Salty droplets of sweat poured down Reese's face as she climbed off the stationary bike, her legs trembling slightly from the intense workout. The 6:00 AM rooftop spinning class was not for the faint of heart, but Reese had grown to appreciate the challenge. What once felt like an ordeal now served as a cathartic release, a way to shed the insecurities and anxieties that clung to her like a second skin. Each bead of sweat was like a physical manifestation of her stress, melting away under the strain of the pedals.
Breathing heavily, she grabbed her towel and water bottle, wiping her face and taking a long, refreshing sip. The cool water trickled down her throat, contrasting with the heat that radiated from her body. As she made her way inside to the sauna, Reese felt a sense of accomplishment. The old her would have been grossed out by the sweat and the exertion, but now it felt invigorating, a sign that she was pushing herself both physically and mentally.
She entered the small, wooden room, the door closing behind her with a soft thud, sealing in the dry heat. The warmth enveloped her, instantly relaxing her muscles. Reese settled onto the bench, her towel draped over her shoulders as the heat began to penetrate her skin. She set her watch for twenty minutes, closed her eyes, and let herself sink into the soothing embrace of the sauna.
The events of the previous day still weighed on her mind, the stress of it all clinging to her despite the intense workout. But here, in the quiet of the sauna, she allowed herself to let go. The heat seemed to draw out the toxins, both physical and emotional, cleansing her of the negativity that had built up over the past few days. She took slow, deep breaths, feeling the tension melt away with each exhale.
Time seemed to slip away as she rested, her mind drifting in and out of thought. Before she knew it, the sound of her watch's alarm jolted her back to reality, signaling that her time was up. Reese sighed, reluctantly rising from the bench. She still had a full day ahead of her, and after yesterday's chaotic schedule, she couldn't afford to be late again.
She rushed to the women's locker room, the cool tiles beneath her feet a stark contrast to the heat of the sauna. She quickly stripped off her workout clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the water cascade over her. The steam filled the small space, mixing with the scent of her lavender body wash, creating a calming atmosphere. Despite the rush, Reese took a moment to enjoy the simple pleasure of the hot shower, washing away the remnants of sweat and stress.
Once dressed and ready, she headed out to her car, feeling refreshed and slightly more centered. The traffic on her drive to work was surprisingly light, a rare blessing in the middle of the week. Perhaps it was because it was Wednesday—hump day—and more people were taking a midweek break. She couldn't complain, though. The clear roads allowed her to make it to the office with time to spare, something that was becoming increasingly important as she juggled more and more responsibilities.
As Reese pulled into the half-empty parking lot, she noticed that Victor and Vincent, the two senior partners at the brokerage, hadn't arrived yet. She let out a sigh of relief, grateful for the extra minutes to compose herself before the day began. With her bag slung over her shoulder, she made her way into the office, the familiar hum of activity greeting her as she walked through the door.
"Good morning, ladies," Reese called out, a bright smile on her face as she entered.
"Hey, Reese!" Miranda replied cheerfully from behind her desk. "You look great! Did you make it to the gym this morning?"
"You know it," Reese said, strutting confidently towards her office. The endorphins from her workout were still coursing through her, giving her an extra boost of energy.
As she passed by Amy's desk, Amy called out to her. "Hey, Reese, do you know what's going on with the place on Norton Ave?"
Reese paused, turning to face her colleague. "I'm not sure. I'm still waiting to hear back from my client," she replied, her tone thoughtful.
"Well, I have a potential buyer if you want to go with my client," Amy offered, a hopeful note in her voice.
Reese raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's the offer?"
"$1.6 million. Twenty days to close. All cash," Amy said confidently.
Reese nodded, considering the proposal. "I'll check with the seller. I don't think they wanted to go any lower than $1.9 million, but give me a minute."
Satisfied, Amy returned to her work, and Reese finally made it to her office. She powered up her laptop, eager to see if her client had reached out with an offer. But as the screen flickered to life, she was met with the usual notifications—emails, reminders, but nothing from her client. With a slight frown, she decided to follow up on the Norton Ave offer, contacting the seller with the best and final proposal of $1.6 million. To her surprise, they accepted the offer almost immediately. It was shaping up to be a productive morning.
Just as she was settling into the rhythm of the day, Victor and Vincent walked in together, their presence instantly commanding the attention of the office. They immediately summoned everyone for the morning meeting, a daily ritual that set the tone for the rest of the day. Reese quickly grabbed her notepad and joined the others in the conference room, eager to hear the latest updates.
With the quarter almost over, the pressure was on. The brokerage hadn't yet reached its quota, and everyone knew that landing a big sale could make all the difference. For Reese, that sale was the Melrose listing. If she could close the deal, it would cover the deficit and then some.
"Reese, where are we on the Melrose listing?" Victor asked, his gaze fixed on her as he began the meeting.
"I'm going to list it at thirty-two million. The client won't accept anything under twenty million," Reese replied confidently.
"Excellent," Victor said with a smile, clearly pleased with her approach.
"This is by far the biggest listing the brokerage has ever had," Vincent chimed in, his tone reflecting the gravity of the situation. "So let's get our top clients out to see it. Reese, how are we looking on marketing?"
Reese hesitated for a moment, thinking about her next steps. "I need to touch base with Mr. Grey. I think he's still living there," she said with a nervous chuckle. "But he has some great pieces in the house that might be worth selling with the property. It could save on staging."
"Alright, well, we've got to get this moving," Vincent said, nodding in agreement. Then, with a raised brow, he added, "And you're leaving us soon, right?"
"That's the plan," Reese replied with a shy smile. "But you know me, I always like to see a project through."
"That's my girl," Victor said with a wink, clearly proud of her dedication.
The meeting continued with updates on other properties. Amy reported on the Lindley Ave listing, still waiting for an offer, but she mentioned that an open house was scheduled for Sunday. Reese and Amy also shared the good news about the sale on Norton Ave.
"Great work, ladies," Victor said, his tone filled with appreciation. "Let's keep this momentum going."
As the meeting wrapped up, Vincent looked around the room. "Has anyone heard from Naomi?" he asked.
"It's Wednesday, Vinny," Reese replied with a grin. "She's in class. She'll be in around 10."
"That's right," Vincent said, nodding. "Have her see me as soon as she gets here."
"Will do," Reese replied, making a mental note to remind Naomi when she arrived.
Returning to her office, Reese closed the door behind her. She knew she needed to schedule her next meeting with Mr. Grey, but she wasn't sure how to approach him. Their last interaction had been... complicated, to say the least. She still hadn't responded to his text message from the night before, and part of her wondered if he'd even reply to her now.
With a deep breath, she decided to send him a message anyway, hoping to keep things professional and straightforward.
8:50 AM Reese: Good morning, Mr. Grey. I hope all is well.
8:50 AM Reese: I was wondering if you had a moment to discuss a couple of minor details so that I could move forward on getting your house on the market as soon as possible.
She sent the messages and stared at her phone, willing it to light up with a response. But as the minutes ticked by, the screen remained dark. Determined not to let it affect her day, Reese decided to head out for lunch, hoping that a good meal would clear her mind.