He was at the door when Richard said, "She didn't know I was doing this, Olivia. I want you to know that." Marcus turned. Shell find out. Richard said eventually. She knows all my significant investments.
But this decision was mine and it has nothing to do with He stopped then said simply. She'd actually be annoyed at me if she knew I was clarifying this. Marcus almost smiled. Why? Because she'd say she doesn't need me to manage her life.
A pause. She's right. She doesn't. He looked at Marcus calmly. But fathers do certain things anyway.
Marcus walked out into the Atlanta morning and stood awok for a moment two blocks from his truck and breathed. He pulled out his phone not to call anyone just to look at the time which was 11:47 and to exist in the moment for a few seconds before it became the next one. Then his phone rang. Unknown number Atlanta area code Marcus Carter. Mr.
Carter. The voice was male. Professional smooth. My name is Derek Holt. I'm the regional director of development for Coastal Development Group.
Every muscle in Marcus' body became very still. I have your number, he said. Good. I was hoping you'd be willing to have a conversation. We've been watching your work for some time.
A pause. We're expanding our Atlanta operations and we're looking for skilled acquisition targets. Companies with strong reputations that might benefit from an acquisition. Marcus said a partnership. Holt said the terminology is flexible.
I'm sure it is. Marcus said his voice was even. Mr. Holt, your company has spent the last 8 months under bidding me on contracts I needed. Cutting corners on jobs that my clients deserve to have done right and running the kind of operation that makes this entire industry look worse.
He paused. Now you want to call it a partnership, a brief silence. I understand that our competitive positioning has created. I'm not for sale, Marcus said. Carter Restoration isn't for sale.
Have a good day. He hung up. Then he put the phone in his pocket and walked to his truck and drove back to the job site. He told Deshawn when he got there because Deshawn deserved to know. Desawn listened, nodded once, and said, "Right answer.
I know." Marcus said they'll come back, Deshawn said. Probably. Same answer. Same answer, Marcus said. He went back to work.