Sheldon, Sidney - The Stars Shine Down by Sheldon Sidney

Author:Sheldon, Sidney
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2006-04-23T03:15:28+00:00

30.

I've got to call Howard and remind him about the revised estimates on

the Fifth Avenue site.

The conductor appeared on stage, and the audience applauded. Lara paid

no attention. The contractor in Boston is moving too slowly. He needs

a carrot. I'll tell Howard to offer him a bonus.

There was another loud round of applause from the audience. A man was

taking his place at the piano at center stage. The conductor gave a

downbeat, and the music began.

Philip Adler's fingers flashed across the keys.

A woman seated behind Lara said with a loud Texas accent,

"Isn't he

fantastic? I told you, Agnes!"

Lara tried to concentrate again. The London deal is out.

It's the

wrong neighborhood, Lara thought. People aren't going to want to live

there. Location. Location. Location. She thought about a project

that had been brought to her, near Columbus Circle. Now that one could

work.

The woman behind Lara said, loudly, "his expression ...

he's

fabulous!

lIe's one of the most..."

Lara tried to tune her out.

The cost of an office building there would be approximately four

hundred dollars per rentable square foot. If I can bring in the

construction cost at one hundred fifty million, the land costs at one

hundred twenty-five million, the soft costs...

"My God!" the woman behind Lara exclaimed.

Lara was startled out of her reverie.

"lIe's so brilliant!"

There was a drumroll from the orchestra, and Philip Adler played four

bars alone, and the orchestra began to play faster and faster. The

drums began to beat...

The woman could not contain herself. "Listen to that!

The music is going from pit: vivo to pit: mosso. have you ever heard

anything so exciting?"

Lara gritted her teeth.

The minimum break-even should work out all right, 1 she thought. The

cost of the rentable square feet would be three hundred fifty million,

the interest at ten percent would be thirty-five million, plus ten

million in operating expenses...

The tempo of the music was increasing, reverberating through the

hall.

The music came to a sudden climax and stopped, and the audience was on

its feet, cheering.

There were calls of "bravo!" The pianist had risen and was taking

bows.

Lara did not even bother to look up. Taxes would be about six, free

rent concessions would come to two. We're talking about fifty-eight

million.

"lIe's incredible, isn't he?" Brian MacIntosh said.

"Yes." Lara was annoyed at having her thoughts interrupted again.

"Let's go backstage. Philip is a friend of mine."

"I really don't..." lIe took Lara's hand, and they were moving toward

an exit.

"I'm glad I'll have a chance to introduce you to him,"

Brian MacIntosh

said.

It's six o'clock in New York, Lara thought. I'll be able to call

Howard and tell him to start negotiations.

"lIe's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, isn't he?"

Once is enough for me, Lara thought. "Yes."

They had reached the outside artists' entrance. There was a large

crowd waiting. Brian MacIntosh knocked on the door. A doorman opened

it.

"Yes, sir?"

"Lord MacIntosh to see Mr. Adler."

"Right, my lord. Come in, please." lIe opened the door wide enough to

let Brian MacIntosh and Lara enter, then closed it against the crowd.

"What do all these people want?" Lara asked.

lIe looked at her in surprise. "They're here to see Philip."

She wondered why.

The doorman said, "Go right into the greenroom, my lord."

"Thank you."

Five minutes, Lara thought, and I'll say I have to leave.

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