Chapter 14: The Viewing Booked
"Vantara House Beverly Hills," Rosa Vega said, picking up the phone in her glass office. "This is Rosa."
"Rosa," a confident male voice said. "Marcus Reid, Northgate Capital. Managing director. We have spoken before, I believe."
"I was at the launch preview," Marcus said smoothly. "You were wonderful. Very professional."
"Thank you," Rosa said, reaching for a pen. "How can I help you, Mr. Reid?"
"I need a private viewing," Marcus said. "The Solstice. This week. For a very important buyer."
Rosa wrote the word private and underlined it twice. "The Solstice is not available for private viewings, Mr. Reid. It is a design study, and it is part of Mr. Alcott's farewell display."
"I understand that," Marcus said, as if he understood nothing of the kind. "But exceptional buyers require exceptional access. I am bringing someone who can buy at this level. Cash. No financing, no fuss."
"Who is the buyer?" Rosa asked.
"That is confidential at this stage," Marcus said. "You understand. High net worth clients value discretion."
"I do understand discretion," Rosa said. "I also understand our calendar. Who, exactly, am I holding the room for?"
Marcus laughed, a short, practiced sound. "Me, to begin with. And my guest. Sofia Lindqvist."
"Ms. Lindqvist is the buyer?" Rosa asked.
"She is with me," Marcus said. "We are partners in this. I handle the acquisition side."
"Partners," Rosa repeated. She kept her voice even. "And you are a managing director at Northgate Capital?"
"Yes," Marcus said, a fraction too quickly. "For some years now."
"Mr. Reid, I will be honest with you," she said. "We do not book viewings for cars that are not for sale, and we do not book them on a first name and a promise."
"Rosa," Marcus said, and his tone changed, warmer and lower, as if they were old friends sharing a secret. "Let me be honest with you, too. I know people at Vantara. I know how these evenings work. A little flexibility now could mean a great deal later. For you, I mean."
Rosa sat very still. She had run this flagship for years, and she knew exactly what that sentence was.
"Are you offering me something, Mr. Reid?" she asked quietly.
"I am offering you a relationship," Marcus said. "With Northgate. With me."
"Thank you," Rosa said. "We already have relationships. We have standards."
"Then she is welcome at the party," Rosa said. "Like every guest. The Solstice will be on display, with Mr. Alcott present to talk about it."
"That is not the same," Marcus said. "A party is crowded. I want a room, a car, and no audience. A viewing."
"Here is what I can do," Rosa said at last. "I can note a viewing request for you and Ms. Lindqvist, during party hours, in the main salon, with staff present. No private room. No paperwork. No discussion of sale, because the car is not for sale."
"That sounds like a no with better manners," Marcus said.
"It sounds like our policy," Rosa said.
After a long pause, Marcus said, "Fine. Book it. Put my name down as VIP buyer."
"I will put your name down as a guest," Rosa said. "And Ms. Lindqvist's name beside it."
"As you like," Marcus said, and she could hear the smile returning to his voice. "Just make sure the car is polished. And make sure someone important is there to greet us."
"Someone will be," Rosa said.
When she hung up, she did not move for a moment. Then she picked up the phone again and called her assistant, Alex, into the office.
"Alex," she said, "I need you to flag a name for the party list. Marcus Reid. He just booked what he calls a private viewing of the Solstice."
"Is the Solstice available?" Alex asked.
"No," Rosa said. "Not for sale, and he offered me a relationship for flexibility."
"So here is what we do," Rosa said. "He and Ms. Lindqvist are guests. Staff stays in the salon. No one takes a deposit, no one opens a file, no one talks price. If he asks for a room again, you come and get me."
"And if he causes a scene?" Alex asked.
"Then he causes it in front of witnesses," Rosa said. "I want Mara to know about this, too, but not in the middle of Henry's party. Note it, keep it calm, and watch him."
Alex nodded and wrote it down. "Got it. Guest, not VIP. Salon only."
"One more thing," Rosa said. "Be kind to Ms. Lindqvist. She may not know what she is walking into."
Alex looked up. "You think she is being used?"
She picked up her pen and wrote, in the margin of the party list, three words next to Marcus Reid's name.
Watch. Stay close.