Page 19 of Broken Headboards
Chapter Eight
Tess
War.
That’s what this is.
Mr. Charming might think he’s the best thing since sliced bread, but he’s in for a rude awakening. When it comes to business, I don’t have any rules, and I sure as hell don’t take prisoners.
And that’s why I have this folder sitting on my desk, Austin’s name stamped right on the cover. I’ve read it cover to cover, and I gotta say—he’s actually an impressive man. And no, I’m not talking about the dozens of pictures my associates decided to include in the folder. Although he’s as handsome as anyone should be allowed to be, what really amazes me about him is his experience. He seems to know the way our little industry operates better than the rest of the assholes competing with us.
He was right. Between me and him, the other companies won’t stand a chance. This isOakmont v Dominaall the way.
Austin v Tess.
Match of the century, no doubt about it.
And we’re different in so many ways, that I just can’t predict a clear winner. We operate differently, and we see the market differently. The only thing we really have in common is our desire to win.
UnlikeDomina, which essentially is a company I bootstrapped together, Oakmont has been a family company for generations. That means, of course, that Austin landed in his position. But I need to be fair here: the only reason Oakmont is still a thing is because Austin is at the helm. He took the reins of a company that was almost insolvent and he turned it around. In just a few years, Oakmont has become a behemoth.
Oakmont is like Starbucks. He’s everywhere. He panders to every segment of society with his in your face ‘I’m a man and this is my cave’ look.
And people buy it up.
I’m not jealous. He’s got his niche. I’ve got mine.
I already knew that much, of course, but now that I have all the juicy details of the deals Austin made throughout the years...well, let’s just say that it’s a bit hard for me not to respect him.
After all, power recognizes power.
Not that it means anything. I’m still going to crush him, after all.
Three days from now, all the projects bidders will gather at Clarendon Tower once more, and we’ll have to face our first challenge: the Clarendon Tower Sun Room. A massive area that acts as a sort of common living room to the residents, the space is almost completely enclosed with glass, the unobstructed New York City view it offers almost surreal.
Our job is to present the board with our plans for the room furniture. I already have some ideas I’m working on, but there’s one question I need to answer before I commit to anything: What is Austin planning?
But don’t worry. I’m not the kind of woman that can live with unanswered questions.
Samantha, my assistant, knocks at the door.
“Come in!” I call out to her. ”Is it ready?”
“Yes, it is.” Strutting inside the room, she grins at me as she hands me a folded piece of paper. “All access information is in there.”
“Was there any trouble?”
“None at all,” she says. “It went as smooth as we expected. Their offices were empty at dawn. It took less than ten minutes for them to get in and out.”
“Great. Tell them to invoice us.” I wave her away as I unfold the piece of paper, hungrily staring at the numbers and letters scribbled there. “Very well, Austin, let’s see what you’re up to,” I whisper to myself as I fire up my laptop. I access the software I bought for the occasion and type the string of numbers I’ve been given on the access panel. A bright screen pops up a second later and I almost squeal with joy.
On my laptop screen I can see Austin sitting in his office. His desk is covered with sketches and documents—his laptop smack in the middle of all that mess—and he seems busy jotting something down.
Yeah, I’m spying on Austin.
Not exactly something an Ethics Board would reward, but what the hell—Austin isn’t exactly an upstanding guy, and I’m not taking any chances with him. If I have to play dirty in order to win, guess what? I’m going to play as dirty as I can.
I have three cameras set up inside his office, pretty much allowing me to see everything he does, and the team I hired even managed to mess with his laptop. One press of a button and I can see everything on his screen.
