"I mean with what we discussed on the way back from the car meet."
"Oh! You mean the business! Wow, that was not where I thought you were going."
"Huh? Oh! No! I didn't mean… Yeah I was talking about that. The thing with fixing up cars."
"Yeah, I see that now. So, what do you mean you can't do it?"
"I mean, I have been thinking about it and there is just no way for me to pay off like, $180,000 a year. I mean no matter how I think about it we would never be able to sell enough to pay for that."
"Oh… You mean that. Yeah, I'm not doing that any more."
"Huh?"
"I'm still doing the business. Don't worry. I mean renting from that guy. I ran the numbers and realized that I could build a place for less than half that amount and probably get it done faster as well.
So that gives us a permanent place with no rent, for much cheaper. The only downside is that it is a metal warehouse which would not be insulated and it is a bit out of the way so a slightly longer commute time."
"Thats not bad, and it makes me feel way better but I'm sure the utilities will still cost something right?"
"Yeah but I'm planning to put some really good solar panels on the roof which would really bring it down if not eliminate it completely. The water and sewage is the real worry but it won't be bad."
"That sounds good, I love solar. But what is the final price? I want to know what I'll have to pay."
"Why do you keep sounding like you are trying to accept debt?"
"Becasue I need to know how much I need to make before I feel like a partner."
"Ok. Then the estimated price is $68,192."
"Wow."
"Yeah. Feel better now?"
"Ouch. That kinda hurts my feelings."
"Yeah, it's really up there."
"But that is a one time thing and a manageable number."
"Sure. But the real question is how do you want the business structured?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like an employee with a wage and insurance?"
"Screw you."
"Then a part owner?"
"That doesn't feel right. Not until I pay off… I mean buy some equity in the business."
"Then how does an outside contractor work?"
"Yeah, that sounds good."
"Ok then we'll go with that. I have to go now, I have a long day tomorrow."
"Oh, ok…"
"So. Good night, Layla."
"Good night."
Once we finished talking I sat at my desk a little longer, just enjoying the atmosphere.
After a while I got up and prepared what I needed for the following day and went to sleep.
…
The next morning I was up early at 6:00 to get ready for what I presumed was going to be a long day.
The government office opens at 8:00 and the bank opens at 9:00, so by logic I should have my business and bank account good to go by lunch.
I went through what I should bring to the lunch meeting with the land owner and had mock conversations with how I thought it might go.
As the time approached 8:00 I pulled up the public records to check and see if they had updated the system yet.
Because once the public records are updated then my business is official.
…
At 8:23 when I refreshed the site and input the business name I saw it sitting there.
I then quickly opened the banking site and filled out the forms. Once I hit apply I knew it was just a matter of time.
…
While I was waiting for the bank to approve and authorize the bank account. I was getting the AI ready for another day and getting my Hong Kong account ready to transfer money from that account to the new one.
I set aside $100,000 for the whole project so, $1,738,911.28 became $1,638,911.28.
When the time came I let the AI do its thing.
At 10:00 the bank approved the account so I transferred the $100,000. Now I have enough money for the construction. But I am going to need more for all of the fabrication machines I'm going to get.
Now I just have to get ready for the lunch meeting.
…
At 10:30 I was leaving the house for the meeting at 11:00 located at a cafe 20 minutes away.
I have always been a punctual person, or at least I try to be. 10 minutes early is right on time and arriving right on time is late.
The cafe was a nice little sandwich shop with coffee. The primary color of the cafe was sage green, the secondary color was a warm milky white, and the tertiary color was a warm light pink.
The cafe had plenty of plants and vines snaking their way around the shop. It was as if a fairy tale cafe walked out of a children's movie.
This was an interesting choice of location for this meeting but I like it. I wish more places took pride in their ambience.
About the time the door closed behind me it opened again and a clean shaven old man with a mustache and goatee entered behind me.
I, being polite, said, "Oh, gosh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you coming up behind me."
The old timer said with a heavy southern twang, "Oh, hey don't worry about it, I wasn't. I'm just quick out of the old truck like that. Hey! Sammy, I'm here!"
A woman in her mid thirties walked out from behind the counter and said, "Hey, dad. Are you ready to finally sell that piece of land?"
The old man responded, "Sure am. Damn glad to finally get rid of it. It was burning a hole in my pocket."
That made me realize who they were, and it made me understand why the meeting was happening here.