Ivan smiled and said, “Exactly. We don’t want any of that to happen. So, if anybody here has a bad memory, you need to check the website biography page once a day to remember what I look like. And Jeff and Paul have done a great job of making me look good there.”

“I have a minor in airbrushing,” Paul joked with his hand up.

“Well, you need to hook up my picture, too, then,” Ava told him. “Make me look like Mary J. Blige’s lost cousin.”

Ivan grinned. He said, “Last but not least is the issue of security. If you notice, the front door is a heavy, self-closing and-locking door. And with all the valuable property on the premises, we don’t want any of it deciding to get up and leave without us knowing. You catch my drift?”

“We got you,” Ava responded. “So, unless all this stuff can just walk out on its own…”

Ivan nodded. “That also goes for damages. If anything no longer works or is broken, we need to know about it as soon as possible. And it doesn’t matter who did it, as long as we know what needs to be fixed.”

“Now, that should let a lot of us off the hook right there,” Jeff joked again. “Fido did it!”

They all laughed.

Ivan said, “Well, as we can all see, we are definitely fun, hardworking, and smart people in here, so let’s all keep our attitudes positive and optimistic about making IDPromotions.com one of the most talked-about and utilized websites in the San Diego area.”

“Yeah!” the staff shouted, and clapped. “I.D. Promotions!”

Ivan hadn’t expected all of that from them, but he was glad to hear it. Enthusiasm was a pleasant surprise.

Eddie K. pulled him aside when the evening staff address was over.

“That was very well done, Ivan,” he commented. “Very well done.”

Ivan told him, “Thank you,” but he didn’t get too excited about it. All he could think about was how much he had to pay for everything. Good business was not cheap.

IVAN HAD A LATE real estate meeting that same week at Thomas Jones’s office.

Thomas said, “You did a damn good job putting together these first few houses, Ivan. I’m telling you, man, you should have gotten involved with me on this real estate game a long time ago.”

“Not with no money,” Ivan told him.

Thomas paused. He said, “Well…that’s true,” and laughed.

Ivan said, “Yeah, I’m a hundred and fifteen thousand dollars in the hole right now, and renting ain’t gon’ get my money back.”

Ivan had spent sixty-five thousand to buy the three foreclosure properties, and another fifty thousand to paint and remodel them.

Thomas looked across his desk at how urgently his young business recruit had declared his position, and he began to chuckle.