Chapter 160: Real Estate

[Chapter 160: Real Estate]

After saying goodbye to Taylor's family, Ryan and "Mrs. Rivers" quickly flew to Palm Beach, Florida. It was the wealthy enclave, much like Long Island in New York.

"Here we are at the famous Mar-a-Lago," the realtor said, with the name meaning "from sea to lake" in Spanish. "It's situated east by the Atlantic and west by Lake Worth. This is a private club for the ultra-rich, with a membership fee of $200,000. Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley honeymooned here; it was actually where they shared their first kiss..."

As they entered Palm Beach from the South Bridge, the driver pointed out the grand Spanish-style buildings on the left.

"Isn't it a bit of a waste for such a large mansion to be used as a club?" Ryan observed from the car window.

"The owner made a usage agreement with the town, giving up his rights to use it for anything other than a social club. Neither the owner nor anyone else can stay here for more than three weeks at a time."

"Who is the owner?" Taylor asked, intrigued.

"Uh, that guy from The Apprentice, you know, the one with the messy hair who kept saying 'You're fired'," the realtor replied, struggling to recall the name.

"Donald Trump," Ryan chimed in.

"Yeah, that's the one! He just hosted his wedding here two years ago, his third marriage. It was quite the extravagant affair, with the Chainsmokers in attendance."

About five minutes later, the realtor instructed the driver to pull over.

"This is the destination. It has four levels, including a basement, and an interior size that's about one-fifth of the Mar-a-Lago, totaling around 8000 square feet. It features a climate-controlled pool, a garden, a lawn, and five parking spaces with thirteen rooms inside..." The realtor led them into the stately Georgian-style home.

"As you both can see, it's furnished with a full set of vintage American furniture. The cleaning crew regularly comes here, so it's spotless -- you could move in right away."

Ryan nodded, having seen five properties already, and this was the one he liked the most.

"What's the asking price?" Taylor asked, picking up a crystal glass from the cabinet.

"$23 million. For a top-tier mansion like this, it's quite a deal," the realtor rubbed his hands together.

"That's way too expensive," Taylor instantly put the glass down, clearly feeling it was out of her league.

"Mrs. Rivers, the property prices here have steadily risen over the last thirty years. Mar-a-Lago originally sold for $20 million and is currently valued at roughly $100 million. Trump played a trick by buying the land between the mansion and the sea and saying he was going to build a house there to block the view, which scared off all the competitors..."

Taylor wandered around the room, her eyes surveying everything.

"The decor is just so outdated," she started nitpicking.

"The furniture is worth at least $3 million on the resale market, and you can always redecorate," the realtor reassured.

"The wooden floors creak when you walk on them."

"These are solid hardwood; I can have someone fix that up so you won't hear a thing."

"It's just too big for just the two of us. It feels too empty." Taylor returned to Ryan's side, masking her lack of interest.

"Well, I can show you two the next property..."

...

"So, which one do you think is the best fit?"

After the house tour, Ryan and Taylor returned to their apartment in Orlando.

"I thought the one in Windermere wasn't bad," Ryan offered.

"Isn't that one a little small?" Taylor frowned.

"What about the one in Lake Nona?"

"It's sharing a courtyard with the neighbors; there's no privacy. We're public figures and need to protect our privacy," Taylor reminded him.

"The one in Winter Park meets your standards perfectly."

"Not at all. It's too desolate; there's not a soul around. I wouldn't even dare go out at night," Taylor shook her head again.

"Then we should buy the one in Palm Beach," Ryan chuckled, finally understanding Taylor's perspective.

"Right? I think that one is nice," Taylor nodded eagerly, clearly waiting for Ryan to say that.

"But it's too expensive. Even if I put my entire salary from last year down, it wouldn't cover the deposit. Here's an idea: you lend me some cash for now, and I'll pay you back later, deducting it from my income. How does that sound?" Taylor suggested.

"Forget it; I'll cover part of the down payment. I'll handle the mortgage later," Ryan shook his head. Despite Taylor saying she didn't need his help, he knew if he backed off, she'd just blame him later.

'All women are the same,' he thought.

"Really? Honey, I knew you'd spoil me," Taylor said, her face lighting up with joy.

Ryan only smiled, saying nothing. Winning over a woman always came at a cost.

"Since it's so spacious, I can have friends over often -- Abigail, Emma, Diana, and Karlie. It'll be so much fun! We can set up a cozy spot outside..." Taylor envisioned.

"Also, I'll have to work hard on this tour to earn enough for this house and ease your burden..."

Finally, some practical talk.

"And you can set up my performances at the nightclub since it's so close."

Let's avoid running into Teresa again. That would be awkward.

"I'll handle the house business. Don't rush to make promises; let's see if there's room for negotiation," Ryan reminded her.

"Sure, by the way, which goddess do you want to meet tonight?" Taylor suddenly shot him a sly smile.

Ryan realized that she had brought over two suitcases for the night, packed with the "fun outfits" he had picked out.

"How about Aphrodite?"

...

Later that night, after changing into her outfit, Taylor made a grand entrance reminiscent of her look at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, donning light-colored lingerie and stunning heels. Her aura was as striking as any supermodel's.

She approached Ryan gracefully, adopting a model's pose with one leg bent and a hand on her waist, showing off a pink, semi-transparent cape that fluttered with her movements, resembling a pink butterfly.

Then she lifted one leg, gently placing it on Ryan's leg...

...

"You're right; it's all about the price. It's beyond my budget; I'm still thinking about it..."

"Jared, it's Ryan. I'm back in New York. I've got a project, not sure if it's of interest to you..."

"Veronica, the first thing we need to do post-holiday is recruit a few reliable tech talents. You're in charge of that..."

"Still need time? We just need to be ready for February's Fashion Week."

"Have you found a suitable venue in New Orleans? Sounds good, I'll come by then..."

"I'm so busy; I can't help you film... Fine, I'll come once we're near the end of the pilot shoot."

As Taylor returned to Nashville for her tour rehearsals, Ryan was back in the office, nearly spending the whole morning reaching out to various contacts.

At that moment, Tyran strolled into the office, having just returned from the New Year holiday, with her shirt casually undone, revealing her black bra.

While she initially wore a smile, it quickly faded upon seeing Teresa beside Ryan. She forced a smile to cover her discomfort.

"Teresa, could you step out? I need to speak with the boss," she said.

"What's up? Just speak directly," Ryan said immediately.

"Um... It's nothing." Tyran laughed uneasily.

"Then you can get back to it; I don't need you right now," Ryan said casually.

"Okay," Tyran nodded stiffly and exited the office quietly.

Throughout it all, Teresa remained a cool bystander...

*****

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