Chapter 5 - The Negotiation
Nora waited six days before calling.
Not because she was playing games.
Because she needed six days to convince herself she was not insane.
Then she visited the Halsted property.
It was better than she expected.
Exposed brick.
Large windows.
A narrow back courtyard.
Enough room for shelves, a coffee counter, and small reading tables.
It reminded her of her grandmother’s shop.
That was dangerous.
Hope made people agree to bad deals.
So Nora brought a notebook, a calculator, and every market listing she could find.
Matteo’s office occupied the top floor of an old converted warehouse.
He was sitting behind a massive desk when she entered.
“You came.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I was.”
Nora sat down.
“No coffee?”
Matteo glanced toward the machine.
“You want coffee?”
“No. I was testing your hospitality.”
He leaned back.
“Am I failing?”
“Badly.”
He pressed a button on the desk.
Two minutes later, coffee arrived.
Nora took one sip.
“Better.”
Matteo looked amused.
“Let’s talk rent.”
He slid a document across the desk.
Nora read the number.
Then she laughed.
Matteo waited.
She looked up.
“Absolutely not.”
“That is market.”
“That is optimistic market.”
“It’s a corner property.”
“The plumbing is forty years old.”
“It works.”
“The electrical panel needs replacement.”
“It passed inspection.”
“For a boutique. Not for a coffee operation.”
Matteo studied her.
“You did your research.”
“I’m negotiating.”
“For how much?”
Nora named a figure.
Matteo stared at her.
“That’s not negotiation. That’s robbery.”
“You’ll survive.”
“The building has property taxes.”
“It’s also been empty for fourteen months.”
“You remembered.”
“Empty property earns zero.”
Matteo leaned forward.
“Three-year lease.”
“Two.”
“Three.”
“Two with an option for three more.”
He paused.
“Security deposit.”
“One month.”
“Three.”
“One.”
“Two.”
“One and a half.”
Matteo extended his hand.
Nora looked at it.
“That fast?”
“You came prepared.”
She shook his hand.
“Deal.”
Matteo did not let go immediately.
Nora noticed the tattoos across his fingers.
Dark geometric patterns disappeared beneath his cuff.
His eyes held hers for a moment.
Then he released her hand.
“When do you want the keys?”
“Monday.”
“That’s four days.”
“I know.”
“You don’t have contractors.”
“I have friends.”
“You don’t have permits.”
“I filed provisional applications yesterday.”
Matteo stared at her.
“You assumed we’d reach a deal.”
“No.”
Nora stood.
“I prepared in case we did.”
She picked up her notebook.
Matteo watched her leave.
Then he called after her.
“Nora.”
She turned.
“You’re going to need a contractor.”
“I told you. No favors.”
“I’m recommending one.”
She waited.
“He charges market.”
“Good.”
“He argues.”
“Better.”
Matteo smiled faintly.
“You two will get along.”
---
The next month moved fast.
Vivian came by almost every day.
She insisted she was only helping.
Nora knew better.
One afternoon, Vivian stood in the center of the half-finished shop.
“This wall needs more shelves.”
“It needs plaster first.”
“Details.”
“You have no idea how construction works.”
“I have confidence.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
Vivian smiled.
“Matteo has confidence too.”
“That explains a lot.”
As if summoned by insult, Matteo walked in.
He wore a dark suit without the overcoat.
His sleeves were rolled slightly, revealing more ink near his wrists.
He looked around.
“You’re behind schedule.”
Nora stared at him.
“You own one construction company and suddenly you’re an expert?”
“I own three.”
“Congratulations.”
Vivian laughed.
Matteo looked at her.
“You’re enjoying this too much.”
“Yes.”
Nora handed him a paintbrush.
He looked at it.
“What is this?”
“A contribution.”
“I don’t paint.”
“You criticize extremely well. Let’s see if you can perform.”
Matteo stared at the brush.
Then at Nora.
Then he took off his jacket.
Vivian immediately pulled out her phone.
Matteo pointed at her.
“No.”
“Oh, absolutely yes.”
Thirty minutes later, Chicago’s most feared businessman had paint on his shirt.
Nora looked at the crooked line he had made near the trim.
“This is terrible.”
Matteo stared at the wall.
“It’s paint.”
“It’s criminal.”
Vivian nearly fell over laughing.
Matteo looked at Nora.
“You’re insulting the landlord.”
“I’m protecting the property.”
He smiled.
May you like
Nora realized she was smiling too.
That was the first moment she understood something had changed.
