Chapter 78

I woke up somewhere different than yesterday. My mind finally put together that this was my Hawaiian home and I was in a bed filled with the women in my life. It then dawned on me that I was missing one lady, my wife, Jules. I had to smile as I thought of my just born son and Jules waiting for me to bring them home.

The clock on the night table said that it was five. That would mean that it would be eight in LA. Extracting myself from the multiple ladies without waking them was difficult, but doable. I slipped workout clothes and running shoes on before grabbing my cell phone and going downstairs to my office off the lounge. There was a small Mr. Coffee on the bar that was set on automatic and already made, so I poured a mug and went to my desk.

I used my contact list to call Kelly’s cell so that she could see it was me who was calling.

“Good morning, Chief. Jules had you out of there so quickly last night that you were already gone when I called to say goodbye. Connie doesn’t have all the numbers yet, but I’ll post them in an e-mail when they come down. The construction guys finished making an additional office area and thirty more closing rooms on the third floor. I’ll have Debbie furnish everything and that will have to take care of title. Those guys are important because, as you’ve emphasized, that’s when we’re paid. Hang on a sec, Connie is handing me the report.”

There was a pause while I could hear Kelly and Connie excitedly talking. Kelly exclaimed into the phone, “Holy Shit, you’re not going to believe this, because I don’t. LA, LA Condo, and LA North finished last week with a total of nine hundred and seventy-five processed sales. The average sale wasn’t that big because of the older home and the condo listings that sold, but at an average sale of two and a half mil, we did over two billion in sales. I can’t wait until we have a really big week. What do you think? Do you really think that I can handle this?”

I was ecstatic as I asked, “So how was the weekend?”

Kelly was hedging as she said, “Everyone says that we had one of our best weekends, but I don’t have the numbers yet.”

I knew that was bogus, because Connie is always Johnny on the spot with those weekend numbers. Instead of calling Kelly on her reply to me, I said, “There is news. Jules delivered a little boy last night. No one will tell me his name, so I’ll learn who he is when I go to bring the two of them home this morning.”

It became obvious that I was on speakerphone when I heard multiple voices holler congratulations. I told them all to go back to work and I would check in with them with my boy’s name later. I was going to wait a minute or two before calling Connie to hear what kind of weekend they had.

I refilled my coffee mug, then went into the kitchen to see if there was any activity. Kumi came around the counter and gave me a very intense hug and kiss. She looked me in the eyes, and said, “I want to give you a child too. I’m so happy for you and Jules, plus Katie, then Willy will follow. Please let me give you a child. May I speak to Jules about that?”

This super sweet Hawaiian lady felt good in my arms as she wrapped her arms around my neck. She kissed me with an emotional intensity that I didn’t expect. She unwrapped herself from me and asked, “Do you want breakfast or a nice wakeup snack?”

“You know what, Kumi, make me a wakeup snack and I’ll go make some calls.”

Wanda was giving Kumi grief as I left the kitchen obviously aroused from Kumi’s intimate kisses. Auli was behind the bar and asked if I wanted something stronger than coffee. I told him to see what Kumi was going to fix me for an early snack.

I called Dot in the home office to tell her about my son. She was excited, but said that all the partners were goofing off at my LA home. They were supposed to be working a deal for some property, but she hasn’t heard from them yet. I told her I would call later with my son’s name and send some pictures.

I leaned back in my nice desk chair, then rocked forward to call Connie. She answered her phone by saying, “It took you long enough to call me for the numbers that you wanted.”

“Had some other things going on. So how come the reluctance to talk about the weekend?”

Connie chuckled and said, “I promised Kelly that I wouldn’t tell you when you called. She knows that you will call me, so you’re going to have to check your e-mail. I’m not telling you.”

“Good deal, Connie. I want you to register Kelly as the manager of your office and to advise the home office that she is now the Regional Manager there in LA, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and San Diego. Help her, Connie. Give her all the numbers that she needs, and constantly explain them to her. I want you to continue to send me all the numbers that you have been giving me, but I now want numbers on the West Central offices and the North Central group now, especially the Chicago offices. Call Frank, the Regional up there and ask him when you can teach the accounting people in his offices some neat tricks that will help him. The man will ask how soon you can come if what he was saying over the weekend were his true feelings. Talk to the accounting people at all the offices, then plan a trip to teach all of them at once. Schedule the plane and go for it. Send a note to Dot to advise her of what I’ve directed you to do. There’ll be no hassles that way.”

Connie softly said, “So you really haven’t left, but are letting Kelly get a taste of the big bucks in that chair. You’re too much, Brad. Come back to visit with us soon.”

“Just keep her pointed in the right direction. Call me if you think that I’m needed.”

I had just laid my phone down when Auli came in with a plate of some special sushi and a tall Bloody Mary. He said, “Most of the men in the house are in the salon enjoying breakfast snacks and some of what you call waker-uppers. Yuu and Hideki have been making calls from their offices too. There is going to be a lot more activity with you here. Let me get you on a good course if you want to play golf later. I think that you have clubs at five of the country clubs you belong to, plus you have a set downstairs to use anywhere that you don’t have clubs.”

My plan was to work out first, then go to the hospital to bring Jules and our son home. I also wanted to know what my son’s name is.

I came out of my office and put the empty glass, mug, and plate on the bar before announcing, “I’m going to work out before I go to the hospital to bring Jules and our son home. Anyone who wants to work out with me is welcome.”

Hideki, Yuu, and Dai joined me in stretching before we attacked the treadmills. We did thirty minutes there at various speeds and inclines before working with free weights. We all finished about the same time and stretched again. I wish that we had more time so that we could do some forms.

We all went up to shower and get ready to do our normal day’s business. All the women were up, with Katie and June dressed to go to the hospital. Willy said that she was taking her mom to a doctor’s appointment and would see us when they returned home. Nobuko was ready to go with us. We went to the hospital in one of the seven passenger Escalades that we had. An infant seat was already strapped into the center of the middle seat.

We were at the hospital before visiting hours, but not before business hours. I paid for all the charges and gave them information for any additional fees. The business office advised the floor nurses that Jules and son were cleared to leave when the doctor’s release was granted.

Our little man wasn’t as red-faced as he had been. His dark hair still wasn’t kinky. His eyes were like Jules, Nobuko, and Hideki with that slant that made you think that his eyelids were pulling to look slanted. I loved the way that he woke up smacking his lips wanting a nipple. He seemed to be patient enough to tolerate getting his diaper changed before being wrapped up and snuggled up to one of Jules’ breasts.

My kid didn’t have the stamina to nurse very long. He was sucking with enthusiasm, then fell asleep on the job. I was going to pick him up to burp him, but Nobuko snatched him up and gently rubbed his back while talking to him. I’d bet that she did that with all of Yuu’s kids, and even Jules when she was an infant.

Two doctors visited with us. One thoroughly checked Jules, declaring her fit for motherhood. The other doctor checked the little guy, although he wasn’t all that happy with the poking and prodding. A quick snuggle and a fat nipple into his mouth made him busy getting a snack while snuggled to Jules again.

We made it out of the hospital for the short ride home. The entire house staff came to see our new addition, where Jules announced, “Meet Bradley Jefferson Johnson. There is no junior designation because Brad can’t stand the junior moniker. Brad didn’t want little Brad to be the same as his name, but I wanted our son to have his father’s name. Brad can name our next son. Jules and I hugged, while all the family and household staff hovered over his bassinette while little Brad snoozed. Brad’s bassinette had some big wheels that allowed Jules to easily push him into her big office. Jules, Katie, and Willy were busily analyzing the monitors on the desk within seconds.

I stayed out in the lounge where Hideki and Yuu grasped my shoulders and arms congratulating me for helping to bring a new heir into the world. Yuu said, “How about breaking loose and playing a round of golf?”

“Not for me today. I want to be around my kid as much as possible during these first hours and days. I’ll play with you guys if you’re still here later in the week. Get my dad or one of Katie’s family if you want some company on the course. Hideki said, “We can always enlist Dai to play so that he won’t feel neglected.”

I went into my office and turned my PC on to check e-mails. There were no new missives, except the note from Connie advising me of the weekend’s sales. Connie had added a note saying she would double check these numbers as they seemed excessive. The three offices collectively had two hundred sixty four sales, plus there were several salespeople who had sales but hadn’t reported in yet.

Just thinking of over two hundred fifty sales for the weekend made me look at the mix. Custom homes and new condos were at ninety eight. This was just more work for Julio’s men. There were forty eight inventory homes and a very large group of listings sold. Chica was teaching people how to get listings, so it must be working.

A new e-mail from Danni popped up. She laid out a plan to build out condo units so that people could just buy the unit, furnish it, and move in. She stated that her decorators would be able to help a new owner move in within a week. Danni had done her homework, as she had all the numbers displayed based on pre-sale costs and potential additional profit because of shorter lead time. It was all good reasoning, and was in a presentation that you had to agree with. My only question was whether or not Julio’s men could complete that many units in advance. I needed to talk to Julio, so that was my next call.

“Good afternoon, Julio. Are you hooked up to blood pressure monitors?”

“It’s good to hear from you, Brad. I’ve just heard that Jules has brought us another Brad. Your first, and actually all your children, are going to be so exciting that you won’t remember your own name, much less the kids’. What prompted this call?”

I explained the proposal from Danni, and asked, “How much will this require of your men? This is going to increase the time and material cost per unit. Do you have the manpower to do this?”

“No sweat, Brad. Danni showed me her presentation. We analyzed it and used Connie to cost it out. We’ll be using a decorator to make the inventory units desirable, further streamlining the process. I’ll add another fifty men to expand each of the condo units. Connie says that the numbers work.”

Julio couldn’t see me grinning, but I was smiling because my people were all using my methods to make a decision. “Make it happen, Julio. Danni is going to outsell the main office if she can.”

There was a pause, then Julio said, “I spoke with the super of the first high rise. He says that the building should be ready for move in by next week. The second and third tall buildings are started, with the steel for the second almost topped out. The smaller buildings are not going up as fast because we need to lease space for services such as pizza stores, restaurants, dry cleaners, beauty shops, etc. I think that you’re going to have to find a large marketing group to get the tenants you need. This is all new territory for us. Think about it.”

“You’re right, Julio. I think that I might have the answer. I’ll get right on it. We’ve been so busy with all our projects that we failed to consider what it was going to take to get the finishing touches done on this. I’ll get it done or at least started.”

Julio softly said, “Send us a picture of your critter. We all want to see him.”

I used the PC on my desk to look up the Westfield group. I knew that they manage or own shopping malls all over the US. Considering the square footage there is to lease, it really isn’t that much different from a mall. I needed to get in touch with these people while the partners were still in town. I typed a text to the three partners and Forest so that at least one of them would call me. Trying to get the Westfield corporate offices was worse than calling a congressman. The receptionist lady was very uppity, and actually downright rude, when I finally got through. I told the woman that I had close to a million square feet of commercial space to lease and needed to talk to someone who could work with me. She finally said, “I’ll connect you with someone.”

This someone might be a janitor, but it would move me away from the arrogant receptionist. A female voice answered, “How may I help you, Sir. I’m sorry, but I didn’t get your name. My name is Hana Goldstein.”

“Good morning, Ms. Goldstein. My name is Brad Johnson with the Mooney Corporation. My offices are in LA, although I’m calling from Honolulu right now.”

Ms. Goldstein excitedly interrupted, “I know who you are. You’re the guy who has turned the real estate market out there on its ear. Several of my relatives work for you in your offices. I’m a Foxworth, you see, but married an insane man with a name like Goldstein. He’s as nutty as the rest of my family and fits in very well. So tell me what can I do for you? Call me ‘Hana’, okay?”

Holy smokes; there are Foxworth women everywhere. “Mooney is building out sixteen square city blocks of condominiums and prestigious office space, Hana. The outer perimeter will have retail space for shops, offices, lounges, and hopefully upscale restaurants. My problem is that I have no idea how to market the space. Thinking that I needed an experienced company to handle that part of the project, I called your company because that’s what you do. Some of the partners are in LA right now, and I’m sure that they would welcome discussing the magnitude of this venture. I know that you have properties nearby, so this could work out. Where is your home office, as in where are you?”

Hana answered, “This office where I’m at is in San Francisco. Most of the big shots have offices here as well as in Dallas. Give me telephone numbers and e-mail addresses so that I can harass someone to pay attention to me. Never fear, Brad, I’m a Foxworth and know how to get someone’s attention.”

We exchanged numbers and addresses before hanging up.

I called Kelly directly at her desk. She cheerily answered when she saw my number on her caller ID. “What’s up, Brad?”

“Where are the partners? I need to get hold of them about City Center.”

“They were just in the office, but left to go to your place here, Brad. I’ll bet that they try to get a quick game of golf in. Did you try to contact them?

“I sent them all a text asking for someone to call me, but no response from any of them yet. I hope that this isn’t their way of trying to get back at me for taking a leave of absence. It better not be or I’ll make it rough on them. My phone even shows that they all opened the text. This is important and both Forest and Kurt need to respond.”

Kelly said, “I’ll get a hold of them and let them know to call you. Call your house here meanwhile.”

I used the house phone to call the LA house. Charles answered the phone with, “Johnson and Komatsu residence.”

“Hey, Charles, it’s Brad. Are the partners there or are they still coming from Hollywood?

Charles answered, “They are not here yet, but asked me to reserve tee times for them this evening and in the morning.”

“Okay, Charles. Show them into the big office and have them call me on my cell phone as soon as they come in the door.

I was steaming, but I had to hold my temper so that we didn’t have another ‘Dan’ problem. Connie had already discovered that the LA group was bringing in more revenue and profits than the rest of the company together. All I could do is wait.

I hate to wait. I texted again and asked that at least one immediately respond. I included that their lack of response will cost Mooney millions.

There was no one in the bar area, so I found a large rocks glass, scooped some ice into it, and poured a generous amount of clear liquid in. I carried it back to my small office with a coaster and sat in the really comfortable chair. I had just taken a first sip when my cell phone rang. The call was from my LA home.

“Thank you for calling. I have something important for you.”

Kurt said, “You’re on speakerphone so that all of us can hear what has your panties in a twist.”

That was rude, but this is too important to begin digging at each other. I laid out everything that I had come up with, and told them how I had made contact with Westfield to work out an agreement. The partners and legal needed to be in this meeting. I explained that there was a lot of space ready to be leased, and we didn’t have the contacts or knowledge to be the lessor of the business space. I asked if they could stay an extra day to meet with the Westfield people.

Forest said, “You know that you could make that agreement for us. You are a partner.”

“I don’t think so, Forest. I don’t have any document or corporate proclamation or declaration stating I’m a partner and what corporate privileges I have. You have me at your mercy right now. I have no status at all.”

Kurt was being an ass when he said, “Hang up on him, he isn’t a part of Mooney anymore.”

I answered that with, “I expect the half-billion you withheld for my entry as a partner to be paid immediately along with any remaining commissions. I also want to be paid back the seven hundred and twenty million plus interest that you’ve never paid back. That money wasn’t a gift, but a loan that is already making Mooney money. The company then has to fork out everything it owes me if I have no relationship with it.

Kurt’s face must have turned crimson, and Forest’s face was probably white. Mika spoke up and said, “There is only one partner beefing about you taking some time off. You have good reason to take the time off and you have every right for your buy in to be returned now that one partner wants to boot you. I asked accounting about that money that you loaned us being held, and they said that they would get back to me. They never did even with the note on the file that interest was being accrued.”