Exclusivity As A Service

"Quinn Adams." I gestured grandly to the picture being projected on the wall.

"Quinn Adams." Matt repeated, staring at the woman.

Quinn Adams had a soft delicate face that was synonymous with elegance and innocence. She had large almond shaped eyes that were also a shade of brown that matched her hair.

Complete with a cute button nose and full pink lips, she was known as the 'cute' Adam.

"So…" Matt turned to look at me. "Why am I staring at a picture of a woman I probably will never meet?"

"Quinn Adams is the youngest and only daughter of the Adams family."

"And?" Matt asked. "I'd rather hear your thoughts on your interview."

"She's our new target." I said.

"Of course, she's our-. Wait, what?" Matt sat up, now paying attention.

"The success story of the Adams family started modestly in the late 19th century with a man called Jeffery Adams." I continued my explanation.

"He founded a small hotel on the coast of New England. That single property has since become a global empire with the Adams family now controlling some of the biggest resorts around the world."

"However, the Adams family is now divided into two, due to the... betrayal of the younger brother. But we're not here to talk about him. We're here for the older brother's family."

"Today, Quinn's family's wealth is estimated at twenty billion dollars. The family's holdings are diversified, extending beyond hospitality into real estate, private equity, and even art collections."

"But their portfolio of resorts still remains their number one money maker. Today, the family is led by its patriarch, Robert Adams."

"I see." Matt nodded. "Just one question. Why do we need to know about Robert Adams? Isn't Quinn our target."

"Know thy enemy, Matt." I shook my head like a sage and he grabbed one of those couch pillows and threw it at me.

I ducked, grinning at him.

"Let me quickly break down the wealth distribution of the Adams family." I turned back to the projector, clicking on a pie chart.

"Quinn has two brothers. Brother one is worth two billion." I raised a second finger. "Brother two is worth one billion. Her mother is worth two billion and the patriarch himself? Fifteen billion."

Matt frowned. "Wait a minute." He raised a hand. "Isn't that a total of twenty billion?"

I nodded.

"Then, how much is Quinn worth?"

"Fifty million." I said. Stamping her seal will net me a whooping five hundred million dollars, taking my net worth to five hundred and seventy million dollars.

"What the fuck?" Matt blinked, flabbergasted at the low amount. "How? Why?"

"Simple. The Adams family has a strict… inheritance policy that goes back to Jeffery Adams." I said. "Only male children get to inherit."

Matt opened and closed his mouth, having no idea what to say next.

"While she's the… gem of the Adams family, Quinn is given little to no roles in the family business and that means she mostly lives off her family's wealth."

"Okay. First question. Where did you meet her?"

"The Pine Press Country Club."

"And you've established contact?"

"No." I answered.

"Why not?"

"Simple." I grinned. "Know thy enemy."

Matt grabbed another pillow and I raised both hands in surrender. "Alright. Alright. I'll explain." I laughed.

He narrowed his eyes before dropping the pillow.

"First, I'm not yet an official member of the Pine Press. It sounds better to introduce myself as a member than a guest."

"True." Matt nodded.

"And second, I needed to know who I was approaching in order to know the method I'll use to make a positive impression. I can't afford to make a fool of myself."

"That's… also true." Matt grabbed the pillow and threw it at me. "Damn you, Nico. Why are you always making sense?"

I dodged the pillow, laughing. "One of us has to be the smart one."

He flipped me off.

"That, ladies and gentlemen," I bowed, "is my presentation."

I turned off the projector and clicked on the lights.

We both winced as our eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness.

"Alright." Matt said. "What's the plan?"

"Boutique hotels."

"Explain." Matt said with a serious expression on his face.

"If everyone in your family is entitled to an inheritance except you, how would you feel?"

"Bitter." Matt answered straight away.

"Bingo." I said. "And if someone gives you a chance to start something that could one day one up your family's business?"

"I'll take it even if I didn't just out of spite."

"Exactly." I snapped my fingers. "I'll use that feeling inside of Quinn, no matter how small it is. There's no way she's as angelic and innocent as she looks."

"So, you're betting your shot on a hunch?"

"No. I'm betting my shot on a good business opportunity. A boutique hotel chain."

"I'll offer her the opportunity to use her connections to build a brand of luxury boutique hotels."

"What we'll sell will be the same thing the Pine Press Country Club is selling. Exclusivity."

"We'll cater to the one percent and build a brand that has the potential to put her on the same level as her brothers. She'll be a fool not to take it."

"I see." Matt nodded. "For my second question, why her? You said she's worth fifty million dollars. Why not go for someone with more money?"

"I chose her because she's worth fifty million dollars."

Matt frowned.

"If she was worth higher, she probably won't even take me seriously but as she's worth lower, she'll be more likely to listen."

"Not to mention the fact that I own a real estate investment firm. I'll provide the property for the hotels and she'll bring in the clients. Simple."

"But of course it won't be that simple. She'll need to invest ten million dollars. This should be affordable for her and is exactly how she'll gain equity."

"I don't need her, Matt. I need the people she knows."

"And you'll cover most of the costs of this project on your own?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"You don't have that much money."

"Yes, I don't. That's why I'll borrow it."

"Wait, what?"