard owner not expecting her father to bankroll her lavish lifestyle?”
“I’ve never met anyone who didn’t live in a family business like this and not see the benefits from it,” I started. “However, from what I’ve seen, there’s not too much money to benefit from.”
She arched an eyebrow at me, “Like I said, I pity those who allow money to govern their happiness because soon enough, that money will also rule their lives, freedoms, and everything about them. I don’t need money to be happy.”
“That’s nonsense,” I said. “Everyone needs money to do everything. Hell, you probably can’t even eat at McDonalds without spending twenty dollars.”
“Oh, as ifyoueat at McDonald’s,” she laughed pretty loudly at that one. “Please tell me the last time you ate at a fast-food restaurant. I’m curious now.”
“I couldn’t possibly think of a time,” I said, arching my eyebrow, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what things cost.It is my business to know what people can or can’t afford. I’m merely trying to say everything costs money, including a fast-food chain.”
“Well, going to the beach and watching the sunset is free. You know, there are many rejuvenating things for the soul that money can’t buy,” she said, looking out on the hills, “but if you’re not happy, and the desire to be wealthy consumes you,” she looked back at me, “then you’ll never find those things. And if you never find them, then what’s the point of it all?”
I stared at her, considering her view on life and happiness. It was intriguing but made absolutely zero sense to me.
“I guess you see it your way, and I see it mine. I find happiness in achieving my goals. It’s not necessarily the money that makes me happy; it’s the accomplishment.”
“But money is the driving factor, isn’t it?”
“Money is the driving factor in everyone’s lives. Would you be happy if Mr. Mitchell and my family didn’t acquire this business? What if it went under, and your parents lost everything, including the home you seem overly attached to—so much so that the mention of a remodel outrages you? Would you be happy to know you didn’t allow money to get involved?”
“Well, that would suck,” she answered, “and I understand it from your viewpoint, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make. I’m only saying that I’m happiest doing things that I love.”
“And what are those things?”
“Stuff that doesn’t cost a dime,” she smiled at me. “Like I said, sunsets at the beach, things like that. The best things in life are free; you just need to know where to look to find them.”
I grinned, “Well, I hope you continue to find happiness through free things. I will focus on increasing profits here so you can enjoy the freedom to dream of those free things.”
“You don’t believe me,” she said.
“It’s not that I don’t believe you. Half of what you are saying is true, but the other half is a wild fantasy with inspirational words. It sounds great, but when you’re in a place where money is the only thing standing between you and your next meal, I believe you’ll see it differently.”
“Another hundred bucks says that I can prove what I’m saying is right,” she smiled.
I couldn’t help but chuckle in response. “For someone who isn’t fueled by money, you sure like to gamble with it. Now, we’ve got two hundred bucks on the table for you to prove I don’t know who I am or what I’m about. I’m unsure why you are adamant about proving I’ve got my life all wrong, but I’ll admit, it seems a bit insulting.”
She stepped back and offered me a smile that ignited every nerve in my body, “Now you know how I feel. You’re here trying to transform my home and my father’s business into something it’s not.” She laughed, “Now you can understand how I feel about how you’ve handled everything since you arrived.”
“Touché,” was all I could say in response.
“I’m not asking you not to change anything. I understand that you have a lot of invaluable advice and plans to help this become better than my dad could’ve dreamt possible,” she said, becoming more serious. “All I ask is that you do your best not to treat us like cockroaches underneath your five-hundred-dollar shoes.”
“I’ll take that into consideration.”
