Page 17 of Mafioso's Muse
‘Or you put up a false wall while it’s being done and place a pop-up bar in the centre of the foyer. The right contractor can put that in before opening night.’
Nigel was silent as he mulled that idea over.
‘You got the budget for all this?’ Vaughn asked, already knowing the answer. ‘Commissioning local artists to restore the murals can’t be cheap.’
Nigel cleared his throat. ‘We’re looking for financial backers, as you’re likely already aware. No bank will lend $500,000 to a company with declining profits.’
Vaughn let out a long whistle. ‘Half a mil. Your investor wouldreallyneed to know that money is coming back to them.’ Dust motes danced between them in the shafts of light pouring in through the skylight.
‘Of course,’ Nigel said.
Vaughn searched his eyes. ‘I can see you’re committed to this project, and I know you want my help, but there’s risk in this proposal. I need to weigh those risks carefully.’
Nigel’s foot tapped under the table. ‘I understand.’
He leaned forwards, maintaining eye contact as he did so. ‘Listen, I know how much this company means to you and your dancers, and I like the idea of playing a part in its success. So, I’ll fund the renovations.’
Nigel’s eyes widened, and his mouth went slack. ‘You will?’
‘But I have one condition,’ Vaughn added.
Nigel’s brow furrowed. ‘Go on.’ His tone was wary.
He should have known that Gallo deals always came with strings attached. ‘DeLuca Construction gets the building contract.’
Nigel shifted in his chair. ‘Vaughn?—’
‘I can guarantee they’ll get the job done in the timeframe you’re proposing at a fair price.’
‘You know I can’t agree to that. DeLuca Construction have been all over the news this past year. We can’t be doing business deals with the Merit Group. We have our other patrons to consider.’
‘Are those other patrons prepared to loan you half a mil?’ Vaughn asked.
He was met with silence.
‘Surely you understood that if you’re doing business with me, then you’re doing business with the family.’ The Merit Group was like any other family. They were a unit whether they liked it or not. They fought, they fell out, but they had one another’s backs until death. There were times he resented being a part of the larger family and times he was overwhelmed with gratitude for it. ‘You wouldn’t have asked me to be a part of this if you didn’t trust me. That trust extends to everyone I work with.’
Nigel rubbed his forehead.
‘I understand your concerns,’ Vaughn said—and he did. They were the same concerns that had plagued him ever since the roof collapsed at Silver Spoon. Four people had died at the restaurant that night, two of them children. He could still see their lifeless faces and hear the devastated cries of their families outside the courthouse. He would likely see and hear them for many years to come. ‘My brother runs the company now. He only uses quality subcontractors.’
Silence settled over the room as Nigel weighed his options. ‘I need to know that we won’t have any problems, that everything will be aboveboard—andsafe.’
Willow’s smiling face flashed in Vaughn’s mind. A handful of encounters with her, and he already knew that he would never let her step foot in a building that was not 100 percent safe. ‘You have my word.’
‘We can’t affordanycontroversy. We’re barely keeping our heads above water as it is.’ Nigel’s throat bobbed. ‘In fact, I’d prefer to keep details of the contract as quiet as possible. We still need the support of our other patrons. People talk.’
Vaughn nodded slowly. ‘I understand. We can be as discreet as you like.’
Nigel studied him for a long moment, as if searching for any hint of deception, then rose. ‘All right.’ He extended his hand. ‘Let’s make Star Theatre shine again.’
7
August 2024
‘So, an agreement was reached that would benefit both parties?’ Mary asked, peering at Vaughn over her glasses. ‘And your relationship with Miss Hayes at this point was…’
‘We were acquaintances.’ Vaughn kept his tone relaxed, matter-of-fact.