Knowing You

Chapter Ten - NEGOTIATION

It’s a day-off for everybody. No shows are set for the evening and the night after but the company must convene to know how far they have reached towards their goal of acquiring their very own theatre. Louis stood by the window of his empty class room looking through the fogged glass. Evening was creeping up and the twilight sky shone in blue and pale crimson as the sun sets. He must prepare to face his colleagues. He has to be transparent yet he has to be gentle in breaking to them the sad news. He ponders if he could bear to look at each of their faces afterwards without even trying the last option he has. He is certain that negotiating with Mr. Gibbs is no game. He was to face the man headstrong yet he knows he has to keep his emotions at check lest he end up looking like a conceited beggar. He is still treading the line of indecision when the door bursts open. The sudden banging of the door sends Louis’ heart racing as he turns to see the intruder. To his surprise it was Carlyn.

“Good heavens Carlyn! You almost gave me a heart attack!”

The red–head beauty drops a news paper on his table and points at the photo of an overweight old man in suit. Louis leans over to see what she is pointing at. It was Mr. Gibbs. He grabs the paper from the table and reads the headline. It was an article about the announcement the businessman made about the upcoming auction for the Burrow Theatre.

“Recognize him? I bet you do.” asked Carlyn with a sarcastic tone.

“What is this all about now?” he asked as he drops the paper back on the table.

“Louis! The auction is getting nearer. You have to make a decision now. You have to talk to him immediately.” She demands with her arms crossed.

He answers her with a sigh and has his eyes fixed on her. He could see the eagerness in her eyes and is again won over by her persistence. He smiles and says, “I already made a decision even before you busted here and brought this paper on my table. I won’t do it alone though. Let’s pay Mr. Gibbs a visit. I need you with me in case I start crying like a baby.”

Carlyn bursts into laughter and grabs Louis’ by the hand and puts it around his arm like a gentleman to a lady.

“You know I’ll always be here. Oh, what would you do without me?” She looks at Louis with a naughty smile and he smiles back.

The trip to Mr. Gibbs’ office wasn’t too long. It was just a few blocks away from Louis’ office. As the SUV came to a stop just in front of the building where Mr. Gibbs has his office, Louis couldn’t help but gaze up towards the building with a grim look on his face. He is thinking twice now. Doubt suddenly came out of nowhere and his feet were hard on the floor of his car. Carlyn notices how Louis froze behind the steering wheel. She pushes the door open on the passenger’s side and turns to Louis before stepping out of the car.

“Lou, this is no time for sight-seeing. I’m stepping out of the car and you will too. Time is running and it’s not gonna wait for you. C’mon! Let’s go.”

“I don’t know Carly. I don’t know if this is such a good idea besides its past office hours. He may no longer be inside. We could do this next time.”

Carlyn walks around the front of the SUV all the way to the driver’s side and flings the door open.

“There is no next time Lou. It’s now or never. I called his secretary and I already set an appointment with him. So, I’m pretty sure he is waiting, at least for me. I did not mention your name so there is no need to worry. C’mon down now.”

Louis finally steps out and Carlyn pulls him by the arm as if to make sure he does not run away. As they entered the lift to the 6th floor, Louis couldn’t stop asking questions as to how Carlyn managed to convince the old man to meet with her. She said she used her talents to do it. As to what specific talents she used, Louis could only imagine.

The duo had to wait in the comfortable sofa in the receiving area before the secretary allowed them entrance to Mr. Gibbs’ office. After dialing a number and a quick conversation on the phone, the young and beautiful Ms. Lovelace ushered them to the door to the office.

Mr. Gibbs was on his leather chair and was laughing boisterously while talking to someone on the phone. Clearly, he did not notice his two guests enter the room. Louis throws a piercing glare at the unsuspecting Mr. Gibbs while his hands were clenched. Carlyn reached out to Louis’ hand and whispered, “Just calm down. Remember, we came here to negotiate. Not to beat anyone.”

Louis sighed and relaxed as Carlyn walked ahead of him towards Mr. Gibbs. The old man immediately noticed the beautiful lady as she approaches and abruptly says goodbye to his friend on the phone. He puts his phone down and reaches for Carlyn’s hand.

“Ah, you must be Ms. Stanley! It’s such a pleasure to wait for a gorgeous lady such as yourself.”

Carlyn offers her hand for a hand shake but is surprised by how the old man receives it. She watches with wide eyes as Mr. Gibbs slowly leans forward to kiss her hand. She just doesn’t get used to such old ways especially if it comes from a man with a not so favorable reputation such as Mr. Gibbs. She would have withdrawn and slapped the old man if he was not interrupted by Louis’ presence. The moment he caught a glimpse of Louis he straigtened up and released his grasp of Carlyn’s hand.

“My…I did not expect to see you here!”

“A pleasant evening Mr. Gibbs.” He greets him as he offers his hand but Mr. Gibbs scoffs at him and falls back to his chair with a very unpleasant expression. They took it to themselves, Carlyn and Louis, to comfortably sit on the guests’ seats and face the devil who obviously does not wish to welcome them anymore.

“And what horrendous event it is to have you this evening. If I had known you’d be with Ms. Stanley I would not have allowed this meeting to begin with.”

Louis contained his rage quite well at this extremely offensive remark and kept quite. Carlyn took the initiative to allow Louis to cool down and introduced herself.

“We have come for a very important matter Mr. Gibbs. I am Carlyn Stanley and I believe you obviously know my friend Mr. Louis Travis. We want to talk to you about a proposal. That is the sale of the Burrow Theatre.”

Mr. Gibbs’ ears widened to eagerly hear the details. Louis was amazed at how confident Carlyn could manage the situation at hand and realizes how he should not humiliate his friend with his cowardice and insecurities. Rather he shall stand with her now in facing the music he has long avoided.

Mr. Gibbs gave them a stern look and burst into a boisterous laughter, deliberately humiliating Louis and Carlyn.

“Ahh, I’m so sorry.” He said while catching his breath and continued, “Are you saying that you are interested in buying the theatre? My oh my, that is one serious matter indeed. Now tell me, how do you intend to negotiate with me? What exactly is your proposal?”

Louis glared at him the whole time while Carlyn had to contain herself as well. Alas, Louis had the courage to speak.

“It’s simple and concise Mister Gibbs.” He stands and leans towards the suited hustler with his hands stomped flat on the glass surface of the table. “Reserve the Burrow Theatre for us and cancel the auction.” He demanded.

Mr. Gibbs couldn’t believe his eyes and his ears. He did not expect to see such boldness from the poor, gay young boy he saw growing up in the theatre. Nor did he expect such an unprecedented demand from the person he least expected to hear it from. For once in that moment he felt a tremble inside him seeing the determination in Louis’ eyes but he knows he cannot show it. He is well versed in his business dealings. To always maintain the upper hand in any negotiations is an ultimate imperative. And so he suppresses such unwelcome emotions and recomposes himself. He rises from his seat and faces Louis eye to eye.

“And what makes you think that two dimwits can lay such a crazy demand on me?! How dare you come here and tell me what to do with my property?! If this is all you came here for then leave!” He screamed at the two who were rather not moved as if expecting his display of outrage.

Louise stood straight and closed his arms together standing taller than Mr. Gibbs and not showing any sign of fear or shaking. Carlyn is awestruck by Louis’ display of courage for she did not see it before they even entered the building. He simply transformed right before her eyes.

“We came here not to demand but to negotiate and this is a serious matter to us as well as it is to you. The Burrow Theatre is old and it has long lived out its glory days since the incident that took place a few years ago when, as I can recall you also witnessed the scandalous arrest of all the actors you helped “smuggle” but did not care to help protect when they were deported. You simply stood there and watched not wanting any involvement when it was you who benefited from them. What makes you think that auctioning it can help you raise the bid even to a million? Did you think that your reputation after that day did not go very well publicized? Most especially your bribery of the authorities which did not go unnoticed Mr. Gibbs!” He said evidently with a tone of bitterness and yet with resolute. “So you see, we are simply here to help you rebuild the lost glory of Burrow Theatre and to offer you our help. Name your price and shall I daresay be fair with your business this time and you will be relieved of the burden of such a reputation.”

Mr. Gibbs pursed his lips and stared at Louis just analyzing his words. For a second, Louis and Carlyn saw victory as Mr. Gibbs carefully sits back to his leather seat still looking at both of them back and forth. He is not saying anything while he has his right hand on his chin. After a minute of silence he gives out a deep sigh and says, “You do not give me much of an option. The date for the auction is set and I am not in the position to cancel it now that the announcement has been made. If you want the theatre for yourself then you must join the auction. And that is my final decision. I shall not have any negotiations with anyone anymore. Not especially you.” He said as he points his finger at Louis.

Louis is enraged and grabs the old man by the collar, forcing Mr. Gibbs to maintain his balance as he is pulled forward, “How hard can it be for you to demand a price and make a deal with us?! Your pride will not help you acquire a decent buyer of that property!”

Mr. Gibbs just smirked, clearly enjoying how he has won over Louis even at the expense of the truth to what he heard from him. He just could not let Louis get the best of him. Carlyn could no longer stand to watch her friend struggle seeing that Mr. Gibbs is far more difficult to deal with. She intervenes and holds Louis’ hand to let go of Mr. Gibbs.

“I have never seen such a man more proud than you are!” she remarked to Mr. Gibbs. “Louis, this man is hopeless, let’s just go. If he wants an auction then we will bid, not for him but for everyone.”

Louis felt defeated yet he knows Mr. Gibbs more than anyone and this is what he feared the most, knowing that nothing good would come out of the negotiations. Yet hope has not completely departed him. For the last time he gathers his courage and calmly turns to Mr. Gibbs before taking his leave, “We will have the Burrow Theatre no matter what and I mean it.”

They were stomping their way out as Mr. Gibbs shouts in reply, “Your audacity Louis Travis is not going to help you acquire the finances you’re going to need to buy the theatre! It will never be yours!” he accidentally swallows his own saliva and coughs in the effort.

Silence came as a response to his scream. He gives out a deep sigh and frowns as he lifts a piece of paper on his table. It was a “Notice of Order of Sequestration”.