Page 106 of Can't Win 'Em All
Haskins’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t speak.
“I do have the authority to make an offer to you.” She inclined her head toward Carl, who let loose a cough due to the thick smoke and then sat.
“We’re willing to give you this much for the property.” He shoved a piece of paper in front of Haskins. “We can’t give you a piece of the amphitheater. You know as well as I do that it’s not going to happen. We can, however, give you a piece of the parking garage. This is how much money we believe that structure will bring in on a monthly basis.” He shoved another sheet in front of Haskins.
Haskins’s gaze bounced between the two sheets of paper. “This is nowhere near what I was promised from Ryder.” He shoved them back toward Carl. “Do better.”
“No,” Cora replied, not missing a beat. “That’s what you’re going to get.”
“Then I’m not selling.”
“That’s fine.” Cora stood. “Just know, you’ll get nothing from Ryder because he doesn’t have the power to offer you anything. If he told you he did, he was lying.”
Haskins worked his jaw. “He said he had a plan.”
“Oh, I’m sure he did.” Now Cora looked amused. “He always has a plan. He’s crap on follow-through. You realize he has so few shares he can’t change a vote either way, right? He needs somebody from our family to vote with him even if he gets every other board member on his side. That’s not happening.”
“He did you dirty,” Haskins mused. “You’re going to make him pay no matter what, even if he has a good idea.”
“Pretty much,” Cora agreed.
Haskins ran his tongue over his lips. “I really wanted a piece of that amphitheater.”
“The amphitheater is years down the line.” Cora opted for honesty. “Let’s say we do buy the property. We still have to demolish this place, come up with building plans. We’re talking years. What money are you going to have coming in from Ryder in that time?”
“Um … the money for the sale of the property.”
“You’ll still get that money from us. Are you suggesting that Ryder offered you more for the property than we did?”
“Actually, you offered me more up front but less on the back end.” Haskins recognized he’d said something he shouldn’t have right away. “No take-backsies.”
“The offer stands,” Cora assured him. “You’re not getting a piece of the amphitheater, though. Your name is a red flag, and we need to get a liquor license for the amphitheater. We won’t get it if you’re involved.”
“You could give me a fake name on the documents.”
“No. That’s not going to happen.” Cora folded her arms across her chest. “This is our only offer.”
Haskins let loose a growling noise. “I’ve been holding onto this property forever. I got a kick out of keeping it from the other developers. I never wanted to give it to Ryder. I’ve always hated him. He made a good offer, though.”
“An offer he can’t back up,” I pointed out. “He never had the power to give you what you wanted. You must realize that.”
“I knew he was desperate,” Haskins conceded. “I just thought maybe … I mean, they’re his kids too.”
“Children he’s mistreated their whole lives,” Cora said. “They’re not going to side with him out of spite. He could have the best idea in the world and they’re still not going to give him what he wants.”
Haskins pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead. “I’m going to want it all in writing. My lawyers need to go over it.”
“We have everything drawn up.” Lionel stepped forward. “Get your attorney here.”
“You want to do this now?” Panic licked across Haskins’s features. “I need time to think about it.”
Lionel pulled a check out of the folder he was carrying. “If you sign the documents today, we have a bonus for you.” He held up the check so Haskins could see all the zeroes on it. “The bonus is only good if we do the deal today.”
Intrigue lit Haskins’s face. “You really want to screw him.”
“We do,” Cora agreed. “As part of that, we want whatever you’re holding over his head so we can hold it over his head.” She leaned forward. “I promise you that we’ll torture him endlessly with it. He’ll be crying by the time we’re done with him.”
Haskins choked on a laugh. “You’re a freaky lady.”
