Spencer grinned when he saw his brother. “What took you so long?”
The question didn’t merit an answer. Aiden went to the two-story window and looked out at the landscape. It wasn’t a pretty day. The sky was gray, but darker clouds were moving in, and from the way the trees were swaying, he knew the wind was up.
The receptionist, a thirty-year-old single woman, couldn’t stop staring at the brothers. They were handsome men, both tall and muscular through the shoulders, impressively lean and fit, with dark hair and patrician features. They wore business suits, designer label, she surmised. Aiden in his dark suit with pale blue shirt and striped tie, and Spencer in a pinstriped suit with a crisp white shirt and red tie. Oh my, were they sexy. She heard herself sigh and was mortified. But they were just so . . . fine.
“Is something wrong?” Spencer asked when she continued to stare at them.
“No, no,” she stammered. “I was just noticing what nice suits you’re wearing, and I was thinking that both of you look like you belong on Wall Street.”
Spencer smiled. “These days that isn’t a compliment.”
She laughed. “I guess it isn’t. I’m sorry you’re having to wait. Mr. Chambers should be out any minute now. I’ve buzzed him three times already.”
At twenty minutes after four the double doors suddenly flew open, and Lester came rushing out to greet them. Aiden supposed he was trying to give the impression that he was a very busy man. He waved his hands while he apologized for keeping them waiting, explaining that he was on an urgent call.
“Very urgent,” he reiterated as he shook their hands. He ushered them into his office and closed the door. “You boys are getting quite a bargain. I feel like you’re stealing Rock Point from me and my cousin. I really do.”
Boys? Spencer glanced at Aiden, who didn’t show any reaction to Lester’s condescension.
“The offer you accepted was more than fair,” Aiden told him in a firm, no-nonsense tone of voice.
“Where is your cousin?” Spencer asked.
As if on cue, the doors opened and Congressman Mitchell Ray Chambers strolled inside. He didn’t look anything like his cousin. Lester was short, not quite five-two, with a noticeable paunch and a bald spot on the top of his head. Mitchell had a full head of silver-tipped hair, compliments of his stylist. He was a trim six feet, and his face seemed to be cast in a perpetual smile.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Mitchell began. “I came up the back steps, but I still got caught and asked for autographs. I couldn’t say no.” Almost as an afterthought he added, “I’m a man of the people.”
If he was out to impress Aiden and Spencer, he was failing.
“Let me make the introductions,” Lester insisted. “I’d like you to meet my cousin, the very important congressman Mitchell Ray Chambers.”
Spencer grinned. He’d just won the bet. Very important indeed.
Lester went to his desk and sat. “I can’t tell you how long it’s been since Mitchell has been home. At least a year now.”
Mitchell frowned. “Nonsense. I represent the good people of Fallsborough. I fly back and forth from Washington all the time.”
Lester scoffed. “No, you don’t, and the good people of Fallsborough have noticed.”
“This isn’t the time for complaints,” Mitchell snapped. Turning back to Aiden and Spencer, his smile still plastered on his face, he said, “Shall we sit at the conference table? I’m here to negotiate, so let’s roll up our sleeves and get down to business.”
“Negotiate what?” Lester wanted to know.
“The sale of Rock Point, of course.” Crossing the office, he turned one of the swivel chairs from the long conference table and sat down. He swung his right leg over his left and rested his ankle on his knee, then leaned back and waited.
Spencer and Aiden stayed where they were. Since Spencer had talked to both cousins and their attorney multiple times, hammering out all the details, he was the one who had heard both Lester and Mitchell agree to the final price for the land.
“There isn’t going to be any negotiation today,” Spencer said. “You agreed to the price. It’s time to sign the final offer.”
“I didn’t agree to anything.” Mitchell smiled while he told the lie.
A true politician, Aiden thought.
“We both agreed,” Lester reminded him.
“No, we didn’t,” Mitchell snapped. He shot his cousin a glare before the smile was back in place.
Lester didn’t know when to be quiet. “Our attorney looked over the papers. Everything’s in order. Let’s just sign them.”
“I didn’t look the papers over,” Mitchell countered.
“Yes, you did. They were sent to you, and you told me you got them.”
“Will you keep your mouth . . .” Mitchell took a breath and turned to Spencer. “Have your attorneys had time to read the documents?”
“My brother and I are both attorneys,” Spencer explained. He was trying to keep his anger under control, but the congressman was making that a real challenge.
“I agreed to an opening bid,” Mitchell announced.
Aiden watched Spencer. He was letting him take the lead and decide the next move. His brother opened his briefcase and put the folder with the contract inside. “What would you consider a fair price, Congressman?”
“At least three times what you offered,” he answered with certainty. He sensed a victory and couldn’t have been more pleased. “Come on, now. Sit down and let’s work out this deal.”
“No, that isn’t going to happen. You gave your word.” Spencer’s voice wasn’t pleasant now, but hard, angry.
Mitchell shrugged. “I didn’t sign anything. Keep that in mind.”
Beads of sweat were beginning to form on Lester’s forehead. He turned to Spencer. “Let’s talk this through. I know how much you want Rock Point. You said yourself it had great potential. You must have walked over that ground a dozen times.”
Aiden had heard enough. “We don’t work with people whose word is meaningless. We’re through here.”
Lester’s mouth dropped open. “But we . . . we had a solid offer . . . we . . .”
Mitchell didn’t say a word while his cousin sputtered his indignation. He simply watched the Madison brothers leave Lester’s office. Then he strolled over to the bar and poured himself a drink.
“It was a great offer,” Lester muttered. “What have you done?”
“Don’t worry,” Mitchell said, his voice smug. “They’ll be back.”
Lester shook his head. “I’m not so sure.”
“I’ll bet they reach the lobby and turn around. Spencer Madison wants Rock Point, and I’m going to make him pay a premium for it. He’ll talk his brother into negotiating. Just you wait and see.”
“They seemed angry that you broke your word.”
Mitchell shrugged. “They’ll get over it. Saying one thing and doing another . . . that’s all part of negotiating. As long as you don’t sign anything and you’re not being recorded . . .”
“Do you hear yourself? A man’s word—”
“Can it, Lester. Just let it go. I know what I’m doing.”
Mitchell kept his eye on the elevators, waiting for the doors to open and prove him right. The Madisons were probably on their way back up.