Steve looked toward Chloe.
Chloe answered.
“Verified purchase intent.”
“What verifies that?”
“Deposit.”
“How much?”
She hesitated.
There was no published deposit requirement just to hear the engine.
She improvised.
“Twenty-five thousand.”
Ryan, across the room, looked up sharply.
Nathaniel’s eyebrows rose.
“Interesting.”
Chloe smiled.
“Luxury has procedures.”
“Yes.”
Nathaniel looked toward the car.
“It does.”
Then he turned.
“I’d like to speak with Mr. Sterling.”
Chloe exhaled.
Again.
“Mr. Sterling is in a meeting.”
“Ask him.”
“I already know his schedule.”
“Ask him.”
She stared.
“Sir—”
“My request isn’t complicated.”
Steve muttered:
“This is ridiculous.”
Nathaniel heard him.
He did not respond.
Chloe walked toward reception.
Not because she respected the request.
Because she wanted the old man gone and believed Victor would authorize it.
She picked up the phone.
“Mr. Sterling?”
Victor Sterling answered from his office.
“What?”
“There’s an elderly gentleman on the floor insisting he wants to buy the Aurelian.”
“Then sell it.”
“He doesn’t look like a buyer.”
Victor looked up from his laptop.
“What does that mean?”
Chloe lowered her voice.
“Old khakis. Canvas bag. Walked in. No appointment. Security almost sent him away.”
“Did he give a name?”
“No.”
“He ask for financing?”
“No.”
“He has identification?”
“I haven’t asked.”
Victor sighed.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“He wants you.”
Victor looked at the sales dashboard on his second monitor.
Two serious appointments were arriving before noon.
One involved a venture capitalist who had bought four cars from Prestige.
Another involved a television producer considering a custom-order Mercedes.
“Absolutely not.”
“He keeps insisting.”
“Tell him I’m in a meeting.”
“You’re not.”
“I’m about to be.”
Chloe smiled.
“He says it’s important.”
Victor laughed.
“Let him have his little fantasy for ten minutes. He’ll leave when he realizes nobody is playing along.”
Chloe hung up.
Nathaniel stood several feet away.
He could not hear every word.
He did not need to.
Her expression told enough.
“Mr. Sterling is unavailable.”
“When will he be available?”
“Another day.”
“I need to see him today.”
Steve stepped forward.
“Look, sir, you’ve seen the car.”
“I haven’t heard it.”
“You’re not going to.”
Nathaniel studied him.
Steve continued.
“There’s water near the entrance if you need something before you go.”
For the first time, Nathaniel’s smile disappeared.
Not because of the water.
Because of the dismissal.
He looked around.
A couple had entered wearing matching golf jackets.
A salesman approached them within seconds.
Coffee offered.
Names exchanged.
A leather seating area opened.
No one asked whether they could afford anything.
Nathaniel looked back at Steve.
“Thank you.”
Steve mistook that for surrender.
He walked away.
Chloe returned to her iPad.
Nathaniel carried his bag toward a seating area near the windows and sat down.