This was business and Elias was not about to be side-tracked by the use of the term figures, he was well aware of both the feminine figure and that of the profit and loss column. He took the offered paper and began to look it over, carefully. Yes, the figures presented looked favorable, very favorable. Everything was listed, even the smallest of expenses, down to the penny, and as one would expect, the brothel was turning a very handsome profit.
"Indeed, your profit and loss sheet is very complete. I applaud you for that. Now, the statement that you can undertake to ensure that Mrs Adams won't accept any offer from Buller, no matter how much higher. That is quite a statement, and quite the guarantee. Of course you cannot put something like that in writing.
"Now to change the subject somewhat, two things, her price, or am I to make an offer of some sort? Will someone enter into a contract regarding the undertaking part of this transaction, should the asking price be as favorable as your profit and loss sheet? It can and will be burned by Cole Latham, my Attorney in your presence. Now, have I missed anything? I believe that IK would be most interested in consummating this arrangement as soon as we can come to terms." He sat back, looking over the sheet again. "In fact, should you have the information needed, I just might send a promissory note back with you."
If he felt stronger, he would be interested in the charms on display, unfortunately for him in that respect, but this was what he had been thinking on not so long ago. So he would see just how prepared they might be, or were there other problems to resolve at once, and it was a chance to beat Colonel Buller at his own game! He smiled at the thought.
"I was born the day after Valentine's, but I don't guess I'll ever find a valentine of my own."
Tilly raised an eyebrow as Hettie leaned over Mr. Steelgrave. How could Hettie promise that Sally wouldn't sell out to Buller? Sally listened to Hettie, yes, but you could never truly be sure what Sally was going to do. Hettie had just made a big promise.
She sipped her tea as Elias pored over the brothel's figures, suddenly nervous again. If the numbers weren't right, Steelgrave might not bite. They'd be back where they started, headed for Colonel Buller. But finally after what seemed an interminable amount of time, Elias gave his approval of the figures. And this was where everything started to go over Tilly's head. Her education had stopped well before now, and all the learning she'd done since leaving home had been of a different sort, so nothing Mr. Steelgrave was saying meant anything to her.
She did set down her teacup and sidle up beside Elias, resting a hand lightly on his shoulder. "If you'd like to consummate something else, Mr. Steelgrave, I'm more than willing." Sure, it might be a distraction from the matter at hand, but she imagined that Elias might like to sample what he was investing in. There would be time for numbers later.
Hettie boldly stated that she would undertake to ensure that Elias would not have to pay any more than $500 for the brothel outright, as long as the positions of the bully, maid, and the two 'sitting tenants' (technically Tilly and Hettie would assume any position required of them , sitting, standing, missionary, you name it) were protected, as well as the guaranteed continuation of Dr Danforth's bi-weekly health checks.
This seemed a reasonable deal to her.
Miss Burke then set down her teacup and sidle up beside Elias, resting a hand lightly on his shoulder. "If you'd like to consummate something else, Mr. Steelgrave, I'm more than willing." Sure, it might be a distraction from the matter at hand, but she imagined that Elias might like to sample what he was investing in. There would be time for numbers later.
On the one hand, Hettie didn't want Steelgrave to have another heart attack before the deal went through; on the other hand, she was curious to see whether he was tempted by Tilly's undeniable charms or not. The girl was a beauty, their chief asset really, and Mr Steelgrave was the sire of many children, she wondered if he was still as vigorous today as he must have been in his youth: or was he a spent force in that direction?
Call it 'a professional interest'.
"NO,NO,NO, No can do! Heart give out!" Ling shouted out as he burst into the room. "Please not hanky panky now. You come back two, three weeks, try again then!"
"It's alright Ling, I know I'm not strong enough for that activity right now, but I look forward to consummating that deal after I take possession of the building. I have agreed to those terms, Ling? In my desk, get two hundred fifty dollars. That will be a down payment until the agreement and the deed are delivered to me, then the balance. And the faster we close the deal, the more likely you are to receive a bonus." Elias said. He had no reason not to hand over the whole five hundred, but that was business, half now, half on delivery.
"Is that satisfactory Ladiers?"
@Bailey
@Javia
"I was born the day after Valentine's, but I don't guess I'll ever find a valentine of my own."
Oh, so that was what Ling had meant by not feeling well. Good gracious. She and Hettie would have to keep this to themselves. Tilly pouted a little, but shrugged and glided back to her chair for a few last sips of tea, holding up her hands placatingly as she passed Ling.
"I'd be happy to come back in a few weeks if Mr. Steelgrave doesn't want to make a trip into town," she said with a smile. As she turned to watch Hettie accept the money from Ling, she said, "I'm certainly satisfied if Mrs. Rosenkrantz is." All she'd wanted was a secure future and livelihood, and this deal would give her that.
She couldn't wait to go home and tell everyone that she'd been inside the Evergreen house and lived to tell the tale!
"Well then, perhaps we will have to set a date for your return and we can have dinner, make it a real party, if that suits your fancy." He offered. "Ling here cooks up a fine meal, and i'm sure we can come up with something besides steaks and potatoes." He looked at the Chinese, who bowed several times.
"Oh, can do, Make good food, not just beef." Ling stated. "Be like San Francisco!" And that would be true, as Elias had things shipped in, foods not normally available except for the hotel. One of the few arrangements that he made with the hotel.
"So you see, this will be an event like you've never seen, and it will celebrate this new deal we have made." Elias said, "And ladies, there will be no beating of any women in our employ. I will not stand for that, nor will I tolerate any interference from outside interests."
"Oh, can do, Make good food, not just beef." Ling stated. "Be like San Francisco!" And that would be true, as Elias had things shipped in, foods not normally available except for the hotel. One of the few arrangements that he made with the hotel.
Hettie wasn't particularly keen to try unamerican food, but smiled politely as she shoved the bank notes into a safe place between her ample bosoms, 'nature's pocket', as she called her cleavage. Whenever she undressed at night, it was amazing what she sometimes found secreted in there.
"I'll look forward to trying your Chop-Suey, Mr Ling" she lied.
"So you see, this will be an event like you've never seen, and it will celebrate this new deal we have made." Elias said, "And ladies, there will be no beating of any women in our employ. I will not stand for that, nor will I tolerate any interference from outside interests."
"I'm glad to hear it." Hettie nodded. Of course, some men paid to be beaten by her, that would still presumably be all right. And a very respectable member of the Town's elite sometimes proffered payment well above the norm to have her dress up as a (somewhat overdeveloped and long in the tooth) schoolgirl and receive a mild spanking over his knee, and as for that officer from the Fort who liked her to dress up as an Indian Squaw and tie her up and... but again, probably best to assume that was all still Okeh, rather than bother the new owner of the cat-house with all the insalubrious minutiae of the business.
@[Bailey]
"Not Chop Suey!" Ling stated angrily. I make roast lamb or veal if can get, but not Chinese food."
"Easy Ling," Elias warned. "Now I must say, Ling is a wizard in the kitchen. The meals that he turns out rival those you might get at the Belle-St. Regis' restaurant. So I highly doubt that he would cook anything from his native China. Though I must say his Peking Duck is delicious." All of which was true.
He turned an apraising gaze in Tilly's direction and smiled. The thought was pleasant. "I would assume that I am welcome to sample the fare at the house?" He asked her, "And the title to the property? Would that be forthcoming? Perhaps when you come for dinner."
@Bailey
@Javia
"I was born the day after Valentine's, but I don't guess I'll ever find a valentine of my own."
Tilly let her hands glide along the neck of her dress, knowing that if Elias was like other men, his eyes would follow. "Of course, Mr. Steelgrave. More than welcome. And I'm eager to sample Ling's cooking." That was only partially true. She wasn't sure about trying Ling's Chinese food, so she was glad he'd be cooking American fare. She'd never had duck, and certainly didn't know what Peking duck was. Was it cooked differently? Was it a foreign breed of duck? Who knew?
Then there was the question of the title. Tilly glanced at Hettie, unsure for a moment. "I'm sure we could arrange for the title to brought out when I come back, if not before then." Again, all this talk about prices and titles was beyond her, but she was trying to do her part to ensure the success of this deal.
@ [Javia]
@ [Flip
He turned an appraising gaze in Tilly's direction and smiled. The thought was pleasant. "I would assume that I am welcome to sample the fare at the house?"
Hettie wasn't sure if Steelgrave meant to sit down to Sunday lunch with them, or sample the more salacious two-legged tasty morsels available at the house of ill repute. Either way, the Burke girl's answer was apposite.
"Of course, Mr. Steelgrave. More than welcome. And I'm eager to sample Ling's cooking."
He asked her, "And the title to the property? Would that be forthcoming? Perhaps when you come for dinner."
Tilly glanced at Hettie, unsure for a moment. "I'm sure we could arrange for the title to brought out when I come back, if not before then." Again, all this talk about prices and titles was beyond her, but she was trying to do her part to ensure the success of this deal.
Hettie was more forthright.
"We'll bring it tomorrow, if that's not too soon for you, Mr. Steelgrave." she declared and before Tilly could interrupt, said to her "I'll discuss it with Sally tonight, Tilly dear." Then to Elias "Mrs Adams will offer no resistance to the deal, I am sure."
With a slight creaking noise from her sturdy corsetry, Hettie rose and bade Tilly do the same.
"Well, we've already taken up enough of your valuable time, Mister Steelgrave. Would it suit you if Miss Burke and myself return at this sort of time, with the requisite documentation in hand? It really has been a pleasure, please do not rise. We shall see ourselves out." she walked over to him and thrust the pink wobbly shelf of her not-inconsiderable bust into his face as she held out her hand again. Then made way for Tilly to do the same with her some what smaller, but younger and firmer décolletage.