#buy bargain real estate

[lengpinay]

[talkteav]

Bargain Block New Orleans

Bargain Block New Orleans premieres Oct 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV!

Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas, known for revamping Detroit's neglected homes, are stepping into the New Orleans real estate scene.

The duo will tackle rundown properties in iconic neighborhoods, blending their signature style with the Big Easy’s architectural charm. From bee-infested homes to uneven foundations, they’ll face new challenges while adding classic New Orleans design elements like wrought iron railings and arched doorways.

Can Keith and Evan restore these homes while staying within budget and making them affordable? Don’t miss out on the action as they strive to revitalize New Orleans one house at a time! 🏡

Catch each episode on Wednesdays on HGTV, streaming the same day on Max and Discovery+.

Follow TalkTeaV for more updates!

[mv1simp]

requested : dark mafia max!!

Devilish ♥️

Mafia!Max Verstappen x Reader

Girl who you tryna call, it’s a quarter past four, can’t nobody hear you scream right now

The Leeuw of Holland - or Mad Max, as he was referred to in his teen years - is well known for establishing his father's control over most of Eastern Europe. No one would dare to stand up to him for fear of losing their head - until you, the sweet daughter and lawyer of Monaco's mayor - who's determined to protect her small city from the Verstappen familia by putting the Leeuw behind bars.

Leeuw = Lion in Dutch

Content includes: 18+ MDNI, smut, mafia boss! Max falls for mayor’s daughter! Reader, reader is also a boss ass bitch, kidnapping, violence, explicit mention of murder/dead bodies/mutilation, nothing towards reader cuz maxie is a simp 🥰 9.5k WC omg my longest yet

You feel a shiver run up the back of your spine from where you stand in the high court. Knowing exactly who’s dark gaze is raking down your body, taking in your small figure that's stylishly dressed in a tight Chanel dress and matching heels, you deliberately keep your gaze fixed forward. The judge looks like he's about to have a heart attack, sweat dripping down his forehead as he glances back and forth between you - the fiercely passionate lawyer who'd presented the numerous charges on behalf of her father, the Mayor of Monaco - and to the tall, Dutch man who sat watching you with a cocky smirk. The blonde’s large thighs spread wide and the Leeuw of Holland, as he was famously named, looked far too calm for a man who'd just had 76 counts of murder brought forward against him.

You'd had no idea who the Dutch Lion was when you two had first met. You'd just returned with your law degree from college in America, only to find things in a state of disarray in the idyllic city of Monaco. Your father had always struggled to maintain his citizen's safety as the Mayor as the neighbouring Leclerc and Sainz familias battled for territory - but in your absence the now established, much bloodthirstier Verstappen familia had seized control of the profitable area. Monaco's location served as prime real estate to ship all the drugs and black money a criminal could wish for to the rest of Eastern Europe, and Jos Verstappen had personally sent his own son and underboss - Mad Max - to secure your father’s territory.

You'd head rumours, of course, even all the way abroad in the States, of this Verstappen heir. He was known for his rage and callous violence that earned his nickname, the perfect hitman for his cold, calculating father. You’d thanked your lucky stars you had never come face to face with him, because you were sure he would kill you - or worse, you think with a shudder - if he came across the Mayor of Monaco’s daughter. But after coming back home for the last two months and finding things in such upheaval, you became more determined to do right by your family’s citizens. Your mother - who had passed away when you were young, at the hands of a Sainz thug - had been very passionate about helping those who couldn’t protect themselves, so you always lived your life in a way you knew she would be proud of.

So that’s why you spent endless days poring over the city’s legislature and laws, overturning laws that had made civilian’s finances and livelihoods hard and submitting proposal after proposal of new laws that were severely harsh on crime. The locals quickly noticed the change from the Mayor’s office, and you became idolised as Monaco’s princessa.

Your father, bless him, although his heart was always in the right place, he had gotten too old to go head to head with the gangs, choosing to bargain with the gangs instead and buy his citizen’s safety that way. You argued that it was only a matter of time before Jos Verstappen showed up at your family’s doorstep to demand more and more from the city of Monaco - until he owned it himself. You were determined to catch him, or even better - catch his son, the one who’d inherit the Verstappen empire, and put a stop to this rapidly expanding mafia before it grew out of control. Your dedication to do right by your people inspired your father to once again champion for the safety of his city.

And for a while, everything seemed to be flowing smoothly. You’d set up many a new school, local trade centres and businesses, and even medical clinics by using money redirected from paying off the gangs to keep your citizens safe. Life was thriving for the first time in a decade in Monaco. You’d even found your own small peaceful spot of solace in the chaotic city, behind one of your new clinics where a collection of streetcats would assemble. You fed them dutifully, coming daily in your lunch breaks and laughing delightedly when you saw one of them had kittens. But one day when you’d been late due to a court hearing, you’d been surprised to see that the cats had already been happily munching on some freshly ground tuna meat. It was good quality too, very expensive to come by these days, your keen eye noted from being born into the luxury of a Mayor’s daughter. You smiled sweetly and fondly patted the purring cats’ ears. Someone else found you too adorable to resist too, hmm?

From then on, whenever you’d come feed the cats, you’d always look around curiously, wanting to see if you could find that person - but you never did. And then, one day, you stumbled across an impossibly cute scene of a tall blond man, clearly broad shouldered and muscular even though he was casually dressed in a hoodie and jeans. He was warmly laughing as he held one of the cats in his arms while another yowled at his legs, wanting to also be picked up. Oh! You clapped your red manicured hands excitedly as you ran over, all sense of stranger danger forgotten as canoodling with streetcats wasn’t really a common mafia thug activity. The man’s head had slightly tilted towards you as soon as you had appeared on the other end of the street, but he turned to greet you fully as the sound of your dainty Chanel heels clicks against the pavement. You’d energetically started talking about how nice it was to finally meet whoever had been spoiling the cats, wasn’t it so cute how there were even kittens now? But when you finally drew your eyes away from the purring feline in his thick arms, you couldn’t help but blush at the curious blue-eyed gaze on his handsome face.

You introduced yourself, apologising for being rude, and after setting down the cat, he took your small hand in his own much large, warm palm. You flushed again as he raised it to his lips, leaving a gently kiss in a very traditional Monaco fashion, introducing himself as Emilian. You formed a quick friendship with him, eager to talk to someone your age after spending so much time with stuffy politicians all day. You find yourself excited to run into the gorgeous blonde on your lunch breaks, to laugh about some of the playfights you’d witnessed between the cats, or other times talk passionately about the current state of government affairs. Emilian, like many of the jaded younger generation, held a strong disdain for your father’s office and its weak position towards protecting citizens. In a somber moment you’d both realised you’d lost your mothers to the hands of the Sainz familia. But you passionately argued for your cause, remaining fiercely loyal to the goverment office of Monaco, spending your lunch hour easily talking about the many legal and restructuring plans you’d been working with the council to establish that had already improved so many household’s livelihoods. Emilian couldn’t help but quirk his attractive lips as he leaned a head on his palm, content to watch you animatedly talk for hours. The two of you sat across the waterfront, enjoying a late afternoon danish pasty in the lazy Monaco sun. When you’d turned the conversation to him, curiously asking what exactly he did, he dismissed it as per usual, vaguely mentioning something about working in the security business.

You eyed him suspiciously, imagining that like many young men in the area he’d turned to dabbling in underground business to support his family. It always started as selling the occasional party drug for profit or working as hired muscle for a night, sure, but you’d seen innocents with good hearts get sucked into the murderous world of gang violence too often. You definitely weren't just going to sit by and let someone as gentle and sweet as Emilian fall prey to it - the man had 3 separate albums on his phone dedicated to the stray cats, for God's sake! You told him this earnestly, even gently brushing your hand across his as you offered him a job as a bodyguard instead. Your father had been making more public appearances lately as the public perception grew positive of the Mayor’s office.

Emilian had hummed, contemplating, his gorgeous blue eyes glancing at where your small palm had grasped onto his much larger one. Then he’d reached across the cafe table to tuck a stray curl behind your ear, making a pretty blush spread across your caramel sun-kissed skin. So cute, he’d said, his lips quirking into a gentle smile. You promptly forgot all about what you’d been trying to convince him on as your eyes drifted down to his lips instead, the rising fluttering of romantic feelings swirling in your stomach. He’d gotten a phone call then and sighed, telling you he’d see you later, leaving after another kiss to your fingers. You’d pouted, feeling like you were crushing a lot harder on the handsome blonde than he was on you.

Next time when you met him, though, the only feeling you had was panic and fear as you saw him slumped against your stray cat’s alleyway, blood quickly oozing from a stab wound to his abdomen. You’d forced yourself to hold back a scream and avoid attracting attention in the quickly darkening evening, grabbing a hold of Emilian’s soft jumper and tugging him with you to your clinic. He’d held firm, far stronger than you even with a goddamn knife wound that was bleeding so much, oh my god-

He told you to leave, because whoever had done this was likely still in the vicinity, would see you two walking into the clinic and then would target you too. You hissed at him that he was crazy if he thought you would ever abandon him like that and if that’s what he was worried about you’d take the back alley route to your downtown apartment then! He’d finally given in, now looking paler from the blood loss and making you internally freak out. As you guided him into your cute 2nd floor apartment, all warm lighting and trailing pot plants, he smirked and murmured that if this was all it took to get you to invite him back to your place, he’d have gotten stabbed a lot sooner.

Shut up, you’d blushed, setting him down on your bathroom floor and grabbing your extensive first aid kit. Secretly though, you were glad that he still felt well enough to make jokes like that. You miss how his ice blue eyes intently watch you compress his wound, relieved that it hadn’t gone too deep into his body to injure his organs, and biting your lip with concentration as you slowly stitched the wound. Later, when you’d been nursing a glass of whiskey to settle your nerves, your many lamps casting a glow across your face, you’d answered his questions about how you learnt to fix an injury. You told him about how powerless you’d felt when you’d seen your mother be stabbed to death in front of you, how your child sized hands couldn’t stop the bleeding and you had never wanted to feel so useless ever again.

You hadn’t realized your mind had wandered back to that memory, triggered by Emilian’s own blood that you’d scrubbed thrice over from your own hands tonight. When you felt his warm hand run across your clenched ones, soothing the tension, your for eyes focused back to look at his contemplative gaze. You’d never thought you’d see the handsome man sitting in your apartment like this, now shirtless as you’d thrown his bloodied one away. You averted your gaze, suddenly feeling shy despite the desire coursing through you, secretly glad he had declined your offer of your pink pastel knit to cover up with so you could enjoy the view of his broad, muscled shoulders.

Tilting your head back up to look at him, Emilian murmured that he was indebted to you, that you would always be under his protection. His words send a flutter through your heart, although frankly you're not sure how he was meant to protect you when you were the one with access to security resources as the Mayor's daughter. But still, his words have an undertone of assured confidence to them and you find your eyes drifted down to his lips again. You're ecstatic when he breaks the tension and finally leans in, giving you what you'd been wanting for a few weeks now as he captures your lips in a passionate kiss. He definitely knows what he’s doing, and soon you're sweetly moaning into his mouth and grinding onto his skilled, thick fingers that have slipped into your jeans and pulled your panties to the side. He brings you to bliss within minutes, and you can't resist pressing yourself closer to him as you come down from your high. You want to make him feel good, too, but your hands accidentally brush against his stab wound and you don't miss his low, painful hiss. Pulling back immediately, you apologise profusely, worriedly looking over his bandages again to make sure there was no bleeding. He chuckles, telling you he was fine, you were very welcome to continue?

Flushing, you told him that you'd had a slip in judgement and were not going to put his already hurt body through any more accidental pain tonight. He pouted rather cutely as you stood up, grabbing some spare blankets and pillows for him to stay on the couch. Not having your hands on him was far more painful than the stab wound, he says teasingly, making you blush. You felt a little embarrassed at how quickly things had progressed tonight, unable to keep your head on straight around the handsome tall Blonde in front of you. You give him a firm goodnight, but just before you enter your bedroom, you turn to shyly tell him that you’d like to return the favour and make him feel good when he had healed. Grinning at your cute, blushing face, Emilian’s ocean look eyes look at you fondly as he lowly murmurs that he’ll look forward to it, shcatje.

That night you dream about handsome men in mysterious alleyways, who pin you to the wall and pepper your neck with soft kisses that turn hungrier and hungrier. You’re gasping and asking for more, please, please as his strong hands roughly palm your ass, your tits-

You wake with a start in your now empty apartment, Emilian’s name on your lips. Late morning light floods through your windows as you curiously notice the empty sofa, where a blanket is neatly folded up. Your face brightens when you see a note, that reads sorry I left without a goodbye kiss, schatje, the cats were getting possessive.

Rolling your eyes at his usual mysterious antics, you toss his note into the bin. But you’re humming as you went about your morning routine, buzzing with excitement at the thought of seeing the attractive blonde later on. But oddly, Emilian hasn’t been in your usual spot that afternoon, and you look around with concern as the cats meow at your feet, wanting to be fed. When he isn’t there the next day either, or the day after, you’ve started to get very worried now, wondering if something had gone wrong with his wound or worse - the man who had stabbed him had decided to retaliate with more gang members this time. You’d been thinking about it so much that you decide to the police station that day and asking the chief to look for the Dutchman who's found his way into your heart.

It turns out that Emilian’s safety was not something you needed to be concerned with. Because the one who has been in danger was not the mysterious blonde, but instead you, who had unknowingly caught the attention of many mafioso in the area by protecting him. You realised this when you came home from your visit to the police station, only to find your front door unlocked. You'd barely taken a step inside when you’re pushed against the wall by a heavily pierced man you’d never see before. The mocking silver pendant that he wore around his neck, of a horse rearing, signified his alliance with the LeClerc familia. You’d been unable to control the tears running down your face when he'd painfully begun choking you, demanding to know where the hell Max was. When you’d tried to tell them you had no clue what he was referring to, he just tightened his harsh grip on you to slam you against the wall again. You cry out in pain, bruises already forming along your delicate hands from the intruder's grip, as you keep trying to plead and explain you didn't know who they were talking about. A part of you knew there must be some link between this Max they were looking for, and your Emilian - but you sure as hell were not going to tell these criminals a single thing.

You swallow your fear and try to bargain with them, offering money, access to shipping resources, security - all things you could provide in your role as the mayor's daughter, you insisted. But they laughed it off, confusing you when they said currently, you were the most sought after bargaining chip for the gangs in Southern Europe. And everything had faded to black then, after one of them pressed an acidic smelling cloth over your nose.

When you woke up, hours later and with a pounding head, you're in an unfamiliar room. You groggily sit up, and find yourself instantly alarmed by the thick ropes tied tightly around your wrists. At least they hadn't tied your legs, too, you think with relief, sitting up in the dark room - only to come eye to eye with the barrel of a gun. Ah, that explained it - apparently they thought you were such a precious commodity they'd assigned someone to literally guard you with a gun. You're still confused, unsure why suddenly these street criminals seem interested in kidnapping the Mayor's daughter. Everyone knew who really held the power in Monaco - the Verstappen familia.

You get your answer then, when the sound of gunshots start filling the air from outside your room. You look up in alarm, and your guard eyes the door warily. He growls at you to not to move an inch as he leaves to go investigate, closing the door behind him. You flinch as more and more gunshots fill the air, accompanied by screams and yells. And then, when it becomes eerily silent for minutes on end, you wonder if this is your chance to escape amidst whatever chaos was going on. You're nervously peering around the hallways, finding yourself in a creepy, abandoned looking mansion - somewhere probably on the outskirts of the Monaco township, if you had to guess. Moonlight is the only thing lighting the way as you try to quietly navigate your way out of the winding hallways. It's strange, there had been so any gunshots but you had yet to see a single person anywhere-

And that's where you saw it, around the next corner. Scattered haphazardly throughout the hallway, illuminated by moonlight shining through the large window, lay body after body, all freshly dead with expressions of terror still on their faces. And then, soft murmurs from the opposite end of the hallways, as three men rounded it - and you finally find your missing Dutchman. Emilian? You whisper breathlessly, half reassured to find him alive and half confused at what he was doing inside a property that clearly belonged to the LeClercs. He stops abruptly, halting the two men behind him as he stares at you with a look of pure relief. He was dressed so differently to his usual casual attire, too, with his blond locks slicked back, wearing a fitted white shirt and dress pants, and an expensive looking black overcoat that highlighted his tall, broad frame. You'd looked puzzled at the large watch on his wrist - a renowned luxury brand you recognised from the many elite charity galas you'd attended. Well out of the yearly income someone like Emilian would make in...what had he said? Security?

You're so perplexed at the sudden appearance of the half a million Euro worth watch that you don't even notice the sleek gun in his hand, until he's raising it up and pointing it straight at you. Don't move, schatje, he murmurs, his deep voice carrying across the hallway. And those ocean blue eyes of his that you'd fallen in love with were now ice cold, without a trace of any human emotion behind them. Your own doe eyes widen in fear, tears gathering, because you have no idea who the man standing in front of you is, just who you’d fallen in love with - and now he's going to kill you. You don't even get time to flinch when he's pulling the trigger. But to your surprise the bullet never hits you. Instead, you hear a thump behind you - and turn to see a body fall to the ground, his own gun that had been raised towards you clattering across the floor.

You'd stood frozen in fear, silently shaking and willing yourself not to pass out from the sheer amount of blood that pooled onto the floor, staining your pretty white Chanel heels. And then a tall figure is at your side, guiding you away from the horrifying sight with a large palm in the small of your back. His warm hands making quick work of the ropes that still bind your hands. His familiar voice is murmuring to you gently that you he was here, you’re safe now, schat and no one was going to hurt you again. You’re finally pulled out of your frozen shock when you feel his touch. You look down at large palms softly rubbing the red marks on your skin from where the rope had dug into your skin.

You're outside now, standing in the moonlit gravel in front of the eerie mansion, with an equally haunted looking garden around you. The chill of the night time air helps you start clarifying your racing thoughts. I don’t think Emilian is your real name, you begin. And for a casual security hire to wear a Patek Philippe watch...who are you, really? You finally ask, your voice surprisingly firm despite fear coursing through your veins. He sighs, draping his thick black overcoat over your shaking figure, the clothing completely dwarfing you.

You’re a very smart woman, liefje, he murmurs lowly, his intense gaze studying your face. He tells you that he's sure you've probably already figured it out by now. Releasing a deep breath, you recount his Dutch origins, clear as day in his deep accented voice and blonde locks, and the fact that he obviously had an established presence in one of the mafioso gangs. Most likely the Verstappen familia, then. He was high up enough to have command of his own group of men, the ones you now spotted through various windows, no doubt cleaning up the piles of dead bodies in the house. He watches you with a small grin on his face, enjoying how even if this frightening situation you were able to gather evidence and form a logical conclusion. And when you told him your theory - that he was not Emilian but Nicolas Hulkenberg, left hand man to Jos Verstappen, he chuckled, telling you almost fondly that you were so close. He was in the Verstappen family, and he was high up in the chain of command - but Nico's my cousin. He'd probably have a hissy fit at being confused with me, the handsome blonde in front of you mused. The new information sends a jolt through you, because even though your knowledge of the gangs is not extensive, if this man was Nicolas Hulkenberg's cousin, then...

Max Verstappen. Your breathless voice gives away the fear rising within you as your doe eyes widen in shock. You instinctively take a step back as the infamous underboss of the Verstappen familia takes a step closer to you, tilting his head like a lion eyeing up his prey, looking very much like the Dutch Leeuw he’s famously named for. Max Emilian Verstappen, he corrects, saying that most people didn't know the middle name - making it a useful nickname in public.

It's certainly more discreet than Mad Max, you reply hotly, rage and betrayal now replacing your earlier fear as you realise just how deceived you'd been. The man standing in front of you was no innocent citizen, or anyone to be protected. No - he was set to inherit the richest and most powerful gang family in the continent. Max's ice blue eyes narrow at your hurt expression, at the tears that are now running down your cheeks as you tell him what as absolute psychopath he was, to use and manipulate you into helping him, just because - you gasp, sobbing uncontrollably now - just because I'm the mayor's daughter? And you wanted to know about my redevelopment plans!? Max's heart aches at seeing you so upset, and he softly tells you it wasn't meant to be like this, you weren't meant to find out so unexpectedly. All of the heated looks and sweet words he’d spoken to you were real, because he’d fallen in love with you, too. But those Leclerc bastards had gotten their hands on you, wanting a bargaining chip and thinking you were something disposable to be used and tied up - A dark expression has taken over Max’s face now, storm clouds in his steely eyes. He'd let your captors off far too easily, he says menacingly. A shiver runs through you as you remember that the man standing in front of you had earned his title not just through family blood, but with his status of a deadly hitman with the highest kill rate this side of the globe.

Well, never mind, he drawls nonchalantly, his observant gaze not missing the fear in your sweet doe eyes that you tried desperately to supress. He was sure the Leclercs had gotten the message that you were not someone they could touch so casually. You were under Max’s personal protection, after all - he was indebted to you. Like he predicted, your Monegasque pride didn't take the offer from your political enemy kindly. You tell him to fuck off, Verstappen, you didn’t need his protections and he could just stay the hell away. He laughs at the fire in your brown eyes that’s returned in full force, glad you no longer had the lost, glassy stare he’d found you with earlier. Refusing to let him drive you home, you demand he hand over the keys to that S Class Mercedes parked in the driveway that you assumed was his, given the outrageous price tags and the bulletproof glass. He presents them to you with a smirk, watching you take off after shooting him a furious expression over your shoulder.

Of course, he wasn’t going to let you out of his sight ever again, not after you’d been hurt. You didn’t know about the guards he had assigned to you at all times, but you did receive a package a few days later. Unboxing the black and white designer wrapping, you tried to remember if you’d ordered something and forgotten about it. But when you see the identical Chanel heels you’d been wearing the night everything had happened, a new pair to replace your old, blood stained ones, you knew exactly who had sent them to you. You shove the box to the back of your closet and scowl as you continue about your research of collating the list of charges to bring against Max Verstappen.

So now, a month later, you see him for the first time since your kidnapping. It’s in the courtroom where you confidently list our your extensive evidence condemning the Leuw of Holland - who’s intense gaze you can feel raking over your well dressed form. You’re stunned when the judge, who’s sweated through his wig and gone through 3 jugs of water from all his nervous gulping, anxiously says that he finds the accused, Max Emilian Verstappen, not guilty. You knew that the Verstappens were powerful, had connections in every place and access to unlimited money - but to buy off the judge of the Monaco Supreme Court, really, Max? Have you no integrity? You hiss at him, much to the shock of onlookers as they see the Monaco Princess go toe to toe with the son of the Verstappen Familia. Good to see you too, schatje, the Dutch Lion croons at you, enjoying the frustrated blush on your face from his sweet nickname. Can’t say I’m a fan of going to jail for offing a few bastards, no. Besides, those Leclerc goons definitely deserved it for putting their hands on my woman. You gasp, stammering out your response as he catches you off guard. You were not his woman, and he had no right to call you that-

Sure, whatever you say, schat. He’d given you enough space - over a month, and he missed having you by his side every day. You’d gotten your revenge with this whole dramatic court case - one that he would never have allowed anyone to go so far with, slitting their carotids well before any court date was set. Now, it was time for Max to have his fun with you again, and this time he doesn’t have to hide behind the mystery facade. Wear that pretty little pink nightdress you wore for me that time I stayed over, hmm?

You flush prettily again, giving him a venomous glare before storming off. Cute, he thinks as your heels click on the marble floor. He admires the view of your lush ass in the tight pencil skirt you wore. He’s thinking about what colour lingerie he should have sent to you to match the heels you’d worn today, all dressed up for him - when the Mayor of Monaco approaches him. Your father looks very suspicious as he shuffled from side to side, asking Max if he would like to join him for a drink that evening.

Max watches him stoically, agreeing to a meeting only out of respect for him as your father. Otherwise, he wouldn’t care less about the puppet leader of Monaco. Everyone knew who the real power lay with, after all. So he isn't surprised when the pathetic excuse of the man who calls himself your father offers you up as a trade in exchange for the return of some of the power the Verstappens have stolen. Your father had heard the rumours of how infatuated the Verstappen heir had become with the Princess of Monaco - and was happy to just hand you over. A political marriage, of course, so that your father was guaranteed to have a familial link into the powerful new family. And if Max was no longer interested in you, then your father was sure there would be no shortage of buyers in the Leclerc and Sainz families who had become aware of the new princessa thrown into their game.

Max narrowed his ice blue eyes at the pitiful father figure in front of him, his attention finally caught with this new threat to your safety. And from your only living family member, no less - the one who you'd painstakingly resurrected from political ruin. God, the Mayor of Monaco was almost as bad as Jos. But then again, Jos had never pretended to be something he was not. Your father, on the other hand, was someone who you loved and cherished dearly. It would break your heart to see him hurt - even though he was now trying to sell you off to become a mafia bosses's wife without your knowledge.

Good thing your daughter got her fire from her mother, the Verstappen heir says coldly, his voice commanding enough that it makes the Mayor gulp nervously. Since her father clearly has no balls. Max doesn't respond well to threats - he much prefers making them, instead. And although he wanted to do nothing more than leave a bullet inside the Mayor's chest, he wouldn't touch your father out of respect for you.

So instead, when he gets word that evening of another secret hit out for you, he takes this as the oppurtunity to take you under his protection - permanently. He wouldn't allow your father to marry you off to one of the many ruthless mafiosos in the region. This time, the abduction attempt comes from the once powerful Hamilton-Rosberg family who were trying to restablish their hold after Max Verstappen himself had tobbled them from the inside. You'd impressed Max by fending off the first few attackers with the handgun you now kept at your bedside, injuring them but avoiding any critical areas as you ran out your fire escape. Good girl, Max thought with pride as his men relayed the situation to him over the phone. But you'd not expected the attackers waiting for you at the end of back alleyway. You were out of bullets, and closed your eyes in resignation as you prepared for what you were sure would be a nasty end...

When that infuriatingly attractive, confident Dutch voice appears at your side. Missed me, schatje? Max Verstappen makes quick work of the men who dared to attempt laying a hand on you. This time he rips one of their heart out, rather gruesomely, before shoving it inside the dead man's mouth. A very clear warning to all others who went after you again - since apparently the massacre at the Leclerc mansion had not been enough.

You're snifling and shaking when Max returns to your side, your back firmly to him to avoid seeing the horrific sight. And when he sighs softly again, draping his familiar, warm coat over our shoulders, you ask him if he was here to kill you, too. You'd realised that many of Max's enemy gangs had started to come after you, hoping to use your connection to the Verstappen heir against him. Of course, for a man as coldly efficient and powerful as Max - it made sense to eliminate any source of weakness to his status. But the enemy Dutch Lion you'd somehow fallen for suprises you once again. Brushing a stray curl behind your ear, and wiping away the tears now gathering in the corner of your wide eyes, Max gently murmurs No, schatje. He was going to marry you.

Shock courses through you, as you gasp at his unexpected confession. But then everything is going blurry, and the last thing you remember is his ocean blue eyes, looking into yours with their familiar warmth and intensity. The next time you wake up, you're in Max's private jet, somewhere over the Mediterranean Sea. You’re panicked, trying to angrily demand that he take you back, but whatever drugs he’d had given to you make your efforts futile. You’re slumping tiredly against his broad shoulders after a few minutes, his strong arms around you, falling into a deep sleep as he murmurs reassurances that he was doing this for your own protection.

And when you wake up again, he’s made sure that it’s goddamn near impossible for you to run away. Because he has you on a godforsaken large private island of the Sicilian Coast, a beautiful place surrounded by turquoise beaches and dotted with ancient temple ruins mixed in amongst trendy Italian boutiques. It’s the sort of place you would normally be enraptured by - but in the week you’ve been here you’ve been plotting escape attempt after attempt.

Of course, you’d argued with Max every night when he returned from whatever shady business he’d conducted during the day, taking his private plane. You put your law degree to good use with the heated debates over the dinner table as he watched you with an adoring grin, finding your ever present energy and passion captivating. It had made you flush and look away from his gorgeous eyes. You stabbed into the deliciously flavoured lobster pasta in front of you, hating how your stomach did backflips when Max looked at you in this way. Your heart and brain felt like they were at odds with one other constantly, torn between the gentle, cat loving Emilian you’d fallen in love with and this protective, commanding Max who you couldn’t deny your growing desire for. Confidence greatly suited the Dutch Leuw, who now came back to the mansion he kept you in dressed in a black suits and wristwatches that was no doubt worth the combined income of a middle class family. But at dinner, with just the two of you over the flickering candlelight each night, enjoying the Italian summer air, he’d be in those cozy soft tees and loose linen shirts you’d always liked because of how they showed off his broad arms. Meanwhile, you pointedly only wear the plainest and drab outfits you could find in the luxurious walk in closet you’d been given. You’d gotten shocked as you opened each drawer in the room, finding it filled to the brim with designer clothes and luxury bags and heels, all in your favourite brand and colours and with matching jewellery in gold - as if it had been curated specifically for your tastes. At least he had the decency to give you private living quarters, you supposed. One night over fresh seafood paella he teasingly asked if you didn’t like all the clothes he’d had ordered for you, schat, because he can have more delivered? You scathingly tell him to stop being such a stalker, did he even know how creepy it was to find all your favourite items in that closet when you’d never even told him about them?

Blue eyes darken at your bratty note, but you aren’t nervous of Max anymore - even through the Leuw of Holland had been notorious for terrorizing your hometown streets. You’d realised that for some reason or the other, you were more precious to him than you’d ever imagined. It made you hesitate and wonder if maybe there was some truth to the romantic feelings he’d confessed to having for you, the night of the Leclerc mansion bloodbath. Forgive me for wanting you to feel comfortable here, schatje Max responded coolly, drinking from his whiskey glass. You argue back that a girl couldn’t possibly feel comfortable if she was kidnapped and help captive by a man who had technically led to her family’s ruin. And if you expect me to get dressed up for you, so that you can have your way with me…you can forget it! You retort angrily, face flushing.

Now smirking into his palm, Max assures you that despite his reputation, he promises to be the perfect gentleman. He’d never lay a hand on you…not unless you begged him too, first. His cocky tone made it clear he thought you found him impossible to resist. The playful look in his gorgeous blue eyes makes you bite your plush lips as you remember the last time Max had placed his large palm on your very willing body in an intimate way. After all, you'd sounded so sweet when you kept moaning for more when you came on my fingers within minutes, remember schat? The blonde teases you, clearly also thinking back to the same night you were. Standing up abruptly, you hotly retort with a Last time, I'd also been asking for Emilian, not Max Verstappen, before dramatically flipping your thick curls and storming off. The Dutch Lion watches you go with an amused chuckle, once again enjoying the view of your curvy ass even despite the horrid pants you were wearing. Same man, schat! he calls out to your retreating back, to which you respond with a well mannered middle finger in the air.

Your game continues like this over the month. As the days pass, you start to become more relaxed with Max. You still get flashes of the cold eyed Mafioso heir when you catch him on the phone angrily discussing a business deal, or when you spot a fleck of red on his pristine white designer shirts when he returns from being out. But your heart gets confused when you also see the gentle and caring Emilian when he's with you, who chooses to make your favourite breakfast every morning despite the full staffing in his mansion, who feeds and walks the dogs he has running around his gardens and plays with the snarky housecats. And when you'd woken up in the middle of the night crying in terror from the memory of seeing all those bloodied dead men in the Leclerc mansion, Max had been the one to hear your cries and storm into your bedroom. He'd taken you into his broad, warm arms, and you'd buried your sobs in his neck as he murmured reassurances of how you were safe now, you had nothing to ever worry about with him at your side. When you'd woken up the next morning, finding Max's toned chest underneath your cheek from where you'd both fallen asleep in your bed, a bit of your drool on his shirt, your heart swirled with conflicting emotions. You hated how safe and protected you feel in his embrace, knowing that this domestic bliss lifestyle with one of the most handsome and richest men you've ever met was something he'd kidnapped you for.

Still though, as you get more comfortable, you negotiate for more freedom with Max. You're an excellent lawyer, and now that you were temporarily out of your political position, you were going crazy sitting inside the mansion or walking it's beautiful gardens everyday. Max hadn't allowed you to go anywhere else without him at your side, his intense gaze eyeing any potential threat that approached the pair of you. Not that anyone did - the aura the Dutch Lion radiates was so powerful you kept wondering just how you'd thought he was some soft-spoken young citizen needing your help and guidance. So when Max reluctantly agrees to let you go outside without him - it's with the rule of 5 trained bodyguards at all times, of course. You roll your eyes but let them trail behind you as you terrorise the multiple designer stores dotted on the large island with Max's black Amex. It was the least he could do considering he had basically abducted you, you think with a smirk, as you watch the total at just the jewellery store alone add up to over half a million Euro. The Verstappen security guards nervously sweat behind you.

However, their boss has no such qualms. Max lets you spend his money however you wanted, thinking you were finally starting to accept his offer of marriage and coming under his permanent protection. So you surprised him a few weeks later when you finally made an escape attempt. The island was actually much bigger than you'd initially thought, and you found there was a small population of a few thousand elite, rich Italians living on the other side. That's where you headed too that afternoon, having picked a day where Max was away on business. You escaped the watchful eye of your bodyguards and ran towards the first policeman you saw. Confessing that you'd been kidnapped, and you needed help urgently to get back to Monaco where your father was Mayor, you'd been relieved when they guided you into their policecar with concerned looks. You thought they were going to help get you on a plane back to your hometown - but to your shock they drive you back the Verstappen mansion. With a sinking feeling you realised that the influence your captor had went beyond anything you could have thought possible.

You had barely managed to get away for an hour - in fact, Max hadn't even landed back in the island yet. When he did arrive that evening, having been told by his men of what you'd attempted that day, he strides into his private living room to find you. He dismissed everyone standing guard, and for the first time since you'd come here you note that he actually looked annoyed with you. You shuffle your hips nervously, from where you're seated on the low chaise. To your embarrassment, the policemen had even put a pair of handcuffs on you that Max's guards hadn't bothered removing, and they clink noisily in your lap. The handsome blonde towers above your seated figure, tilting your face up with his firm hand as he glowers at you. He's angry, and he lets you know it, telling you how stupid it was of you to compromise your safety like this, did you even know how hard it had been for him to find out when he'd been 3 hours away by plane and couldn't protect you!? Logically, you know that you should feel terrified of having pissed off a cold hearted man like Max Verstappen. But you're tuning his words out, instead biting your bottom lip at seeing him get so passionate over you. You couldn't deny that despite everything, the man in front of you was so attractive with his muscular, tall build and gorgeous light features - just your type, and the object of many a dirty fantasy in the last few months. Even after you'd found out his true identity as a Verstappen - not that you'd ever admit it to him.

But of course, Max's keenly observant gaze doesn't miss a thing. He sees it all - the way you press your thighs together, the delicious thickness easy for him to enjoy with the ridiculously overpriced Prada miniskirt you're wearing. So tiny that at this angle, with his much taller height, he catches a glimpse of your white lace panties - which are soaked straight through to reveal your dripping pussy. He smirks, knowing there was a far more effective way to punish you now. He gets his confirmation when he leans down to huskily murmur in your ear how much of a bad girl you'd been, how he clearly needs to teach you a lesson, thoroughly, so you don't disobey him again. You blush prettily, tits heaving with the gasp you let out as your eyes become dazed thinking about finally letting Max have his way with you, giving up all control and letting him take over, would feel like - after months of agonising tension.

He has you right where he wants, and he doesn't let you forget his promise. Not until you're begging me to touch you, remember liefje? he whispers darkly, his lips barely brushing your forehead as he leaves you pouting in frustration to go take a shower. He'd figured you'd angrily brood over his teasing for a few days, but when he emerges from the bathroom, he finds you sitting on his bed. Max looks especially mouth watering in grey sweats and dripping wet, tousled blonde locks and his broad, muscular chest. Rubbing your plush thighs together again, you hold up your handcuffs, innocently telling him you were only here to get free, nothing else, of course! The raw strength he uses to break the cuffs open with just his large hands has you holding back a breathless whine. God, this man was so insanely attractive, and you weren't going to be able to resist him much longer.

That's why you play back at this teasing game, making sure he's watching you with narrowed blue eyes and crossed arms, biceps swollen, as you strut through the shared door to your own bedroom. You leave the door wide open as you rustle through one of the many overflowing drawers - picking out a sheer La Perla pink nightie with matching lace panties. And when you nonchalantly hum as you make your way back to his rooms, shutting the lights off and leaving the warm bedside lamps on, you slip into his inviting comforter. He watches your whole show with a clenched jaw and unamused expression, telling you that you were playing with fire, schat.

You bat your thick eyelashes at him innocently, tossing your dark curls over your shoulder as you deny any mischief. Just in case I get any nightmares, of course! He doesn't buy it for a second, but still reluctantly slides in next to you. You remain on your best behaviour, reading a novel you'd picked out and ignoring Max, who was trying his best to ignore the skimpy outfit he knew you had underneath the covers and focus on the budgeting spreadsheet open on his laptop. After all, mafia gangs still had to keep track of their finances.

And then, just when he lets his guard down for a second and is typing away, you begin your revenge. Your book is tossed to the side and your manicured hands are running over your sensitive body, squeezing your juicy tits and rubbing your aching cunt through the sheer lace. The Leuw of Holland is left powerless for the first time in his adult life as the covers fall away, exposing your tempting caramel skin, contrasting with the pretty pink lingerie he’d bought for you. Your brown doe eyes are half lidded with desire as you watch him swallow at the tempting display in front of him, his hungry eyes honing in on the way you played with yourself. When he asks you what the fuck you were doing, his voice low and deep, you tease him more by saying he'd never said anything about you not being able to touch yourself, right? Maybe you’d let him touch you, too, if he was the one begging-

He growls like a literal lion, then, making you giggle as he watches you with a desperate look in his eyes that’s making you even more turned on. He gives up when you slip the sheer fabric down over your tits, showcasing your pretty tanned nipples that pebbled in the night air. Liefje, he groans, pressing his lips to your thick curls and his large hand to a rapidly hardening erection, please let me touch you, let me take care of you…

His husky voice sends shivers down your already warm skin, and you can’t deny your need for him any longer either. Wrapping a delicate hand around his much bigger wrist, you slowly guide him over your body, making his intense gaze go dark with desire. You brush his thick fingers over your pink lips, where you teasingly flick your tongue out and make him groan, then down across your neck so he can admire how pretty you look with his hand as a choker, then over your bouncing tits as you breathe deeply. He can’t resist pinching a cute nipple, this time making you moan, but it’s still not where you need him most. And then you’re guiding him over your soft tummy, over your plush hips, and then-

Oh, fuck schatje. Max's intoxicating, accented voice moans into your ear, making you drip even more for him. You’re so wet for me, this sweet pussy needs me to take care of it so badly, hmmm? You whine breathlessly, nodding impatiently as his long fingers brush against your swollen cunny. You’re dripping through your skimpy panties, which are practically stuck to you now. The attractive blonde next to you has no inhibitions about manhandling you easily, ripping the scraps of lace off and tossing the ruined hundreds of Euros to the side. Bringing your slick cunt to his lips, he licks them attractively as he stares up at your blushing face with hungry eyes. You stammer nervously, never having been eaten out before, but he couldn’t care less. He dips his skilled tongue into your soaked pussy, inhaling in your addictive sweet scent as you gasp and moan. His strong hands lock your rocking hips in position as he fucks you with his broad tongue, lapping up the sweet juices your cunny gushes out for him. You’re in tears from how amazing it feels, especially when he buries his large nose or a thick finger knuckle deep, and soon you’re intertwining your pink nails in his blonde locks as he once again makes you scream in name in pure pleasure. This time though, he’s much more satisfied because you’re desperately moaning his real name. Oh, Max! Please!

Days later, when you and him have formed a legal agreement of sorts, where you accept his protection against the ongoing threat of rival gangs and he agrees to let you resume your legal career, you fly back to Monaco with him at your side. He slid a hefty diamond engagement ring onto your finger, and you’re still shocked by how pretty it looks, glimmering in the light. Still, it was only temporary, you had no plans to actually marry the man. A union between the Princess of Monaco and the all consuming Verstappen Mafia heir who’d been responsible for stripping her city of its livelihood was a cursed match!

So when you excitedly run straight to your father’s home when you land, the Verstappen bodyguards in tow as per their boss’s instructions. You fling the doors open, shouting for your papa. The mayor of Monaco looks up in shock, thrown back a bit when you jump into his arms and tell him you missed him dearly, had he been keeping safe? He’d delighted you are safe of course, and tells you so numerous times over dinner, and then later when you two are poring over the city redevelopment plans. You’d been away for over two months now, and a lot had to be caught up with in your absence.

But when he continues that really, when he’d made the offer to Max he’d half expected to never see you again - after all, the Dutch Leuw of Holland was known to be ruthless. When you freeze, papers falling from your hand as you look at him in shock, he realises that your fiancée had never actually disclosed to you the circumstances under which he’d decided to make you his wife.

This whole time I thought he’d kidnapped me, like a madman…but really he was protecting me from you, wasn’t he? Because you were ready to sell your daughter off to whatever man would be the highest bidder? None of the pathetic excuses that come out of your father's mouth are enough to fix the trust that had been broken. Your heart had broken that night, and you’d left your family home and vowed to never look back, tears running down your face. Max had taken one look at you and taken you into his comforting arms, shushing your cries and murmuring that you were not alone, he was your family now, his home was now yours as well. Or rather, multiple properties, it might be more appropriate to say.

This time, you willingly return to the darkness, and you accept his offer of marriage, of protection, and of partnership, and he takes yours delicate hand in his when you walk down the aisle in a beautiful cream gown that same month. Like your now husband had noted when he'd first met you, you were a smart woman, the perfect wife to the likes of the heir to the Verstappen mafia. You understood that if the reigning government council couldn't resist the criminal takeover, it would be better to join them instead. But not with the pathetic bribing the Mayor had done, comprising his citizen's safety and then his own daughter's.

No, your style was far more ambitious than his. You'd gotten your fire from your mother, after all. So when the Princessa of Monaco married the powerful Verstappen heir, your citizens hadn't known what to expect, rumours flying of the whole thing being a forced arrangement. But when you and Max have eliminated both your fathers out of the way and claimed the city of Monaco for yourselves, you're quick to resume it's political redevelopment and advances in healthcare and education whilst running the largest drug smuggling ring in Europe in the underground canals. You had to get the funding from somewhere, and driving neighbouring gang's businesses into the ground to support your own local one seems a good a cause as any. This time, under your partnership, it's done in a much safer way for your citizens, and you firmly believe the means justify the ends.

And time passes in the now flourishing city. The handsome Dutch Leeuw is often seen out for lunch by the beach, laughing with his beautiful new wife in his arms. The power couple of Monaco, your citizens say, admiring your union of the darkness and the light.

______________________________________________________________

A/N: WHEWWWW this was a long one my dearest readers I am so sorry for the wait life has been crazy!! was a bit overwhelmed with work but max winning the sprint was enough to revive me thank you for waiting! lmk what you think! dark max simps do not worry I have many garbage pieces coming your way hehe

[thatbitchery]

Personal finance is tied mostly to your systems as a person. You could make 6 figures a year and still be broke and in debt or you could make 20k a year and be on your way to financial freedom.I have finally achieved financial freedom, and no I do not make super much, depending on who you compare me to. Mostly it's my financial and personal habits that keep me going.

I do not consider fancy a marker of a good life, as a matter of fact I do not understand it. What do you mean a MEAL costs 1000 its never that serious please. I don't consider Givenchy to be any more elevated than what my tailor can make me for 100$. Fancy is not important to me so when I was building my one year emergency fund I did not consider fancy part of the budget. I do not try to purchase status.

And I can not stress this enough- taking risks with my money. Buying a vending machine is one of the best decisions I made this year. Buying a business, as risky as that was, turned out to be great. I have lost money, too. Like a lot. I bought stocks in a startup that crashed and lost a pretty little buck. I dipped into the VR business not too long ago and that tanked. It is not about making the right decisions- with money that is almost never possible. Its about taking risks.

My end goal is not a career its the money. Meaning? I have worked jobs odd and unclassy and not so fun. I have packaged fish at some point- hated it. I have worked as a cashier once. As the personal assistant to some pig that was always trying to get their hand up my skirt. I have done real estate. Currently doing event (wedding) Planning for my girl. I did forex, once. I have been paid to go as someone's date to some event. I am not picky with my jobs because the job is not the end goal, the money is. The goal is to retire by 30 and I will do whatever it takes to get up there. It's the getting paid part that matters the most to me.

Learning to leverage my skills and the situation plus to recognize the opportunities when they show up. My girl's last organizer canceled last minute and I offered to take it if she tops the fee up because I love her but not THAT much. In the process I have met so many people in this place and making connections in a new country will never be a bad idea. I have zero to none skills in event planning but all i hear is compliments (Pinterest the things I'd do for you) and I can add event planning to the options my future self has for careers especially given the profile of this one. A lady at church was divorced and man left her with a mortgage and a financial crisis (your daily reminder marrying rich isn't all that) and i drew up a contract to cover her mortgage and kid's education in exchange of a piece of her estate plus slowly easing my way into becoming her financial go to person and asset manager. A bargain, seriously, and I've passed it through enough lawyers to know my fancy little mortgage note will make me very very happy in a few years. Leveraging my mentorship skills to work my way into society because the way to anyone's heart is their children. Its free on paper but is it really? These are the next CEOs and I'm building my space this early. Leveraging my relationships for more relationships. Opportunities are not given they are created. 

THIS. ESPECIALLY THIS - having a value system. Knowing what is important to me and what isn't. Being a part of high society is NOT important to me so why would i buy a gala ticket the same price as my rent? Buying brands to keep up a rich girl aesthetic? Winters in Gstaad although I despise snow? Being part of high society isn't something I value at all so I don't play social games I'll just go home. Yes I'll maintain my relationships but everyone that is everyone knows it is not a race I fancy (Which, weirdly enough, has made it very easy for me to navigate it). Like I said, fancy things are not important to me so apart from an Aston Martin I don't care about the price I care about the quality. I will be at a thrift store I really don't mind. My peace is very important to me so I'll pick the fancy overpriced library fees over other libraries and I will pay a ridiculous amount in rent for an apartment in the peaceful part of town and I will splurge on a fancy cafe because I know the price range itself buys me peace. Ramit Sethi (In his book I Will Teach You To Be Rich) gives this as the core point of getting wealthy, knowing your value system. What is important to you? What isn't? If you're not for something you're for everything. 

Minimizing responsibilities. I don't have kids and I don't intend to. I don't stupidly commit to things without thinking real real hard about them. I didn't buy things that require me to keep up with paperwork, I don't take on things I need to track. My greatest responsibility in life is my three cats. 

[seat-safety-switch]

Have you considered purchasing an "investment property?" A lot of folks are doing it these days, buying a second or third building that they then rent out to other people. Problem is, being a landlord is unethical and may even be a crime against humanity! Don't worry, we have a solution.

One of the fastest-growing businesses in America today is the humble storage locker. We got too many fucking things, it seems, and we don't want to throw any of them out, so we will instead pay someone else a couple hundred bucks a month to keep them on their property. Until our credit card expires, that is, and then they sell all of our shit to some television bargain hunters.

Here's my proposal. Instead of giving those people money (and eventually the salvage rights to your aunt Edna's leg lamp,) just give the bank money instead. Buy distressed commercial properties. It's extremely cheap if you shop at the right foreclosure auction, and you'll be bailing out our most important citizens: overleveraged wannabe real-estate moguls. Hey, they're four payments behind on their own Mercedes, so you're really helping the whole economy by keeping that thing out of the repo lot.

Now, you might be doubtful. What am I going to do with this disused office in the middle of nowhere that nobody wants to buy or even rent? Easy. Commercial districts often have extremely permissive rules about what you can do with "your" property. That means that Peggy Bylaw and Eric Zoning-Laws can't come by and hassle you for keeping, oh, forty cars lying around the place. Look, dude, I don't know what to tell you. It's an investment property that is currently whatever business it has to be in order for you to fuck off. Some eccentric rich dude is paying me to keep his shitty cars here. Yeah, I think he golfs with The Mayor. Surely there's someone with a loud exhaust or the wrong colour of dog that you could be bothering instead.

The best part is saved for last. When you forget to pay the property tax, the city gives you at least a year of increasingly-angry letters before they start seizing your stuff and selling it off. Much nicer terms than the storage locker fascists, and the folks who shop at those auctions are only looking for old cop cars to buy, so you can probably buy back your own stuff and get excited about it all over again.

[decanthrope]

I present an AU

In a world where there is no Boy Who Lived, Harry goes into property development and eventually finds his way into home renovations and flipping. He doesn’t tend to go for your ordinary fixer uppers but instead cursed houses. Because they’ve got charm (okay, maybe it extends a little more than just a charm). Because, to be unflinchingly honest, normal houses are boring.

So Harry likes the houses that have dark pasts, that other renovators and real estate agents have trouble getting off the market. He likes them even when they call him crazy and laugh that he’ll never be able to resell.

I love the idea of Harry buying this fancy estate, maybe something like Grimmauld Place, but it hates him and flights back every time he tries to do any kind of work on it.

I’m talking cupboards refusing go open when he tries to replace hinges only to smack open just as he’s about to give up and giving him a bloody nose. The door refusing to cooperate when he arrives every day, not unlocking and not opening when he finally brute forces the lock open.

I love the idea of him threatening the house, arguing, bargaining, bribing, and begging in turns while neighbours and passers by (muggle and wizard alike) goggle at him and thinking he’s insane. I love the idea od Harry having to smile, make awkward small talk and try to make people believe he’s normal despite months of this behaviour.

I love the idea of Draco, maybe a neighbour, maybe working nearby, watching all of this and slowly (and reluctantly) starting to have feelings about someone who’s absolutely insane. (And maybe sitting on his feelings because he knows Harry’s time is limited, and when he’s done working on the house, he’ll move on to the next one and leave Draco behind, and all he’ll have is memories that might actually be a weird fever dream.)

I love the idea (so much) of the house doing its damnedest to sabotage every effort Harry makes to flirt with Draco and trying so hard to play it off as being “sooo normal, it’s fine, we get along great! Honestly, it’s just being playful we have a great relationship. I love when the house keeps almost dismembering me! What? No, the fact that I nearly had 17 meltdowns when I did the double glazing and am now scared to go near windows probably for the rest of my life isn’t a trauma response!”

I especially love the idea of, despite Draco’s issues, them getting together like a 90s romance flick:

When the project is in its final stages of wrapping up and Harry has (despite the odds and the house’s best efforts to thwart him) fixed it up, Draco—stressed and emotionally overwhelmed by the thought of never seeing Harry again and missing out on the chance of happiness—runs after him and makes his great big confession. And then Harry goes, “not saying no, but, uh, I’m going to be around for the next six weeks at least to do staging and see if we can’t break some of the curses that would probably have any new owners dead in the first couple days. I was planning on asking you out before I left. Christ, Malfoy, I just closed on a property down the road, I’m not moving to a remote tropical island.”

[decafdoodlez]

I saw on ur twt post from a couple days ago that said Rina had some history with Derek

Could you go over their lore 👀

What are some of your headcannons for Derek and his family?

Love ya!

Hiiii! Sorry this is a little late, but yes! I’ll gladly give some lore/background on Marina and Derek. :3c

—

So before Rina was taken away by the auction, she was working under the discretion and direction of the Goffard’s as their assistant, and had worked for them for a little under a year before disappearing.

Like Derek, Rina is from wealth, though her family is essentially broke now due to her father burning their fortune to nothing through shady business dealings, gambling, etc. Rina’s father is a land baron and real estate developer who builds high rise buildings and corporate offices across North America. One of Rina’s Father’s oldest partners is Derek’s Father, and has had a hand in the architectural development of his offices. Rina and Derek are around the same age and know each other, though not well, only crossing paths when their families cross paths, like at banquets or fundraising benefits.

Rina’s entire family is under her father’s employment, so all 4 of her living older siblings have a role in his business. With Rina being the baby of the family, she was the last one added to his team by default after she graduated with her business degree. Despite being the baby of the family, she is not coddled, and as I’ve discussed in previous posts, has been a victim of physical abuse at the hands of her father. Not too long after Rina was put onto her father’s team, things took a steep turn financially, leading to internal company changes.

Rina’s employment under the Goffard’s was a “favor” from Derek’s dad to Rina’s dad. For the favor’s terms, Derek’s father offered up a handsome loan to Rina’s father to jump start his real estate/land development business back from financial ruin in exchange for youngest daughter, Rina, to which he accepted with no questions asked. So essentially, Rina’s employment was bought by Derek’s father, and he did not care how she was treated, just so long as Mr. Goffard held up his end of the bargain.

Mr. Goffard did not have good intentions with buying Rina, but in the end never got his chance to act on his gross desires, instead having his son harass her until her disappearance. Though, he did get to attend Fox’s livestreams that she costarred in…so he did get to have his fun, even if only behind a screen.

So from there, Rina was shipped off away from her family to work under the Goffard’s. Rina’s job at her new place of employment was an assistant of sorts, mainly to pick up Derek’s slack and report to him for menial tasks. This job is way below her skill level and talents, and she is treated as nothing more than a lackey to Derek. Rina does not think highly of Derek, seeing him as a crass chauvinist. Despite this, there are times that they can get along and chat normally similarly to how they did when they were younger.

Derek is interested in her quite obviously, but she never reciprocates, often pissing him off with her cold demeanor and sober word choices. Derek constantly tries to get her to be interested in him; asking her on dates, inviting her to his office to spend time with him, caging her between counters and him in the coworker’s lounge, and even going so far as to grope her to let his intentions be known. None of his charades work on her, even when threatened with termination of employment. (she contractually cannot be terminated based on the term’s of the favor between her father and Derek’s father, lol)

Rina was actually supposed to be bought by Derek at the auction with Celia and Mason, but ultimately she was kept by Fox. After the events of the livestreams, Rina no longer has contact with her old life, and that includes Derek, though after some time passes, there are times where Fox parades her around to his constituents at underground/black market functions, to which Derek eyes her from afar, but is not allowed to interact with or talk to her unless supervised.

—

And that about covers it, I think! Thank you for the question! <3

[alphaman99]

FORGOTTEN HISTORY

A Daily Dose of History

Suggested for you  · 1d  ·

In 1920 the yacht building business that Bill McCoy operated with his brother Ben was struggling. So, Bill assessed the situation. He knew that he was a good sailor who knew how to make fast boats. And he knew that Prohibition had created a huge demand for liquor in the American northeast. Recognizing the business opportunity that presented itself, Bill McCoy seized it, becoming the king of the rumrunners, one of America’s most celebrated and notorious bootleggers.

McCoy bought a 127-foot fishing schooner capable of carrying 6,000 cases of alcohol and retrofitted it to make it one of the fastest commercial sailing vessels on the Atlantic coast. He registered his ship in Great Britain and renamed it “Tomoka.” He was in business.

He would load his cargo of spirits in Nassau in the Bahamas, then sail to the Jersey shore, anchoring between Sandy Hook and Atlantic City, just outside the three-mile boundary of international waters. Customers would come out to him in small boats that could evade the Coast Guard, and McCoy would sell them the booze in sacks that held nine bottles each. Ben McCoy would bring out supplies to the Tomoka, so that she never had to port.

McCoy made no effort to hide what he was doing. In fact, he welcomed the publicity. He boasted that he never diluted his product (as many bootleggers did), and that he never paid a dime to organized crime or to bribe law enforcement. And no law prohibited him from selling liquor in international waters. His enterprise was so successful that he soon added four more boats. In a little more than two years he sold an estimated two million bottles.

McCoy’s brazenness and his celebrity status infuriated government authorities, however, and they were determined to shut him down. In 1923, after first getting the tacit consent of British authorities, the Coast Guard was ordered to arrest McCoy, and to sink the Tomoka if he resisted.

On November 25 the Coast Guard cutter Senaca steamed out to the Tomoka and sent over a 15-man boarding party. When they were aboard, the commanding officer ordered McCoy to bring his ship into port. Instead, he set sail and raced away, with the boarding party still on board. The Seneca opened fire with her four-inch deck guns and the Tomoka’s crew answered with a machine gun set up on her forward deck. But as the shells from the Seneca started dropping closer to his ship, McCoy realized the game was up. He lowered his jib and surrendered. On board the Coast Guard found $60,000 in cash (about a million dollars in today’s money) and only 400 cases of the original 4,200 case cargo.

Once brought ashore reporters asked McCoy how he intended to defend himself against the charges. He answered with a smile, “I was outside the three-mile limit, selling whisky, and good whisky, to anyone and everyone who wanted to buy.”

But after two years of legal wrangling, McCoy ultimately decided to accept a plea bargain. He pled guilty to violating the Volstead Act and was sentenced to nine months in jail.

After serving his time, McCoy retired from rumrunning, returning instead to the boat building business. He also became a successful real estate investor and when Prohibition ended he cashed in on his notoriety by putting out his own brand of whisky, called “The Real McCoy” and featuring the Tomoka on the label.

William Frederick “Bill” McCoy, the King of the Rumrunners, died in Florida at age 71 on December 30, 1948, seventy-five years ago today.

[javob]

Saw a post about pandemic office real estate, and it made me want to long post about how the problem is in my city. Note; this is also a picture of the ongoing “mall” problem.

Part of the problem is that the bubble that is commercial real estate and real estate in general is becoming more obvious, and no one wants to sell for a low price, and also no one wants to be left holding the bag.

Here is an example of something in my home city. A commercial office building was recently put up for auction. It’s about 5 stories and was constructed in the 70’s, and has asbestos that the new owner would be responsible for, and is also not ADA compliant due to where the elevator is located in relation to the entrance, which the new owner would also be responsible for.

It is currently owned and managed by a very wealthy property conglomerate who obtained the building in 2008 at a bargain price, and have not done anything to improve the building.

They also have not had any tenants since they have bought the building.

It went up for auction and barely scraped over $1 million, which the owners decided was not enough and scrapped the sale entirely.

This example paints a picture of what commercial real estate is like in my home city. Large commercial buildings are left to rot because firms are acting as speculators. They don’t want to be landlords because that would impose a duty to do maintenance on most of these older buildings that haven’t had maintenance done on them for a long time. Also no tenants means that insurance on the building is a low price. Double also, they don’t want to allow tenants at a lower rent because that would lower the value of the building and reduce a sale price (their ultimate goal).

They also have deep enough pockets (and taxes in my city are generally low enough) that they can continue paying property taxes. Holding onto that perceived value also makes it look a lot nicer for when these companies take out loans to buy more property.

Selling the property for a bargain price is also a no go, because it reduces the property value of their adjacent holdings.

What I am trying to get at is forces in play make the best move for owners of these buildings to not do anything with them.

They will not do anything until they have a liquidity crisis, and if these companies with lots of capital have a liquidity crisis, chances are, things are going even worse for the average person.

How to fix this in a way that doesn’t fuck over everyone is a problem and frankly I’m not sure the city has any best solutions available.

[oolathurman]

whenever i get super restless i start looking at housing options in my area. don't ask why, i don't have an answer. but. please look at this place with me.

3 bed, 2 bath, 1080 square feet, with a 2 car garage, for $500k in Los Angeles. Don't know how nice the actual neighborhood is tho. Anyways.

the front entry/living room. grimy as hell. i'm not necessarily seeing any cracks which could mean poor foundation and given how ugly this house is, built in 1976, i feel like any bad foundation issues may've shown themselves via cracks by now? idk tho. i just watch a lot of flipping shows, what do i know?

that said, the interior pix remind me of that video of someone picking up a piece of uranium and the radiation doing funny things to their phone's camera. so. a little concerning there.

my fav part tho? the kitchen.

in all its neon green/yellow glory.

unsure if the wall where the stove would be is showing cracks or smth else tbh. the ceiling's kinda hilarious with the tray ceiling and two (count em, two!) recessed lights. Also i doubt that even a good DIYer would have trouble trying to salvage those cabinets, looks like they don't close properly. and where the hell would i put a fridge or dishwasher? before the little half wall that separates the kitchen area, but after the neon green indicates the start of the room? i guess those lil half walls can be torn down tho since they're not supporting anything, so maybe that'd work? could put a dining table in front of that window at least, if that's the case.

the previous residents must've gotten a good deal on paint or smth cut it's everywhere. guess they had no more money after putting down what looks like. vinyl wood-look floors? no idea what this room is tho, i assume a bedroom but the gieger counter screaming in pain is making it hard to tell.

i guess it's technically???? zoned for a bedroom? but i thought a closet's supposed to have a door or smth? idk shit about cali zoning laws tho. i guess you could put some sliding doors over this tho. still can't tell if that flooring is vinyl or actually like. parquet. or both. probably both. you see that light that's falling off the ceiling? and is that a mirror above the closet???

what is up with the perspective in these photos, they make the ceiling look like it's--- wait no it's actually at an angle, oh ok that's. god these photos are sure something. same with the paint. also i think this is AT LEAST the third kind of flooring we've seen, after the tile and the parquet. unknown if the first bedroom is a different-- wait no. this is four different kinds of flooring. in one house. what bargain bin leftovers did these people find....

continuation of what i can only assume is the primary/master suite. y'all see the pain chipping at the bottom left of that wall? i can't tell if it's water damage or just paint or-- what the fuck is up with the real estate agent's phone camera. anyone who buys this place is going to need to get the place tested for chemicals or some shit. also what the fuck is up with the framing of the closet? why's it all separated???

oh and i didn't show yall the garage earlier!

were they trying to put some kinda flooring down? it isn't clear. what's up with that wall on the right of the image tho???

i'm guessing it may have been an unpermitted or a former room in the house? with what looks like tile and with the window being so high up, was it some kinda bathroom???? what's going on here???

[cttncndi]

Life had always been whatever Gabriella had desired it to be. From her first cry, surrounded by the softest creamy pink cotton blanket money could buy, the impling girl desired nothing. She never ever had to ask. Gifts and glitters were always handed off when even the tiniest inkling of want or need shimmered across her eyes. And all that was ever asked of her, for all this luxury and contentment, was that she obeyed. Head down, mouth shut. A fetching adornment to caravan in front of rivals, family, and friends. Shown off. Appraised. Dangled in front, hungry mouths and eyes. A pound of prestigious flesh to be ogled until she could be upgraded from glided bird to bargaining chip. Just like her mother had been. Their family was only as powerful as it was now because her parent's marriage had caused the joining of two families of the Greed ring together through the unholy union.

( tw // sexual coercion, abuse, controlling and neglectful behavior from paternal figures , coping with sexual exploits )

And she would do the same. Or so that is what her family had planned. But how Gabriella saw her life panning out quickly became unaligned with whatever ideas or promises her father had made. She wanted freedom. She tried to do as she pleased, when she pleased, with whoever she pleased. But over the years, the palace she had once called home was melting into a cage. Shackled and clipped. Kept locked up till it was time to dance again, all under the watchful eye and heavy thumb of the head of the family. But she craved, despitefully, for affection and attention. And she found it. Through screens and voxnet, she found a community of desperate, hungry eyes, drooling mouths, and deep pockets. People who wanted her, the real her. Bare and hungry, as those who dropped those hefty donations for her to go longer, harder, and louder.

Now, a lot of people have turned their noses up at OnlyHorns. A cheap gimmick for cheap talent. A place for demons who couldn't actually make it in the adult film scene, one review said. But that place has given Gabbi everything she could have desired. A residence for her to speak and act and show who she really was. Unfiltered, unbound. And they liked her -- hell, some even said they loved her, among other crudely written declarations of devotion. Through her explicit community of chomping maws and fevered messages, there was this newfound liberation, and she started plotting her escape.

If there was one thing she had learned from her family, it was that men were most compliant with either greased palms or empty balls. Unfortunately, the bodyguard who caught her the night she decided to execute her master plan wanted both. But in all honesty, she was lucky it had been Jagger. He had never hidden his lingering gaze or snickering comments when her father was out of hearing the shot. And after the shark demon had gotten his fill, he all but carried her to the back entrance of the estate, letting her out like a rabbit to be hunted by hounds as he waved her off.

" Catch ya later, princess. "

[godesssiri]

I am about to type the most ridiculous sentence ever: I didn't mean to buy a zebra.

I went to an auction today. It's a shabby run down place that's been open for 60 years and does a no reserve auction, where everything must sell, every other Thursday. Mostly estates, insurance stock and business closures. You never know what's going to be for sale and whether it will go for thousands or for a song. I knew there was an antique zebra hide rug up for auction with no reserve price and I figured it would go for hundreds or even thousands and I was just interested in watching the bidding. I collect oddities and it was cool so I was interested to see who would get it.

When I got there I went to have an up close look, they encourage you to thoroughly check what you're potentially buying because all sales are final. It's a bit moth eaten, the fur has worn away in a couple of places, it was cool to see a real zebra hide up close. There were a couple of other things I was actually there to bid on (they all went way over what I was willing to pay) but I did snap up a couple of bargains. Then the zebra came up. The auctioneer opened at $500, no one bid, so he dropped to $400, $300, $200, no bids. He said $100 and I sat there dithering, and thinking how it was super cheap, and I couldn't really not bid on it at that price, but I have NO WHERE to put it. While I was dithering he dropped to $50. My hand shot up so fast. Another guy who was obviously a dealer buying stock for his second-hand business put in a $60 bid just to see if he could get it super cheap or if I'd fight him for it. I put in $70. The dealer didn't want a fight so he dropped out. The auctioneer called that my bid was the winner and I sorta squeaked to the entire auction room that I have No Idea what I'm going to do with it (my voice went up several octaves with the dawning realization of: I Didn't Mean To Do That). It was $81.50 with the 15% auction fees! Less than $100!

So now I've gotten it home and am deciding what I need to sacrifice from my gallery wall going up the stairs to make space because that's literally the only wall big enough to put it on, it can't go on the floor as the cats will wreck it.

And that's the story of how I didn't mean to buy a zebra.

[nickgerlich]

What’s In A Name

Changing your company name is always risky business, yet we have seen it done by two major players in the last couple of years. Google became Alphabet, and Facebook became Meta. Of course, some of us will probably continue using Google and Facebook the rest of our lives, if only because that’s what we were accustomed to using, but at least in the stock market, they are now Alphabet and Meta.

But what about when you ditch your established name for that of a business that just filed bankruptcy? That’s what Overstock dot com is doing. They paid $21.5 million for the intellectual property rights of Bed Bath & Beyond, which includes the name. As for Bed Bath & Beyond, they are liquidating anything and everything that might have residual value, because there are still creditors to be paid.

And in one of the biggest head-scratching moments I’ve had in a long time, they are taking on the name of that chain. No brick and mortar stores, just the IP. The updated website launches in Canada soon, followed by the US.

Basically, Overstock, which has endured its own woes and sales declines, thinks the BBB name is worth more than its own, that by taking on this new moniker they will be able to turn the ship around. They are betting there is more brand equity in the BBB name than in Overstock. Furthermore, they believe there is more equity in the name alone than all of BBB’s stores and inventory depth could leverage in the first place.

Let’s see. Buy the name of a failed retail concept, and then give it another whirl. It’s actually not a new idea, because Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV) has been scooping up retail brands for several years now, and relaunching them as Dotcom enterprises. Their holdings include Tuesday Morning (which recently shuttered), Pier 1, Dress Barn, Stein Mart, Linens-N-Things, and more. So Overstock is not alone in having faith in brand names, even if we the consumers did not have faith in the company in its entirety.

Bed Bath & Beyond died a very painful death, drowning in debt, and weighted down in both inventory and real estate. Worse yet, as it became painfully apparent the company was swirling down the drain, its vendors started cutting them off. I recall going into the Amarillo BBB while it was still open, and noticed large gaps along the shelves. They could not get replacement inventory once they did sell something. It looked painful, and I bet it was tough having to report to work there every day. It was depressing.

I am still unsure why Overstock thinks its own name is dead. Is Wayfair giving them that much of a run for their money? I recall many of us giving Prince a hard time in 1993 when he changed his name to a symbol. An unpronounceable symbol, mind you. He became “The artist formerly known as Prince.” What was he thinking? He already had the perfect brand.

I am not ready to make predictions on Overstock…I mean the new BBB—just yet. I was never really a regular of either, and probably won’t be in the future, unless they start charting some new territory. Overstock will have to re-educate its customers about the name change (simple enough with a redirect in the HTML code if you type the old name), as well as training people to know that this isn’t their grandma’s Bed Bath & Beyond anymore. It’s Overstock, meaning otherwise unsellable merchandise on its first trip through the agora, now at bargain basement prices.

I’ll be watching, because this is an unusual move regarding names, but not unusual in the relaunch. As for Alphabet and Meta, they are both tearing it up in the stock market right now. Maybe it really isn’t all in the name.

Dr “Good Luck With This” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[rossemboss]

Notes from Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan by Jake Adelstein

note: take book with grain of salt as author is greatly self-aggrandizing, but provides some nice color on yakuza

many yakuza prefer to be called 'gokudo' (the ultimate path)

shobadai - slang for protection money paid to the yakuza

"Santa Fe was a book of nude photos of the popular actress Rie Miyazawa" that showed her pubic hair. When authorities didn't pursue the book for breaking obscenity laws based on the photos' "artistic qualities" it opened the floodgates to the relaxing of those policies enjoyed to this day

typical divisions of a police station: violent crime, white-collar, fraud, , traffic, juvenile crime, prevention, lifestyle/vice, plus an organized crime control division, which would pursue drugs, credit card fraud, and human trafficking

kind of neat - the idea of exotic animals being sold to yakuza to scare people. who would have a leashed tiger?

When someone leaves the yakuza, a letter is circulated to all members, either a hamonjo - this person is no longer in the organization, don't do business or associate with them; or a zetsuenjo - betrayer hunt this person down.

if a murdered body is found with the head facing North, that may indicate a killer feeling remorse as that's how dead bodies are laid out.

suicides remove their socks and shoes as it's rude to wear into the afterlife

There are two major types of yakuza: tekiya, low-level con artists and bakuto, the big leagues, who engage in predatory lending, human trafficking, the racket, and blackmailing corporations. They are over half Korean-Japanese and the dowa, formerly untouchable caste of Japan.

The major yakuza have lots of sub-groups that pay monthly dues. The Yamaguchi-gumi (biggest) takes in about $50M in private equity monthly and this is considered a conservative estimate.

The police don’t have the authority to wiretap, offer plea bargains, or witness protection in yakuza investigations, which limited their ability to effectively prosecute them. It’s also not illegal to be in a criminal organization.

As of 2006, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police compiled a list of ~1k front companies in greater Tokyo, 20% real estate with significant investment in securities, auditing, consulting, and other financiers.

Police sometimes call the yakuza “Realtors” lol

In 2008, a major Corporation was found to be paying over $100M USD to yakuza to remove tenants from properties they wanted to purchase (this is called jiage or land-sharking and is big because tenant laws are so protective.)

The bosses of some yakuza groups are minor celebrities and will be photographed and reported on having meetings/dinners with politicians, or will grant TV interviews!!!

Marubo cops – organized crime detectives

One business model: landsharking, moving yakuza into buildings before they can be repossessed and then buying them themselves or getting money from the original owner for the service, protection money from the sex trade, and the cash cow, extortion (specifically, shaking down business people with embarrassing secrets). They would do the same with companies in financial trouble. They would take out loans from midsize banks using the company’s real estate as collateral, but then when the company would go bankrupt, those loans would go unpaid. The Sumiyoshi-kain also ran staffing companies, loansharking, and an insurance company specializing in false claims to rip off real insurance companies. A collection agency for recovering bad debts for real loan companies. Pawnshops for trafficked goods. A talent agency for porn (paid well not coerced). Transportation and security for large events. Take construction contracts and then subcontract out, pocketing the difference. Set up a fake political org for the tax break and a way to launder money. Have your extortees pay to receive your newsletter.

kabukicho was the undisputed red light district of tokyo before it got partially cleaned up following the 2001 fire of the Myojo 56 building where 40+ people died. It is speculated that the yakuza burnt it down after not being paid its protection money by the mahjong parlor inside.

At least in 1999 during the time of this book, a reporter tells him: "Nine times out of ten, no matter how much it looks like a murder, the Shinjuku police will write it up as a case of assault resulting in death - manslaughter? Why? So they don't have to launch a full investigation." Murders of 'low-lifes' not deemed newsworthy. What WAS newsworthy was anything involving someone famous, a civilian, or a teenager. Maybe a brewing gang war.

The reason the anti prostitution law is on the books is to protect girls who were being sold into sexual slavery after the war. That's why they only go after the pimps and owners, not the girls.

one thing to track is i keep writing big clubs, when i should go smaller, seedier, and more participatory. one stage, men using vibrators on the fully naked dancer. also kinkier: more costumes, piss play, the works.

downtown there are typical haunts where the yakuza hang out near their offices, where they get coffee and shoot the shit. and it's not one organization, but all of them.

lots of young girls (high school to college) get addicted to the host clubs and run up a big tab at which point they get redirected into becoming hostesses or joining the sex trade themselves. these are usually unlicensed clubs that have no police protection and are therefore easy marks for the yakuza. a good host club makes about $300k a year in 1999; the legit hosts can make big money too, think $6-10k a month not including gifts. hosts and hostesses often frequent each other's places when they get off work, so they're often busiest at like 4am/late late hours.

Roppongi is known for its foreigners. The place to go if Japanese people and foreigners are looking to connect (/connect!) Before the bubble burst, Roppongi was known for its highbrow establishments, but it's gone sleazy with big clubs, drugs, and all the typical sex trade establishments. It's nicknamed "High-Touch Town"

Because yakuza bosses can be held liable (and sued) for the crimes of their subordinates, when someone gets collared, it's typical to throw them out of the org (at least on the surface) claiming they were just a bad egg to limit liability. Yakuza will also sue newspapers and other organizations that call their businesses fronts or old members yakuza. Very good lawyers.

money laundering - hostess clubs and sex parlors (have your employees act as regulars and pay there); donations to religious organizations you run from the profits, own restaurants, r&r spots, and more and have your employees go there with the profits.

there are legal limits on interest rates for consumer loans, but yakuza loan sharks obviously go way above that. keep database of all customers at one establishment to see when the loan is falling behind, and then reach out from one of your other loan offices to offer a loan with even higher interest rates to double prey upon your victims.

more swords as weapons since gun use penalties are so high!

not uncommon for yakuza to own the movie studios making yakuza films which has promise as a funny detail; also more chopped fingers, toes transplanted as fake fingers, etc.

Tokarev - Russian guns popular in the 90s with yakuza

"that's why we farm out the dirty work to the Chinese and the Iranians. If they get caught, they don't talk and they just get deproted."

control the media by running the top talent agencies and denying them access to top entertainment talent if they publish unfavorable reporting

[classymakerbird]

Responsible for a how do i invest in real estate Budget? 12 Top Notch Ways to Spend Your Money

Wholesaling Components

Wholesaling attributes is definitely an expenditure method employed by some real-estate investors to produce potentially huge earnings simply speaking intervals. It requires finding below market price components and setting purchase agreements to investors who will then promote these commitments back at selling price.

John has recently obtained his grandmother's hoarder house, which happens to be in inadequate condition. Anne, a highly skilled wholesaler in real residence purchases, recognizes its probable and provides to take it off John's hands and wrists in return for an earnest cash deposit settlement.

1. Know Your Restrictions

Wholesaling components is an expenditure technique which allows real estate brokers to gain revenue without generating an in advance payment for components. Property retailers buy properties below market value at great deals before selling the agreement back out at full market price to those planning to rehabilitate or rent payments them out to make money. Wholesaling can provide home owners with stable earnings in times of economical distress being a method to obtain carried on cashflow.

Nonetheless, general residence can pose particular disadvantages. First off, it might be challenging to website establish the particular market price of the property when confronted with distressed dealers who can be wanting to offload it swiftly. In addition, retailers must get buyers happy to obtain at whatever cost level will be asked.

In order to avoid this sort of challenges, new property investors must deal with an experienced mentor and instructor that can guideline them throughout the market place and prevent timeless errors that charge both time and money. Furthermore, newcomers should carry out extensive market research by jogging communities, going to networking activities and reading local blogs - as well as finding an experienced buyer tutor/trainer.

2. Know Your Buyers

Wholesaling real estate properties is definitely an ever more popular real estate approach during times of pandemic, because it propstream direct mail cost will allow brokers to gain quick profits without running into expenditures for repairs or marketing and advertising. But as with anything, wholesale property committing requires consideration and education from experienced practitioners.

To succeed being a dealer, it's vitally important to establish partnerships with customers within your community industry who is able to undertake qualities needing some function. You are able to find these traders at real estate property networking occasions or by contacting friends and relations.

When you have recognized a customer for whom to general attributes, you can start your pursuit for properties to wholesale. Once you discover one that matches your criteria, work out together with the retailer to set it under agreement before determining it in your purchaser - from which time an task charge will probably be received with this agreement project.

At all times when wholesaling real-estate, you must remember that when confronted with sellers you happen to be dealing with people in challenging situations. Any endeavor at taking advantage will undoubtedly wind up negatively affecting yourself in the long term. Consequently, it's vital that conversation between celebrations engaged continues to be open so you include an assessment contingency in deals thus if unpredicted or expensive concerns occur they allow you to back from any bargain and avoid any potential severe headaches.

3. Know Your Market place

Wholesaling properties is an excellent method for traders to penetrate property without the need to place down much cash beforehand. Before plunging in, it's vital that you understand your market place before scuba diving in - it means comprehending which neighborhoods are popular and the ones that are not along with knowing where to find encouraged sellers.

Many suppliers build their own process to find sellers and buyers. Some use house tax records to locate proprietors who haven't paid out their fees although some drive through local communities trying to find indications of neglect or damage that indicate a requirement to sell.

Once a dealer locates an excellent property, they negotiate having its proprietor to penetrate it under commitment at an decided-upon price and after that get a purchaser for this particular contract with a earnings.

Comprehending your industry is essential to find perfect brokers and preventing prospective concerns that might develop. As an example, if a seller doesn't make needed repairs as arranged, including an inspection contingency clause within your agreement could enable you to back out without running into fees and penalties later on. Planning yourself beforehand for probable troubles saves both time and money in the foreseeable future.

4. Know Your Financing Choices

Property wholesaling features numerous problems, one of which is locating potential customers for properties. Therefore, it's crucial that you just produce a buyers checklist before entering into any commitments - this enables you to customize the attributes you find as to what your consumers are searching for and increase your chances of closing a deal properly.

Concurrently, it's also necessary to understand your funding alternatives. Retailers frequently use tough cash creditors when choosing discounts - this could be particularly ideal for more modern traders without enough investment capital up-front to buy home completely. Furthermore, tough cash loan companies are usually educated of local styles.

Ultimately, very good interaction and negotiation abilities are very important when making an investment in wholesale real estate property discounts. You have to influence vendors that you simply offer you reasonable importance with regard to their residence be able to quote repair costs estimate ARV of residence along with meet with a genuine real estate lawyer or attorney informed about dealing with buyers/wholesale suppliers that can write contracts according to community laws.

5. Know Your Deals

When wholesaling components, it's imperative that you understand your deals thoroughly - which include learning the difference between a real estate agent and wholesaler. A agent trading markets and offers components for commission wholesale suppliers consider present buy deals out and sell them straight to end consumers/investors.

Wholesalers typically try to get brokers happy to purchase deals at discounted costs in return for an assignment fee, which allows the buyer/buyer to correct and change it easily to make money without taking on all the time, energy and pressure linked to getting, remodeling and offering it their selves.

Productive real-estate suppliers generate buyers databases ahead of time to enhance the wholesale procedure minimizing buyer look for time. They could use bandit indications, marketing situations or social media marketing to quickly expand their pool of customers before actively looking for bargains them selves.

Say a property owner is going through monetary issues because of their home and is also battling to offer or correct it alone. A real property wholesaler could see it listed for $90,000. They might convince the property owner to delegate it with an trader that can buy it and designate their commitment at this price level.

6. Know Your Shutting Times

Wholesale suppliers must know their closing schedules when wholesaling properties. Once a commitment has been negotiated with a home owner, there is certainly only limited time left for determining it for an trader or qualified buyer - generating the shutting down approach for wholesale bargains more technical than regular property transactions.

New buyers often struggle to find suitable consumers for their deals, it is therefore important they develop a community of potential buyers they can draw upon for help with their jobs. They are able to get in touch with nearby traders, community at real estate occasions and make use of social media marketing their professional services as signifies to achieve this.

Suppliers should keep in mind that their choices incorporate offering contracts or carrying out double closings. Selecting the optimal approach is determined by individual scenarios either technique can lead to profit. Yet it is necessary for wholesale suppliers to understand that profits received through wholesaling numbers as enterprise cash flow towards the IRS - new suppliers will benefit from selecting an accountant early to prevent this income tax pressure. For this reason, new wholesale suppliers are advised to employ 1 immediately.

7. Know Your Closing Expenses

Shutting expenses for wholesaling attributes is definitely an unanticipated surprise. From having your agreement drafted and paying the acquire expense of your property alone, to move income taxes and label insurance coverages - it's crucial that you know beforehand so that you can spending budget appropriately.

Property wholesaling is definitely an exceptional option for folks thinking about real-estate but lack the cash to pay specifically. But bear in mind, this procedure needs time and research: discovering determined retailers, correctly assessing a property's advantages, discovering buyers with money who will find the agreement and assign you with acquisition, and so on.

Some wholesale suppliers opt for the double near strategy, whereby they find the house with either their very own resources or difficult dollars loans after which market it instantly to stop consumers. This is usually one of the quickest methods of acquiring and offering real estate, with a few wholesalers even having the capability to close on residences within time!

[shamelessflowerinternet]

Addicted to what is wholesaling real estate investing? Us Too. 6 Reasons We Just Can't Stop

Wholesaling Properties

Wholesaling attributes is undoubtedly an purchase approach made use of by some real-estate buyers to generate potentially huge earnings simply speaking times. It involves discovering below market price qualities and setting buy deals to brokers who will then promote these contracts back at selling price.

John recently acquired his grandmother's hoarder house, which can be in poor condition. Linda, a seasoned wholesaler in real estate dealings, identifies its possible and whole sale real estate offers to remove it John's palms in return for an earnest dollars put in settlement.

1. Know Your Restrictions

Wholesaling attributes is definitely an investment approach that permits real-estate brokers to make a profit without producing an advance transaction for properties. Real estate property retailers purchase properties below market price at great deals before selling the contract back out at whole market value to those seeking to rehabilitate or rent them out for profit. Wholesaling offers homeowners with stable cash flow during times of monetary misery as being a method to obtain ongoing cashflow.

However, general house can cause certain downsides. To start with, it may be difficult to create the specific market price of the home when dealing with distressed vendors who can be keen to offload it quickly. Additionally, wholesalers must locate traders happy to purchase at whatever cost position has been asked.

In order to avoid such challenges, new real estate property buyers must work together with an experienced tutor and coach who is able to guideline them with the marketplace and prevent classic blunders that expense both money and time. In addition, newcomers should conduct comprehensive researching the market by wandering local communities, participating in networking activities and reading community blogs - together with getting a seasoned trader mentor/instructor.

2. Know Your Buyers

Wholesaling real estate property components is surely an popular real-estate strategy in times of pandemic, mainly because it enables traders to gain swift earnings without taking on expenditures for improvements or marketing and advertising. But just like anything, general property making an investment requires careful consideration and education and learning from experienced providers.

To succeed like a wholesaler, it's extremely important to establish relationships with consumers with your community market place who is able to take on components needing some operate. It is possible to locate these buyers at real estate property network occasions or by reaching out to friends and relations.

After you have identified a buyer to whom to general components, start your quest for components to general. Once you discover the one that matches your criteria, make a deal together with the retailer to place it under deal before determining it to your purchaser - where time an assignment cost is going to be gained with this commitment project.

At all times when wholesaling property, you have to remember that facing dealers you happen to be working together with people in difficult scenarios. Any consider at making use will only end up harming yourself in the end. Therefore, it's vital that conversation between celebrations concerned stays wide open and you feature an evaluation contingency in commitments so if unexpected or too costly concerns arise they enable you to back from any bargain and avoid any upcoming migraines.

3. Know Your Marketplace

Wholesaling components is a wonderful technique for investors to get into real-estate without the need to place down much money advance. But before diving in, it's imperative that you comprehend your market before plunging in - which means being familiar with which communities are popular and which ones will not be and also realizing how to get motivated dealers.

Many retailers build their particular process for finding sellers and buyers. Some use house taxation data to find managers who haven't paid out their taxation while some travel through communities looking for indications of disregard or injury that suggest a requirement to market.

Once a wholesaler locates a great home, they negotiate with its owner to get into it under deal at an agreed-upon selling price after which find a purchaser for this commitment with a income.

Comprehending your market is important to find appropriate buyers and avoiding prospective concerns that might occur. For instance, if a retailer doesn't make needed repairs as agreed upon, which includes an inspection contingency clause inside your deal could permit you to back out without experiencing penalty charges later on. Making yourself in advance for prospective troubles saves both time and cash in the future.

4. Know Your Loans Options

Real estate wholesaling features many challenges, such as locating possible buyers for components. For that reason, it's essential that you create a buyers checklist ahead of moving into any deals - this lets you modify the qualities you find as to what your consumers are searching for and improve your odds of closing a deal effectively.

Simultaneously, it's also vital to understand your credit possibilities. Wholesale suppliers frequently use challenging cash creditors when choosing discounts - this is often particularly helpful for modern buyers without enough funds up-entrance to acquire house in full. Moreover, hard money loan providers tend to be well-informed of local styles.

Ultimately, excellent interaction and negotiation expertise are truly essential when investing in wholesale real-estate offers. You must influence sellers that you provide acceptable worth for his or her home have the capacity to estimation fix costs estimation ARV of property along with talk with a real real estate attorney familiar with utilizing traders/retailers who can write agreements according to nearby legal guidelines.

5. Know Your Commitments

When wholesaling properties, it's imperative that you recognize your agreements thoroughly - such as understanding the distinction between a realtor and wholesaler. A real estate professional markets and markets components for payment suppliers get existing buy deals out and sell them directly to conclusion consumers/traders.

Suppliers typically work to discover brokers ready to obtain agreements at marked down prices to acquire an assignment payment, that allows the entrepreneur/shopper to fix and flick it easily to make money without incurring all the time, energy and anxiety linked to getting, renovating and selling it on their own.

Effective real estate property retailers generate purchasers details upfront to enhance the wholesale approach and lower how to wholesale a property customer lookup time. They may use bandit indicators, networking activities or social networking to rapidly broaden their pool area of consumers before actively trying to find deals their selves.

Say a home-owner is facing monetary issues using their home and it is having difficulties to promote or remedy it independently. A true residence wholesaler could look at it detailed for $90,000. They will often influence the property owner to allocate it to a buyer that may obtain it and designate their contract at this particular selling price position.

6. Know Your Closing Times

Wholesalers need to find out their shutting days when wholesaling qualities. After a contract is negotiated using a house owner, there exists only very limited time kept for setting it to an investor or eligible customer - creating the shutting procedure for wholesale bargains more complex than regular property deals.

New buyers often find it difficult to get perfect purchasers for his or her deals, so it will be important they develop a network of potential customers they could bring upon for aid in their assignments. They may get in touch with community investors, network at real estate events and use social media marketing their solutions as signifies to do this.

Wholesalers should understand that their choices involve promoting commitments or carrying out increase closings. Picking out the best approach is dependent upon personal scenarios either technique could lead to profit. However it is necessary for wholesale suppliers to remember that revenue received through wholesaling is important as company income for the IRS - new retailers may benefit from selecting a cpa earlier to avert this taxation pressure. For that reason, new retailers are advised to employ one particular as soon as possible.

7. Know Your Shutting Costs

Shutting down costs for wholesaling properties is surely an unpredicted shock. From having your contract drafted and making payment on the obtain expense of your property itself, to shift fees and headline insurance coverages - it's important that you know beforehand so that you can budget appropriately.

Property wholesaling is an exceptional choice for individuals interested in real estate property but lack the funds to shell out straight. But remember, this process will take time and study: discovering inspired sellers, accurately analyzing a property's merits, locating brokers with cash that will find the commitment and delegate you with possession, and so forth.

Some suppliers choose the twice close up approach, whereby they purchase the residence with either their own funds or difficult funds financial loans and after that sell it off instantly to conclusion customers. This can be one of the quickest methods of acquiring and marketing real estate property, with some retailers even having the capability to near on residences within hrs!