Page 23 of Fall
First, Romano will talk when he’s good and ready.
Second, he'll tell us what we need to know when we need to be aware of it. Nothing more, and not a second sooner.
Because in most cases, ignorance is safer than knowing.
You can’t screw up what you have no fucking clue about.
After the tailorhas what he needs to fix the suit, he leaves us, heading into a small inner room off to one side of the space.
“All right,” Romano speaks up. He takes a seat in the chair closest to mine, facing the Pinuccis. “What did you want to update us about?”
Lorenzo crossed his legs and shifts around uncomfortably in his chair. “Well, boss, long story short, the Cape May development deal isat risk.”
“I thought that was in the bag?” Romano probes.
"It was. I suppose it can still be finalized if we secure another partner. Mauro was supposed to have a twenty-two percent capital stake on the front end. He just sent word through his lawyers that he's stepping back from all new projects in North America. Projects like ours in the pipeline should've been fine, but he's…"
“He’s making a statement.” Romano is pensive, running one hand along the faint stubble that has begun to dust his chin. “The seven days to follow orders doesn’t apply here, I see.”
Lorenzo shakes his head with disapproval. “It’s a clear message.”
“Cristiano, have you looked into whether we can find a new backer or ask the other investors to add to their contributions?”
“Yes, sir. I’ve also checked our other holdings. If you’re open to it, you can probably handle taking out another ten percent from the offshore trading account to increase your stake.”
The boss doesn’t seem too enthused about that idea. “We need to keep some padding while I’m off the grid. Liquid assets are more important than ever right now.”
“I agree,” Lorenzo replies. “We don’tknow how long you’ll be away. Months, a year or more… It’s best to err on the side of caution.”
A year?
I swallow hard at the thought of being in charge for that long. It's not that I'm unwilling. Fuck no. The thing is, it's harder than it looks, minding a shop when the owner is away. Keeping a holding pattern for that long is going to be a big challenge. We have no more supportfrom the higher-ups in Italy. Those men we knew, trusted, shared our secrets with, and reported up the chain to, well, they've suddenly gone from being allies to rivals.
“Do we already own the land?” Lorenzo asks.
“No,” Cristiano says, scrolling through what must be a financial report file or some app on his phone. “We’ve put two percent in escrow. The closing date is in two months.”
“Kill it,” Romano says.
“Boss, we can’t just back out of that deal,” Lorenzo advises him in a shaky voice. “Some of our investors have made commitments.”
“And they can un-make them,” Romano tells him. “Losing two percent is nothing compared to having a project of that scale sit idly while we try to scrape enough money together to break ground. It’s off. We don’t know how badthings will escalate. Inform all the investors tomorrow. Now is not the time to start new capital projects.”
“All right. I’ll take care of it.”
“Is there anything else? My daughter’s eighteen today. I’ve spent enough time on Mauro. It’s time to celebrate with the family we still have.”
I have to hand it to the man. He’s decisive. I’ve seen this man in action for years. Hisbiggest talent is stepping back and looking at a problem from ten thousand feet, then making a decision. No one else that I’ve ever met can size up people and problems this quickly. And he has no regrets either.
I hope to God that I’ll be as effective when I step into his shoes.
I owe this family at least that much. They may not be my blood, but they’re everything to me.
At the sound of a soft knock on the door, all our heads turn to our man guarding it. He pulls it open on Romano’s nods of approval to see who it is.
And when she walks in, all the air gets sucked out of the room.
I should know better than to let anything distract my focus as he wraps up the last of his instructions under his breath.
