“I’m with you.”
“In five or six years, after the building is leased, you sell it. If the property sells for seventy-five million, after you pay off the mortgage, you’ll net twelve and a half million dollars. Besides that, you’ll have a tax-sheltered earning stream of eight million in depreciation that you can use to reduce taxes on other income. All of this for a cash investment of ten million.”
“That’s fantastic!” Lara said.
Keller grinned. “The government wants you to make money.”
“How would you like to make some money, Howard? Some real money?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I want you to come to work for me.”
Keller was suddenly quiet. He knew he was facing one of the most important decisions of his life, and it had nothing to do with money. It was Lara. He had fallen in love with her. There had been one painful episode when he had tried to tell her. He had practiced his marriage proposal all night, and the following morning he had gone to her and stammered, “Lara, I love you,” and before he could say more, she had kissed him on the cheek and said, “I love you, too, Howard. Take a look at this new production schedule.” And he had not had the nerve to try again.
Now she was asking him to be her partner. He would be working near her every day, unable to touch her, unable to…
“Do you believe in me, Howard?”
“I’d be crazy not to, wouldn’t I?”
“I’ll pay you twice whatever you’re making now, and give you five percent of the company.”
“Can I…can I think about it?”
“There’s really nothing to think about, is there?”
He made his decision. “I guess not…partner.”
Lara gave him a hug. “That’s wonderful! You and I are going to build beautiful things. There are so many ugly buildings around. There’s no excuse for them. Every building should be a tribute to this city.”
He put his hand on her arm. “Don’t ever change, Lara.”
She looked at him hard.
“I won’t.”
Chapter Ten
The late 1970s were years of growth and change and excitement. In 1976 there was a successful Israeli raid on Entebbe, and Mao Zedong died, and James Earl Carter, Jr., was elected President of the United States.
Lara erected another office building.
In 1977 Charlie Chaplin died, and Elvis Presley temporarily died.
Lara built the largest shopping mall in Chicago.
In 1978 Reverend Jim Jones and 911 followers committed mass suicide in Guyana. The United States recognized Communist China, and the Panama Canal treaties were ratified.
Lara built a series of high-rise condominiums in Rogers Park.
In 1979 Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty at Camp David, there was a nuclear accident at Three-Mile Island, and Muslim fundamentalists seized the United States Embassy in Iran.
Lara built a skyscraper and a glamorous resort and country club in Deerfield, north of Chicago.
Lara seldom went out socially, and when she did, she usually went to a club where jazz was played. She liked Andy’s, a club where the top jazz artists performed. She listened to Von Freeman, the great saxophonist, and Eric Schneider, and reed man Anthony Braxton, and Art Hodes at the piano.
Lara had no time to feel lonely. She spent every day with her family: the architects and the construction crew, the carpenters, the electricians and surveyors and plumbers. She was obsessed with the building she was putting up. Her stage was Chicago, and she was the star.
Her professional life was proceeding beyond her wildest dreams, but she had no personal life. Her experience with Sean MacAllister had soured her on sexual relationships, and she never met anyone she was interested in seeing for more than an evening or two. In the back of Lara’s mind was an elusive image, someone she had once met and wanted to meet again. But she could never seem to capture it. For a fleeting moment she would recall it, and then it was gone.
There were plenty of suitors. They ranged from business executives to oilmen to poets, and even included some of her employees. Lara was pleasant to all of the men, but she never permitted any relationship to go further than a good-night handshake at the door.