Chapter 12

The next day, Frank and Grant climbed into the staff car and were driven across town to another high-rise, where a group of very popular—and very knowledgeable—people waited in a conference room, fully prepared to help them spend several million dollars.

Frank followed Grant into the building and up to an entryway for the Halden Form Group. The cute receptionist brought them to a conference room and offered coffee and pastries while they waited.

“I’ll let the team know you are here.” She said and then left Frank and Grant to have a coffee and bagel.

Two bites in, a group of people walked in and both men quickly rose to their feet to greet them.

“Gentlemen, I’m Lorenzo Harwell, I hope that you are Grant Lockwood and Frank Devon.”

“That we are. Thank you for meeting with us.” Grant said.

Everyone settled into the plush chairs around the table as the meeting started.

“Lorenzo, I’m Grant and this is Frank, of course, that much you know. What you may not know is that we are partners in a business venture we called Velvet Entertainment.”

Grant pulled out a stack of papers from his jacket pocket and handed them over. Lorenzo looked them over and immediately signed it. The non-disclosure agreements were common at this level and the group signed them with nothing more than a glance at them.

“Thank you.” Grant said, putting the papers in his pocket before letting Frank tell his story.

“I’m Frank Devon and I own the company called Club Velvet.”

Celeste made a noise, her focus was internal at that moment, but she still heard him and still realized what this was all about. Frank continued.

“I own four strip clubs that have been quite successful over these past years. Two in Metro City, one in East St Louis and of course our big one in Chicago. Grant is my business partner, he provided me the money to expand and our partnership has continued for many years now. One of my wives introduced him to his wife so we might as well be called family. What Grant and I want to do is open an ultra exclusive club here in Manhattan that isn’t open to the public, you have to be invited to join and joining is what...” He asked Grant for the answer.

“100 thousand dollars to join the club.”

“Yes. That gets you access to the club where you can explore your personal sensuality to your heart’s desire.”

“A whore house?” Lorenzo asked without thinking.

“No.” Grant said calmly, since Frank was breathing to try and maintain his calm. “They only offer one thing. We want to offer entertainment to our members. A social floor to meet and talk in private with other members and with the men and women who work there. A dance stage if someone is so inclined to watch that entertainment. If someone needs a session with a professional, our employees, being touched or hugged or something therapeutic, I want them to come to our club. Lastly, if you were a woman, who needs something, needs to let go, to step back from running a corporation and be used in a safe and controlled environment, we will have that.” Dana and Celeste both blushed as Grant said those last words, looking straight at them and had to shift in their seats as a deep red blush formed across their necks and upper chests.

Lorenzo ignored his teammates and continued while they recovered. “Where is this club going to be?”

“The Virelli Tower.” Grant said easily and quickly.

All three of the other members of the team made a noise of someone who knows the building.

“But, some investment firm is in that building, I didn’t know it was open for new leases yet.” Dana said.

“Yes, Lockwood Investment Group.” Frank said, a knowing grin on his face.

Lorenzo made the connection first slapping the table. “Of course. Grant Lockwood.” He said laughing. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t even put it together until just now. I’m so sorry gentlemen for me not knowing you both. Please forgive me.” Lorenzo said, holding his hands up defensively.

Celeste then asked the next question, “How many floors are you thinking or planning?”

“Five.” was the answer that Grant and Frank gave at the same time.

“Ok. Doable, that would put it close to 20 thousand feet in space.” she made a note on a notepad then started scribbling as her thoughts came to her fast and furious.

Her teammates fell silent as she scrawled on her paper. Grant and Frank kept their mouths shut, recognizing the importance of this time.

When Celeste finally ran out, she looked at the men across the table. “We can do it.”

“Celeste, are you sure? We don’t even have anything close to a design idea yet, how can you just tell them that we can do it?” Lorenzo said to her, his hand on her arm.

“I’m very sure. Your team is going to have to work hard on getting ventilation worked out since he is going to want food and drink served there and you know how important ventilation is for that. Other than that, we have a location, they have the idea, and by the looks of their business on the net, they have the money, all we have to do is design the place. Once that is done, they have to run it and I think that is going to be the easy part.” Celeste said confidently, then turned to the men. “Gentlemen, I’m sure we can get this done for you. It’ll be a pleasure to work with you.” She said, then stood and reached across the table with her hand out.

“Good.” Frank said, then stood to shake her hand. “Five floors, give me some ideas on paper to look at, some drawings of layout when we meet again, Grant I have a lease to sign.”

The meeting broke up and the two men went back to his office and sat in his office amid the hustle and bustle of his investment group and looked at each other from comfortable chairs in his office.

“Did you see Celeste writing on her notepad? She must have planned the whole thing out right there.” Frank said, chuckling at the memory.

“I did. But did you see Dana doing the same thing? She had the whole thing planned out as well while we were sitting there. The only one who didn’t do that was Lorenzo.” Grant said, also chuckling as he thought back to their meeting.

“So who do we need to contact about the lease?” Frank said, now recovered from his levity.

Grant got up from his chair and walked to his desk. He pulled out a folder and handed it to Frank.

“It’s already done. The space is ours.”

“Wha—? How?”

“When the space opened up, I signed the lease the same day. I know how real estate moves in this town. Space is valuable, so I grabbed it.”

“But—” Frank started, but Grant raised a hand to stop him.