Books from G.A. Hauser > The Man With No Soul

Book: The Man With No Soul EXCERPT FROM BOOK Chapter 1 “I am so sick of this!” Erik Bassinger sat at his desk in his office in New York City. “… we scheduled the HVAC people to come this week, so the fucking electricity has to be hooked up!” “I hear ya, Erik, but the construction companies and utilities are so backed up, we’re lucky to have an appointment.” “I wanted that property to be for sale last December. Here it is, February and it’s still unfinished!” “I know! I’m the one out there at the site trying to get it done for you! Don’t yell at me!” “Alright, Stu. Let me know when they plan to be there.” Erik hung up and tried not to scream. He opened a program on his computer with the timeline for the rehab of the home. He knew this was a mistake. Sure, the housing market was still high, but in winter? No! He should have waited until spring. Why do I listen to complete idiots? Erik had over a three-hundred-thousand dollars invested in that rundown shack, and he needed these pathetic workmen to do their fucking jobs on time! As he reread the schedule of repairmen; plumbers, electricians, and carpenters, Erik’s blood pressure spiked. He was twenty-seven and felt as if he was about to have a heart attack. Incompetence drove him crazy! He had goals! He wanted to be a millionaire several times over by thirty! This project had him already out on a limb. As he battled to get his mind back on the day job, which was working for someone else and not for himself, Erik struggled to focus. The sale of this first rehab home was going to get him out of debt and begin a new career for him. With the influx of New Yorkers escaping the city, rundown homes were being scooped up to fix and resell quickly. He was lucky he got this one. That is, it he didn’t have a stroke from the stress! Growling in rage, Erik looked up a phone number and rocked on his swivel chair as he tried to get in touch with the electrician. Not only did the dude not answer his call, the recorded message said his voicemail was full… and hung up on him! Erik nearly threw his phone at the wall of his puny office. He checked the time, knowing he had to keep working at his computer. But what he really wanted to do was drive to the job site and make sure things were progressing, because without constant pressure, no one did their work!