– I'll be back tomorrow instead. Thanks.” He turned and fled the bank without another word. He had a plan and any delay in said plan would most likely see him back out.
Lance wanted to get back with Kirk, but that wasn’t going to happen. The only other option was to get over the man. But again, that wouldn’t happen so long as Lance was forced to work in the Macro Bar every single day of the rest of his life. Something was going to have to give, and Lance knew what.
***
“Why do I feel like I’m being fleeced?” Abraham’s eyes were narrowed and his lips were pushed together in a tight frown.
“Because the deal is too good to be true,” Lance said rightly. “Honestly, you better take the deal before I wise up and realize I’m doing something idiotic. Actually, now that I think about it—”
“All right, all right, hold on.” Abraham waved Lance down. “Easy, I was just double checking – I wouldn’t be the successful businessman I am if I didn’t do that.”
“Is that what you are?” Lance said plainly.
Abraham ignored the jibe. “And there’s nothing wrong with the place is there – when you hand me over the keys, I’m not going to find a wall missing, or a burst pipe or... or the plague or something is trapped inside one of the cupboards? Everything is above board?”
“It is,” Lance assured him. “But if you like, we can put something in the contract. Some sort of... what’s the word – stipulation, that everything is as I have guaranteed. You’re getting a steal here, Abraham. I really, really suggest you take it.”
For the next minute or two, Abraham pretended to think things over. He rubbed at his chin, he scratched his head and he tapped away on his computer as if he were compiling some sort of pros and cons list that needed to be properly evaluated. It was all for show though, as Lance knew what the answer was going to be. The man would have to be a fool to say no.
“All right.” Abraham’s body sagged where he sat. “I’ll take it – but only as a favor to you,” he then quickly assured Lance. “I want that to be known.”
“Thank you.” Lance stood and held his hand out for Abraham to shake. “I won’t forget it – and you won’t be sorry.”
Abraham was quick to take Lance’s hand. “I better not,” he warned. “I can make life very hard for you around here.”
“I’ll be back first thing tomorrow morning,” Lance then continued as the two men shook hands. “We can walk to the bank together – double check that I’m not ripping you off.”
“Ha!” Abraham released Lance’s hand and leaned back in his chair. “You must really want to get rid of this thing. Come on... what’s the catch?”
“No catch.” Lance made his way toward the door. He needed to get out before he changed his mind. “Just a change of pace is all. I’ll see you tomorrow.” And then he was gone.
When Lance stepped out of that tiny office, and then onto the street, it was with a strange sense of relief; one he wouldn’t have thought possible just an hour ago. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his back. It felt like that hand gripping his chest was finally starting to ease up. Heck, he might have even ventured so far as to say that he was starting to feel happy again... almost, anyway.
He was selling the Macro Bar to Abraham. Abraham had agreed to buy the bar in full, at the exact cost needed to pay Kirk back everything that Lance owed. All it would require was a small loan from the bank, one which Lance was sure that Abraham would receive without question. And then, the bar would be his.
The idea had come to Lance when he was at the bank. The reason he was continuing to feel as shitty as he had been, was because he was carrying with him a continued reminder of what he had done. That bar was a knife in his back that got twisted a little more every two weeks. So long as it was in there, there would be no moving on. This he could not allow.
The other advantage to selling the bar was that it would get Kirk back all his money. This was key for Lance. What he had done to Kirk pained him more than anything,