The Path to Love

Chapter 66 - Sam's POV

"What are you proposing Thomas Enterprises do for you, Mr. Buck?" I asked the tall, brown haired, brown eyed guy standing in front of me.

He looked at me wearily, like he was ashamed to be meeting with a female. "Be my business partner of course," he replied cockily. "As I start to make money from the business and pay you back the money you spent on getting the place ready, you ease yourself out as an owner."

"And what is in it for Thomas enterprises? It does not sound like we are benefiting in this arrangement." I replied, closing the book with his ideas in it.

"Well, you get to watch a prospective businessman start up his own company and you get to help someone in need."

I thought about what it would mean for us, to help him. But that was it. It was just benefiting him, no one else. He was cocky and arrogant, and he thought he deserved whatever he wanted. I decided to give him a chance. "What do you want to open?"

"A night club," he replied confidently.

"What kind?"

"The night club kind," he looked at me weirdly.

"I am aware, Mr. Buck, of what a night club is. You are asking my company for money. I need to know what the gist of your company is so I can see if it is worth the investment on my end."

"Well, I have a lot in mind for the night club."

"Describe it to me then. Take me on a word trip of your night club. Make me want to invest in your night club."

"Um, okay." He sounded less confident now. Good, I liked that. "So, it would be open from ten pm to five am every night. Every Monday, I was thinking of having a DJ come in and we have beat music. Every Friday, it would be band night. So, a different band would come in every night. Admission would be five dollars a person and there would be specials in regard to drinks every night. I was thinking we could have an appetizer menu as well, so people who get hungry could get something to eat. I don't want to have anything to big because then we would seem like a pub. The dance floor would be in the centre of the room, and it would be huge, so lots of people could fit on the dance floor. The DJ booth could be towards the front of the room and the bar towards the back. We could have some seats and tables around the sides too, so people would have the chance to rest."

"This sounds like a classic night club to me, Mr. Buck. I'm not hearing anything spectacular that is making me want to invest in your company. There is already a lot of clubs in Toronto and Connecticut. I just do not see your company being able to take off. There's no bang factor." I replied. I haven't made one deal since I've been here. I want to, and Mr. Thomas gave me permission to invest in whatever I think is a good idea. With all the meetings I've had and everything prospective business partners have told me, nothing is interesting.

"You don't know what you're talking about," he stood up and slammed his hands on the table. "My club would be a great place to be. Anyone who is anyone would be there."

"I just don't see it happening, sir. I'm sorry."

"You're not sorry," he spat. "You just don't want to see someone accomplish their dreams, you're a dream killer."

"No, I'm a realist. You have no money whatsoever and according to this paper you handed me, you're asking for one million dollars to open a night club that you don't really have a plan for. A nightclub is only as successful as its owner. Until you figure out a plan, Thomas Enterprises cannot help you."

"Can't, or won't?" He replied, glaring daggers at me.

I stood up, not exactly the same height as him, but enough to prove my point. I set my hands on the table and looked him in the eyes. "Thomas Enterprises will not help you." I packed up my belongings. "Have a good day, Mr. Buck. Come back and see us when you have something figured out."

I walked out of the conference room where my two bodyguards were waiting for me. "One of you escort Mr. Buck out. I want to make sure he leaves the building." The one on my left walked back towards the conference room and the one on my right kept walking with me back to my office. Before I even sat down, my phone was ringing.

"This is Samantha Dawson," I spoke into the phone.

"Did you make the deal?"

"I did not. He didn't have a plan and he didn't know what he wanted to do. He was making assumptions about the building he was doing, and overall I just didn't like it."

"You haven't bought into anything since you've been here," Mr. Thomas spoke into the phone.

"I'm just being picky, I think. Whoever I decide to partner with, I want it to be a good deal for both ends. People just want us for the money, but it doesn't work that way. We are more than just a bank."

"What are you interested in opening?"

"I don't know, something that would benefit a community. Something that could help other people." I replied.

"Like what?"

"I don't know, a homeless shelter, a community building, anything really."

"So, a non-profit organization." He stated.

"Yeah," I smiled brightly at the thought. "That sounds like a good idea."

"Maybe you could make it a reality when you go back to Toronto, after all, it's almost a week away."

"That sounds amazing. I didn't think I could do that."

"It'll be your building, you can do whatever you want."

"I'll start planning for it," I replied.

"Good idea, after all, we leave in a week."

I smiled at the thought of being able to go home again for the first time in months.

Excited was an understatement.