The Stars Shine Down. Sidney Sheldon

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       Chapter Seven

      Chicago was a revelation. Halifax had been the largest city Lara had ever seen, but it was like a hamlet compared to the giant of the Midwest. Chicago was a loud and noisy city, bustling and energetic, and everyone seemed to be hurrying to some important destination.

      Lara checked into Stevens Hotel. She took one look at the smartly dressed women walking through the lobby and became self-conscious about the clothes she was wearing. Glace Bay, yes, Lara thought. Chicago, no. The following morning, Lara went into action. She visited Kane’s and Ultimo for designer dresses, Joseph’s for shoes, Saks Fifth Avenue and Marshall Field’s for lingerie, Trabert and Hoeffer for jewellery, and Ware for a mink coat. And every time she bought something, she heard her father’s voice saying, ‘I’m nae made of money. Get yourself something frae the Salvation Army Citadel.’ Before her shopping spree was over, the closets in her hotel suite were filled with beautiful clothes.

      Lara’s next move was to look in the yellow pages of the telephone book under real estate brokers. She selected the one that had the largest advertisement, Parker & Associates. Lara telephoned and asked to speak to Mr Parker.

      ‘May I tell him who’s calling?’

      ‘Lara Cameron.’

      A moment later, a voice said, ‘Bruce Parker speaking. How can I help you?’

      ‘I’m looking for a location where I can put up a beautiful new hotel,’ Lara said.

      The voice at the other end of the phone grew warmer. ‘Well, we’re experts at that, Mrs Cameron.’

      ‘Miss Cameron.’

      ‘Right. Did you have any particular area in mind?’

      ‘No. To tell you the truth, I’m not really familiar with Chicago.’

      ‘That’s no problem. I’m sure we can line up some very interesting properties for you. Just to give me an idea of what we’re looking for, how much equity do you have?’

      Lara said proudly, ‘Three million dollars.’

      There was a long silence. ‘Three million dollars?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘And you want to build a beautiful new hotel?’

      ‘Yes.’

      Another silence.

      ‘Were you interested in building or acquiring something in the inner city area, Miss Cameron?’

      ‘Of course not,’ Lara said. ‘What I have in mind is exactly the opposite. I want to build an exclusive boutique hotel in a nice area that …’

      ‘With an equity of three million dollars?’ Parker chuckled. ‘I’m afraid we’re not going to be able to help you.’

      ‘Thank you,’ Lara said. She replaced the receiver. She had obviously called the wrong broker.

      She went back to the yellow pages again and made half a dozen more calls. By the end of the afternoon, Lara was forced to face reality. None of the brokers was interested in trying to find a prime location where she could build a hotel with a down payment of three million dollars. They had offered Lara a variety of suggestions, and they had all come down to the same thing: A cheap hotel in an inner city area.

      Never, Lara thought. I’ll go back to Glace Bay first.

      She had dreamed for months about the hotel she wanted to build and in her mind it was already a reality – beautiful, vivid, three-dimensional. Her plan was to turn a hotel into a real home away from home. It would have mostly suites, and each suite would have a living room and a library with a fireplace in each room, and be furnished with comfortable couches, easy chairs and a grand piano. There would be two large bedrooms and an outside terrace running the length of the apartment. There would be a jacuzzi and a mini-bar. Lara knew exactly what she wanted. The question was how she was going to get it.

      Lara walked into a print shop on Lake Street. ‘I would like to have a hundred business cards printed up, please.’

      ‘Certainly. And how will the cards read?’

      ‘Miss Lara Cameron, and at the bottom, Real Estate Developer.’

      ‘Yes, Miss Cameron. I can have them for you in two days.’

      ‘No. I would like them this afternoon, please.’

      The next step was to get acquainted with the city.

      Lara walked along Michigan Avenue and State Street and La Salle, strolled along Lake Shore Drive and wandered through Lincoln Park with its zoo and golf course and lagoon. She visited the Merchandise Mart, and went to Kroch-Brentano’s and bought books about Chicago. She read about the famous who had made Chicago their home: Carl Sandburg, Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Saul Bellow. She read about the pioneer families СКАЧАТЬ