“Is anything wrong?” Paul asked.
“No. Everything’s fine.”
Lara went on describing the hotel.
When Lara returned from lunch, she sent for Keller.
“Do you remember the property in Phoenix we looked at a few months ago?”
“Yeah, we turned it down. You said it was a dog.”
“I’ve changed my mind.” She pressed down the intercom. “Gertrude, would you come in here, please?”
“Yes, Miss Cameron.”
Gertrude Meeks came into the office.
“I want to dictate a memo,” Lara said. “To the Baron Brothers in Phoenix.”
Gertrude started writing.
“Gentlemen, I have reconsidered the Scottsdale property and have decided to go ahead with it immediately. I think in time it is going to be my most valuable asset.” Keller was staring at her. “I’ll be in touch with you regarding price in the next few days. Best regards. I’ll sign it.”
“Yes, Miss Cameron. Is that all?”
“That’s all.”
Keller watched Gertrude leave the room. He turned to Lara. “Lara, what are you doing? We had that property analyzed. It’s worthless! If you…”
“Calm down. We’re not making a deal for it.”
“Then why…?”
“Unless I miss my guess, Steve Murchison will. I saw Gertrude having lunch with him today.”
Keller was staring at Lara. “I’ll be damned.”
“I want you to wait a couple of days and then call Baron and ask about the property.”
Two days later Keller came into Lara’s office, grinning. “You were right,” he said. “Murchison took the bait—hook, line, and sinker. He’s now the proud owner of fifty acres of worthless land.”
Lara sent for Gertrude Meeks.
“Yes, Miss Cameron?”
“You’re fired,” Lara said.
Gertrude looked at her in surprise. “Fired? Why?”
“I don’t like the company you keep. Go back to Steve Murchison and tell him I said so.”
Gertrude’s face lost its color. “But I…”
“That’s all. I’ll have you escorted out of here.”
At midnight Lara buzzed Max, her chauffeur. “Bring the car around to the front,” Lara said.
“Yes, Miss Cameron.”
The car was there waiting for her.
“Where would you like to go, Miss Cameron?” Max asked.
“Drive around Manhattan. I want to see what I’ve done.”
He was staring at her. “I beg your pardon?”
“I want to look at my buildings.”
They drove around the city and stopped at the shopping mall, the housing center, and the skyscraper. There was Cameron Square, Cameron Plaza, Cameron Center, and the skeleton of Cameron Towers. Lara sat in the car, staring at each building, thinking about the people living there and working there. She had touched all their lives. I’ve made this city better, Lara thought. I’ve done everything I wanted to do. Then why am I restless? What is missing? But she knew.
The following morning Lara telephoned William Ellerbee, Philip’s concert manager.
“Good morning, Mr. Ellerbee.”
“Good morning, Miss Cameron. What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering where Philip Adler is playing this week.”
“Philip has a pretty heavy schedule. Tomorrow night he’ll be in Amsterdam, then he goes on to Milan, Venice, and…do you want to know the rest of his…?”
“No, no. That’s fine. I was just curious. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
Lara walked into Keller’s office. “Howard, I have to go to Amsterdam.”
He looked at her in surprise. “What do we have going on there?”
“It’s just an idea,” Lara said evasively. “I’ll let you know if it checks out. Have them get the jet ready for me, will you?”
“You sent Bert to London on it, remember? I’ll tell them to have it back here tomorrow, and…”
“I want to leave today.” There was an urgency in her that took her completely by surprise. “I’ll fly commercial.” She returned to her office and said to Kathy, “Get me a seat on the first flight to Amsterdam on KLM.”
“Yes, Miss Cameron.”
“Are you going to be gone long?” Keller asked. “We have some meetings coming up that…”
“I’ll be back in a day or two.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“Thanks, Howard. Not this time.”
“I talked to a senator friend of mine in Washington. He thinks there’s a chance they’re going to pass a bill that will remove most of the tax incentives for building. If it passes, it’s going to kill capital gains taxes and stop accelerated depreciation.”