by H.H. Fowler
****
Saturday
Still feeling numb from last night’s introspection, I called in to the office and explained that I would be late as I was scheduled to show a young couple a 3.5 million-dollar property at 9:30 p.m. I tossed my laptop bag over my shoulder, and then stepped outside my condo. I turned toward the staircase only to find my face buried in the burly chest of a man. He smelt like aftershave, which was very light-scented and appealing. Totally stumped, I stumbled backwards.
“Reuben?”
“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said. “I went to your office, but you weren’t there. You won’t answer my calls, so I took a chance on coming here. I need to talk to you about something really important.”
Pulling my wits together, I snapped at him. “Has it occurred to you that I’m not interested in anything you have to say?”
He grinned despite my attitude. “Wow. I guess you’re still upset because I won’t tell you what I know about Taj Brooks?”
I stiffened at the mention of Taj’s name. “Listen to me, Reuben, whatever your agenda is, I want no part of it, okay? It’s nice to see the great changes you’ve made to your body and all, but –”
“You never really told me how you feel about that,” he said, cutting me off. “I see in your eyes you are very pleased, but you don’t allow it to go beyond that point.”
“I did tell you I was pleased with your transformation,” I said in my defense.
“No, your exact words were, ‘What the heck happened to you?’ Even though I would’ve preferred you say something less abrasive, I took it as a compliment. I figured you were surprised to see me looking so different from the last time you saw me.”
“Well, I was caught off guard. And you do look…different.” I steeled myself against any tender emotion I was feeling for Reuben. “But your body is the only thing that has changed about you.”
He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes at me. “Wow, you really don’t believe that I’ve given my life over to God. Everything I told you about my conversion in Beijing is true. I have no reason to lie.”
“Really? So why do you still seem to be the same smug little brat who does whatever he wants to do? You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”
“Come on, Sierra. Is that really your perception about me? Because I feel entirely different about you.”
“Are you trying to make me feel guilty?”
Reuben’s eyes filled with concern, but I tried to pass it off as something else – maybe self-pity. “You’re the most self-giving, loyal, hard-working person that I know,” he told me. “If anyone succeeds in this real estate business, and ultimately in life, it will be you. I have the utmost respect and adoration for you. You’re always trying to better yourself and to achieve beyond what many don’t have the nerve to even dream. It’s the reason why I handed that thirty-million-dollar contract over to you. I’m sure this could turn out to be the largest sold property any agent has ever done at the firm – even beyond anything my father has sold.”
I pierced Reuben with a stupefied gaze. “What did you say?”
“I said you’re the most self-giving, loyal –”
“No…the part about the thirty-million-dollar contract.”
Reuben gave me a side glance as if to say that I was trying to make a joke out of a serious situation. But after observing how genuinely confused I was, he couldn’t hide his disappointment when he questioned me about it. “You didn’t open the manila envelope, did you?”
I wanted to lie, but I was so overcome with fear of what I could have potentially messed up that I relinquished my churlish attitude immediately. “Reuben, I’m so sorry…”
“I don’t want your apology right now,” he snapped at me. “I promised Mr. Sullivan that you would get back to him today with the paperwork.”
Now I was really confused. “What paperwork?”
Reuben sighed heavily and I could tell he was really disappointed. “Where is the envelope?”
“I left it at the office on my desk,” I replied, embarrassed by how stupid I’d been acting toward him. “I thought you wanted to show me your job acceptance letter.”
“Come on, Sierra, you’re killing me. I need you to go to your office and review that contract, and then get your butt down to Ripped Bodies Fitness Center by noon. I got the job as a nutritional expert, but I also landed one of our largest clients through casually talking about my background in real estate. Mr. Fenton Sullivan is the owner of a chain of exclusive fitness centers throughout the Caribbean, and he’s looking to expand his business model on a waterfront inlet.”
Even though I didn’t quite get the full scope of what was going on, I called my nine-thirty appointment and rescheduled it for Monday morning. Reuben was only twenty-three years old, but he had vast knowledge of the real estate business. He was also a good conversationalist and I was bound to believe he’d won Mr. Sullivan’s trust with little effort. My problem with Reuben boiled down to how he executed that knowledge, which had always been disgracefully ostentatious.
Like the time when he was about to land a seven-million-dollar contract with a local millionaire. He sent out an email to the other agents and shamelessly invited them to a celebration to showcase his hard work. But maybe Reuben was right. I hadn’t given him the benefit of the doubt that an arrogant jerk like him could be genuinely transformed into a new creation – as so ably explained in 2 Corinthians 5:17.
In any event, I was blown away that Reuben would recommend my services to such a high-powered mogul in the business world. If I was able to secure this thirty-million-dollar contract, I would be propelled into the arena of a true real estate powerhouse. Not even my boss, who was Reuben’s father would be able to boast of such a record. However, I was wary about why Reuben hadn’t taken the business to his father since I’d been treating him like dirt ever since he got back from Beijing. Oh Lord, I don’t even know what to say. Had I been too judgmental with Reuben? Your word clearly advises against it and here I am following the dictates of my flesh. Please forgive me…
“I don’t even know what to say, Reuben,” I finally told him. “You would have never done this for anyone two years ago, but by that same token, you’ve made me eat my own words. You are not as selfish as I’d thought.”
“I did this because I think the world of you. You deserve it.”
I tried not to blush, but Reuben was staring at me so intensely that I actually started to pay attention to the outline of his face. He was a blend of the late Paul Walker and another good-looking actor I couldn’t name right then. His fierce gray eyes were starting to grow on me. I didn’t know if it was because he’d done something so generous. But whatever his intentions were, I was beginning to see him in a different light.
“I am tempted to ask your motives for wanting to do something like this, but I don’t want to ruin the moment.”
“Don’t. Let’s just celebrate it over dinner tonight. It’s all I’m asking of you.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little too early to celebrate? I haven’t really gotten the sale as yet.”
Reuben smiled. “Trust me, it’s pretty much a done deal.”
Coming from someone so well-versed in real estate, I believed him. However, my conscience was talking to me strong about my own motives. Five minutes ago I was prepared to sling a few more insults at Reuben, but now I was being careful because I didn’t want him to regret recommending Mr. Sullivan to me. “Well, thank you, Reuben. And I’m so sorry to have treated you so mean. It is certainly not the Christian thing to do. I’ve been under so much pressure lately...and I know that’s not a good excuse, but –”
“No worries, just show up at the Mesa Grill at eight tonight and we’ll call it a draw.”
“All right, let’s shake on it.” I smiled back. My career was about to soar into a higher dimension and the help came from someone I least expected. “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it,” Reuben said before lea
ning over to kiss me on the cheek. “It’s a done deal. All I want is to see you happy.”
Be alert and of a sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8