Several agents leaned forward and began taking notes.
“Recent changes in international banking laws have created interesting opportunities. Just as the Rothschild family took advantage of opportunities that presented themselves in the past, we intend to take advantage of the current situation. Therefore, I will continue focusing on international banking and financial markets, only now more than ever. Lyza, Leesa, and Bill can work out the details and inform you as to upcoming changes in policy that will affect your quotas and bonuses.”
One of the agents raised his hand. “Mr. Lane, does that mean you are leaving the real estate side of L. L. Lane Unlimited?”
Lyza knew her father wouldn’t.
Lawrence pointed at the chart on the wall. “You know better than that. I’ll always be part of the real estate side. Now let’s take a look at a rundown of the current commercial listings. Several billion dollars in revenue are hanging out there just waiting for you guys to bring it in. The financial side needs cash to invest.”
One of the agents pointed at the chart. “But, sir, sometimes deals like these take years to bring to fruition. No disrespect, sir, but this looks like an unrealistic goal.”
Lyza cringed and looked over at Leesa. Father never took criticism well.
Before Lawrence could respond, another agent interjected, “Achieving unrealistic goals is what made L. L. Lane Unlimited the conglomerate it is today.”
Lawrence nodded toward the chart on the wall. “Now let’s talk about how we can get these numbers up. It’s all about the bottom line, and every one of you knows it. Leesa closed a local deal that bumped up the number on the bottom line this quarter. Lyza closed a terrific deal in Germany, making us a seventy-five million dollar profit. Let’s give her a hand.”
He started clapping his hands, and slowly, obediently, all the agents in the room followed. Leesa’s face flushed as she joined the applause.
Lyza beamed. Hey, when Bill handed out the leads, Leesa turned that one down. It’s not my fault Leesa didn’t get it. I grabbed it as soon as I saw she rejected it.
“If my daughters can work deals like this, I expect you guys can do as well. I want you to show me. Prove it to me. Now, get out there and show me some action.”
Lyza agreed. Right, Father, I’d like to see any one of these guys sell as well as I do.
Lawrence left the room.
Lyza headed over to Bill just as he made it to the door. “You got anything you think I might be interested in? Get me something like that last one. Seriously, I’m interested in getting started on something ASAP.”
Leesa looked up. “Well, I’m sure you would.” She stood up. “By the way, Bill, I work here, too.” She turned on her heel and nearly sprinted toward her office.
Lyza left Bill standing alone in the conference room and trailed Leesa down the hall. “Leesa, wait a minute.”
Leesa stopped abruptly, put her hands on her hips, and turned around. “Sure, what do you need?”
“What do I need?” Lyza repeated. “Leesa, I can’t help what Father says. You know that as well as I do. Anyway, you had the same option I had on the Nuremberg property. You didn’t want it. Remember?”
Leesa folded her arms. “So?”
Lyza walked toward her. “So why are you angry at me for a deal you turned down that I picked up and made work? No one in this world has any control over what comes out of Father’s mouth. You know I can’t stand it when you’re mad.”
A grin played at the corners of Leesa’s mouth, and her shoulders relaxed. “How can I be mad when you put it like that? It hurt. You know I did my job, too, Lyza.” Leesa swallowed hard. “Why does he always manage to make me feel like I’m not as good at anything as you are? I thought he was retiring.”
“He will, eventually.” Lyza put her arm around Leesa. “Until then, we have to put up with him.”
Bill walked toward them with a sheaf of papers in his hand. “Look, it’s not much, but here are a few leads. There’s nothing like Nuremberg right now; perhaps next week. I’ll keep both of you posted.” Lord help me. It’s bad enough trying to balance Lawrence and the twins. Now I guess I’m going to learn to juggle.
Glad to get the Monday morning meeting over, Lyza tried to adjust her attitude about being back at work and helped Leesa divide the sheaf of paper Bill had handed them. Lyza and Leesa walked down the hall together, then split at the elevator to enter their separate offices.
***
As Leesa stepped into her office, she flipped through the listings to see whether anything looked like something she could sell quickly. The abandoned mining operation in Utah didn’t impress her. Five thousand acres in Wyoming might as well have been in Antarctica, as far as she was concerned. A five-story apartment building in lower downtown Chicago—no way would she work that one. Nothing looked good to her. Then she remembered what Lyza said, the part about her turning down the Nuremberg deal. That hadn’t looked good to Leesa, either, but Lyza had done so well with it. Maybe I should hold on to these for a while. I need to think about all of them. I don’t have to do better than Lyza. I’d like to do as well. If I could just find something I could be passionate about.
***
In her office just across the hall, Lyza slapped the sheaf of papers down on her desk. What a bunch of garbage this is! I refuse to even look at these until I’ve had another cup of coffee. She padded down the hall to the break room and ran into Bill.
He poured his cup of coffee and moved out of her way. “What did you think of those leads I gave you?”
Lyza didn’t want to chat. Still irritated at having to apologize to Leesa for something she did right, and nursing a bit of a hangover, she snapped, “Really, Bill, give me a break. I just got back from Germany, turned around, and went to Paris for the week. They’re sitting on my desk. They haven’t gone anywhere. We’ve been out of our meeting for five minutes. Can I wait until I clear my head before going through them? Will that work for you?”
He shrugged and filled his cup. “Okay—just making conversation.”
Lyza added extra sugar to her cup before filling it. “I’m not up for chatting. Coffee I need; conversation, not so much.”
Bill paused as he exited the doorway. “You had a good day today, Lyza. There’s no reason to shoot yourself in the foot.”
Lyza frowned. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that, Bill. I don’t care if you were here from the beginning; you don’t talk that way to me.”
Bill stood just outside the door, held his cup, and stirred. “Exactly. I was here from day one. I worked beside your mother and father from the first day this business started, and I can tell you this: There’s no room for ego. We’re all working for the same goal here.”
She stepped past him into the hall and turned to go to her office, spilling a few drops from her cup. “I am, for sure; sometimes I wonder about you.”
***
Chuck O’Malley was on a mission. The midday sun glared down on the hood of the rented four-by-four. He ran his hand through his salt and pepper gray strands and replaced his weathered straw hat as he bounced along the rutted country road of the Australian bush. Neither the heat nor the three hundred miles of bad or no road deterred him.
If I hadn’t found a place to rent a four-by-four this morning, I never would have made it before dark. George isn’t the only bush pilot around. Who could have known I would find a pilot from Moomba? Talk about remote. The guy knew right where to land for someone to rent a vehicle. I needed to come alone this time. It’s just over that rise, and then I can get a full view of the property.
He