Page 104 of The October Arrangement

“Look at the numbers, son.”

“I’ve seen the numbers, Dad. I don’t need to be reminded. We’re taking care of it.”

“You haven’t seen these numbers.” He smiled, and I frowned.

I studied the first page with the latest sales activity. I scanned the column and narrowed my eyes.

“What the fuck?” I looked at my father, and he smiled.

I flipped to the next page. Twenty fucking units sold in two weeks.

“Is this right?” I asked.

“No, Simon. I came in here just to throw fake sales numbers on your desk,” he said.

I ignored him and studied the report. Twenty units sold since Bella’s campaign went live. There were no inquiries, no scheduled tours, no reservations. Only closed sales.

“Twenty.” I grinned, staring at my father.

“Twenty,” he repeated. “Remember how you had fifty units sitting there collecting dust only two weeks ago?”

“I remember,” I sighed.

“Look at the engagement numbers. That’s higher than we’ve ever had,” he said. “You know what my favorite part is?”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me,” I said.

“You didn’t want to hire her.” He pointed at me.

“I never said I didn’t want to hire her. I had legitimate concerns.”

“You had one concern, son.”

“I had several.”

“I told you.” He pointed at me again.

“Don’t start,” I sighed.

“I told you she was exactly what this company needed.”

“You also told me to tear up my rules.”

“And?” His brow raised.

“Apparently, you were right.”

“I’m sorry. What did you say?” He leaned closer to my desk.

“Don’t.” I put my hand up, and he chuckled.

“We’re going to dinner to celebrate tomorrow evening. I’ll have my secretary make the reservation, and I’ll text you the details.” He stood from his chair.

“Sounds good, Dad.”

The numbers shouldn’t have surprised me as much as they did. I’d watched Bella work her ass off for two weeks straight. The woman didn’t half-ass anything. I would walk to her office well after everyone else had left and find her in front of the monitor with her shoes kicked off under the desk, hair twisted up when it was down earlier in the day, and half a sandwich sitting untouched next to her.

I’d tell her it was time to go home, and she’d put her finger up and ask me to give her another twenty minutes. But the thing that really got me was the budget she had been given. Instead of hiring people to appear in the videos, she used herself, friends, me, Patrick, my father, Mary, and her team. People who cost absolutely nothing. She made videos interviewing the sales team, the architects, and the contractors. The only thing she was using the budget for was advertising expenses. Except, her videos didn’t feel advertised. When you watched them, you felt as if you were watching friends having a good time. She did the one thing my marketing team couldn’t. She stopped selling square footage and sold them every day of the week. She sold them Tuesday mornings. She sold them Friday nights. She sold them what living in Tribeca is like. And I was sure as hell proud of her.