Hoodwinked

By Daryl Moore

One hundred fifty thousand dollars is on the line. And only one person is going to get paid. Karen’s an attractive lady with charisma. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to land the job. I don’t like that loser, she thought. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when the boss picks me. Aaron is a well educated man with an impeccable work record. I’m the top sales man in this real estate office, he thought. There’s no competition. That job is mine.
Karen’s luxurious lifestyle is enhanced by a drug dealer. She lives with the fear that any day he could get locked up or killed. She dreads the idea of downsizing. Aaron has a bipolar wife. There’s always something crazy going on in his life. And she constantly reminds him of his deficiencies. Landing the job means everything to him.
Find out if charisma or an impeccable work record wins out in the end. See who gets the last laugh.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483569307

Book preview

ISBN: 978-1-4835693-0-7

Contents

Acknowledgement

Competition

Back at the office

Bright and Early

Back at the Office

Making Money

Back at Work

Closing big Deals

Putting in work

Worthless Neighbors

Back on the block

Making Decisions

Looking Out For Number One

What in the hell happened

More Novels by Daryl Moore

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Scott Whittington for editing my book.

I would also like to thank Marissa Moore and Janice Mayo for proof reading my book.

Competition

Aaron, the boss said as he walked into the realtor’s office. I’d like to introduce you to Karen. She’s the top selling realtor in the Crofton office. Y’all will be competing for the position at the new housing site on Church Rd. The boss’s eyes shifted between the both of them. They’ve estimated that they’ll build at least 300 homes. Your commission will be around $5,000 per sales.

There is no competition, Aaron thought. That job is mine. He was the top-selling realtor in the Bowie, Md. office. I can’t believe the boss escorted that has-been over here talking about a competition. Aaron glanced over at his awards hanging on the wall. My names at the top of the sales chart. I’m the one with the master’s degree in Business Marketing. And I’ve been working for this firm longer than anyone else.

May the best man or woman earn the job, the boss (Charles) said. And if you’re not good with math. Someone’s going to make about $150,000. They want these properties sold in a six-month span. Charles escorted Karen out of Aaron’s office to her office.

Aaron called his wife. Good news, he said. Charles offered me the sales associate job at the new development.

Awesome, she said. That’s great.

Well he hasn’t officially given me the job, Aaron said. He’s pretending to have this competition between me and this has-been from the Crofton office. Aaron looked back over at his awards. Don’t cook dinner this evening. We’ll be going out to celebrate. He hung up the phone.

Charles walked back into Aaron’s office. The receptionist is taking off early today, he said. Do you mind working the front desk when she gets off?

No can do, Aaron said. I’ve already promised to take my wife out. He pointed out his office toward Karen. Ask her, he said. She isn’t doing anything. And she probably doesn’t have any plans for this evening.

Charles walked out of Aaron’s office toward Karen. The nerve of that clown, Aaron thought asking me to work the front desk. I’m the top salesman around here not a receptionist.

Aaron’s fax machine lit up and started making noise. Yes, he said as he pulled an incoming contract off the fax. The offer he sent out earlier that day was accepted. He shuffled through the contract to make sure that everything that needed to be signed was signed.

Five thousand and five hundred dollars, Aaron thought as he held the contract. He called his clients and let them know the offer was accepted. He looked at the sales chart. It’s good being number one.

The receptionist left. Karen sat down at the front desk. Aaron looked at his watch. I’m getting hungry, he thought. Don’t stay too long has-been, he whispered under his breath as he walked pass Karen out the office.

Aaron clicked the remote starter on his 2016 X6 BMW. He reclined in the white leather seat. I think I want to try something different, he thought as he scrolled through the navigation system in search of a restaurant in Annapolis close to his home.

Aaron’s wife, Dorothy was sitting on the deck looking out at the ocean when he pulled into the driveway. She walked down the steps and got into the car. Aaron looked at his house and back into his wife’s hazel brown eyes. Darling, he said. The reason why my life has turned out so good is because ten times out of ten I make good decisions.

Good decisions ten times out of ten, Dorothy said. I guess it must have been someone else who decided to save money by paving the driveway. Aaron chuckled. It only cost us three times as much to have the driveway repaved after you finished destroying it.

You know, Aaron said as he backed out the driveway. We’re still home. It’s not too late for me to pull forward and for you to cook dinner.

I don’t have any problem cooking for my man, Dorothy said. But if you pull back into the driveway, you’ll be the one cooking this evening. She folded her arms and stared into his eyes.

Baby you know you look sexy with your arms folded, Aaron said as he drove to the restaurant. Dorothy smiled and adjusted her visor. I’d like to try that new spot that opened up around the corner.

Sounds lovely, Dorothy said. Aaron pulled in front of the restaurant. He escorted Dorothy inside.

Will you be dining in or outside? the hostess asked.

Outside, Dorothy said. They followed the hostess to the deck. They picked out a table at the end with a good view of the ocean. The host positioned the umbrella to block the sun from beating down on them.

Not too bad, Aaron said as he looked at the menu. They’ve got a little something for everybody.

Would you like anything to drink? the waitress asked.

Yes, Aaron said. We would like two Long Island iced teas. And use top-shelf liquor.

I see somebody is not playing, Dorothy said.

Yeah, Aaron said. Why waste your time drinking a lot of weak drinks when you can get it right the first time.

The waitress returned to their table with the drinks. Would you like anything to eat? she asked.

Yes, Aaron said. "I’ll have a half dozen of oysters on shells.

We’d also like an order of naked wings and a large side of macaroni and cheese, Dorothy said. The waitress picked up the menus and placed their orders.

Baby, when I start selling homes at the new site, Aaron said. I’m going to trade in the old truck. And buy myself a new one with chrome rims. He looked into her eyes. You can pick yourself out something special too.

Dorothy put her drink down. I don’t care what you buy, she said. But you better not be crying broke.

She stared at his face. Aaron looked away. And what’s wrong with the truck you’ve got, she said. It’s practically new. It’s only two years old.

Baby chill out, Aaron said. When it comes down to making financial decisions, have I ever led us astray?

Yes, Dorothy said, yes you have, as she nodded her head. When you thought it was a good idea to buy that truck. The one that’s parked in the garage that you never drive. And you’re already talking about selling it. She paused. I had to go into my savings account to keep the roof over our head.

I can’t believe you’re still bringing that up, Aaron said as he pointed his finger at Dorothy. I put that money back into your account with interest.

Dorothy pointed her finger back at him. And I’m going to keep bringing it up, she said. Whenever I think you need to be reminded.

The waitress placed their food on the table. Aaron put hot sauce and cocktail sauce on an oyster then slurped it down. I love it when you get feisty, Aaron said. "It turns me on. After I