Chapter 44: The Hidden Value Of Vivian

"You’re going somewhere?"

Damon looked up from his phone.

Vivian stood near the foot of the stairs, dressed in a simple white blouse and dark trousers. Her hair was tied back, and she looked ready to leave the house herself.

"The central district."

"For business?"

"I received a commercial mall through Facility Assistance. I haven’t inspected it yet."

Her eyebrows rose slightly.

"You own a mall?"

"Apparently."

"Then I’d like to come with you."

Damon looked at her for a moment. "Why?"

"Because I’m curious." She walked closer. "And if we’re going to get married, I should probably understand more about your life than what I can learn in a training courtyard."

That was reasonable enough.

"Get your things. We’re leaving in ten minutes."

"I don’t need ten minutes."

She turned toward the entrance before he could answer.

He watched her go, then slipped his phone into his pocket.

She really was competitive about everything.

The mall stood along one of the central district’s main roads, surrounded by office buildings, restaurants, and newer commercial developments.

It was a sizable property. Several floors of retail space, underground parking, restaurants, and a broad glass entrance facing the street. The building itself looked well maintained from the outside, though the signage was dated and a few storefronts visible through the glass were empty.

Damon parked the Lamborghini near the entrance.

A man in a gray suit was waiting for them.

"Mr. Thorne? I’m Robert Hayes, the property manager. We were informed you’d be visiting today."

Damon shook his hand.

"Show me the place."

"Of course, sir."

Robert led them inside.

The first floor was reasonably busy. People moved between clothing stores, a cosmetics shop, and several familiar retail chains. A café near the entrance had a steady stream of customers.

But as they moved farther into the building, the crowds thinned.

Some stores were closed. Others had notices advertising clearance sales. An entire stretch of the second floor looked strangely quiet despite having several recognizable brands.

Damon took it in without comment.

"How long have you managed this property?" he asked.

"Four years, sir."

"And the current occupancy rate?"

"Eighty-one percent."

"Why?"

Robert hesitated. "The market has become more competitive. Two newer shopping centers opened nearby, and some tenants have chosen to relocate. We’re working to attract replacements."

"How long have those units been empty?"

"Some for three months. Others closer to six."

Damon stopped beside an empty storefront.

"Six months, and you haven’t filled it?"

"We’ve received inquiries, sir, but some prospective tenants weren’t suitable for the property."

"Or the terms weren’t suitable for them?"

Robert’s expression tightened slightly.

"We try to maintain the mall’s standards."

"Then show me the financial reports."

Robert immediately nodded.

They entered the management office, where he brought up the latest figures. Damon skimmed the reports, paying attention to rental income, maintenance expenses, occupancy, and the cost of attracting new tenants.

The mall was generating revenue, but it wasn’t operating as efficiently as it could.

Damon had expected that much. A reward from the system didn’t mean the previous management had run the property perfectly.

Vivian stood beside the desk, studying the floor plan Robert had opened on another screen.

"Can you enlarge that section?"

Robert did so.

She studied it for several seconds.

"Are these the stores currently operating on the second floor?"

"Yes, Miss."

"And the empty units are all marked in gray?"

"Correct."

Vivian pointed toward the western side.

"Why are most of the clothing stores concentrated here?"

Robert glanced at the plan.

"That section has traditionally been our fashion area."

"But the cosmetics stores and the popular café are on the other side. Someone shopping for clothes might want to visit those stores too, yet the current layout makes them walk back across the floor."

"Customers are free to walk wherever they like."

"Of course." Vivian looked at him. "But that doesn’t mean they’ll bother."

Damon turned his attention from the financial report.

Vivian pointed toward the escalators.

"Most customers coming from the main entrance naturally move toward the stores they can see first. Once they reach the fashion section, the layout gives them little reason to continue farther down the corridor. The empty units make that area look even less inviting."

She tapped another part of the plan.

"And these three stores sell nearly identical products. Why are they grouped together?"

"That was the arrangement preferred by the previous management."

"Did their sales improve after they were grouped?"

Robert paused.

"I’d have to check."

"Then we should check."

Damon leaned back in his chair, watching her.

She wasn’t speaking like someone trying to impress him. She was genuinely interested in the problem.

"Suppose you’re right," he said. "What would you change?"

Vivian looked at the floor plan again before answering.

"I wouldn’t start by filling every empty unit. Not immediately."

Robert looked uncomfortable.

Damon simply gestured for her to continue.

"First, I’d want to know which stores actually bring people into the mall. Not just which ones pay the highest rent. Then I’d look at how customers move between them."

She indicated the empty section.

"Some of these spaces could be better used for businesses that complement the existing tenants. A dessert shop near the restaurants. A beauty service near the cosmetics stores. Maybe an entertainment business in the quieter section, if the space and customer base support it."

"You’re suggesting we change the tenant mix," Damon said.

"Yes. But not blindly. We’d need the sales figures, customer traffic, and lease details first. Otherwise, we’re just guessing."

He looked at Robert.

"Can we get those figures?"

"Yes, sir. We have foot-traffic estimates and tenant sales reports where they’re available. Some tenants provide more detailed information than others."

"Good. Prepare everything you have. Include lease expiration dates, rental arrears, maintenance costs, and the history of those vacant units."

"Understood."

"And don’t offer discounts just to make the occupancy number look better. I want tenants who can actually operate here."

Robert straightened.

"Of course, Mr. Thorne."

Damon dismissed him to begin gathering the information.

Once the man had left, Vivian continued studying the floor plan.

"You don’t look surprised," she said.

"Should I be?"

"I just criticized a property you’ve barely seen."

"You gave me reasons. That’s better than pretending everything is fine."

She looked at him, then smiled faintly.

"I thought you’d tell me to stay out of your business."

"If you had nothing useful to say, I might have."

"How generous."

"Don’t get used to it."

She laughed under her breath and returned her attention to the plan.

Damon watched her for another moment.

He’d brought her along because she was curious about his affairs. He hadn’t expected her to notice the weaknesses in the mall’s layout before they’d even finished the inspection.

ore importantly, she understood the limits of what she knew. She had ideas, but she wanted evidence before turning them into decisions.

That was a useful quality.

They continued through the building.

Vivian paid attention to details Damon had initially ignored: the placement of signs, the visibility of stores from the escalators, and the difference between the busy ground floor and the nearly deserted upper corridor.

She asked questions about leases, customer traffic, and whether the mall had any restrictions on changing the tenant mix.

Damon didn’t have every answer. Neither did Robert when he rejoined them with a preliminary set of records.

But by the time they finished the inspection, Damon had a clearer picture of the property.

The mall wasn’t a failure. It had a good location, established tenants, and room to improve.

It also had a management problem that couldn’t be solved simply by throwing money at empty storefronts.

"We’ll review the numbers before making any decisions," Damon said as they reached the entrance. "I don’t want a renovation plan based on someone’s guess."

Vivian nodded.

"That makes sense. If the problem is how people use the space, spending money on the building itself won’t necessarily fix it."

"Exactly."

She glanced at him.

"You agree with me more than I expected."

"You haven’t said anything stupid yet."

She gave him an incredulous look.

"That might be the closest thing to a compliment I’ve ever received from you."

"Enjoy it."

Vivian shook her head, but she was smiling as they walked toward the car.

The drive back was quieter.

Damon had Robert’s preliminary report saved on his phone. He would have Eleanor review the financial and operational details later.

She had considerably more experience managing businesses, and there was no reason to ignore a resource he already possessed.

Vivian looked out the window for a while before speaking.

"You really do have a lot going on."

"That’s what happens when you own things."

"Most people would be satisfied with the money."

"I’m not most people."

She turned toward him.

"No. I suppose you’re not."

There was no teasing in her voice this time. She seemed to be reconsidering something.

"What?" Damon asked.

"Nothing."

"You’re a terrible liar."

"I’m thinking."

"Try doing it quietly."

She elbowed him lightly.

He glanced at her, then returned his attention to the road.

Her behavior around him had changed over the past week. She lingered after training, joined him for breakfast, and found reasons to ask about his work. He’d noticed the growing attachment, though she hadn’t said anything about it.

Now he had another piece of information to add to the picture.

Vivian wasn’t just a trained fighter with a stubborn streak.

She observed. She questioned. She could identify a problem, consider possible explanations, and admit when she needed more information.

Her martial potential had first caught his interest. Her mind was making that interest considerably more valuable.

He had been searching for a second Bonded Partner who could grow stronger and bring him meaningful returns.

Perhaps he’d been looking at only one part of the equation.

Damon glanced at Vivian again.

Strength. Intelligence. Judgment.

With the right opportunities, she might develop in ways neither of them had considered yet.

She could become an all-round treasure.

And Damon had no intention of wasting that potential.

Vivian, unaware of his thoughts, turned back toward the passing city.

"Next time," she said,

"I’d like to see how you handle one of your acquisitions before it reaches the point of needing repairs."

"We’ll see."

"I’ll take that as a yes."

"Take it however you like."

She smiled to herself.

Damon kept driving, already considering the mall’s next steps—and the unexpected discovery he’d made during what was supposed to be a simple inspection.