By Ralph Bivins
Real Estate Editor
"You're hired," said the familiar voice at the other end of the
phone.
I had heard Donald Trump harping on the employment theme for weeks
on his TV show "The Apprentice." Because of Trump's show, every disc jockey
in the nation had been saying "you're fired" this spring. I was sick of
hearing it . But this was the real deal. I recognized that voice --
it was The Donald. I know Trump quite well. And that TV show is not acting.
It's just Trump being himself -- a tough New Yorker who likes to make
money
"Hi, Donald. What's up?" I was trying to maintain my cool. Being real estate editor at Texas Horse Talk is a prestigious job and I enjoy it. But you don't expect to get many calls from the world's most famous real estate developer.
"I am buying
a ranch in Texas and I want you there. Meet me at the airport in College
Station at 10 a.m. tomorrow."
And he hung up.
Trump is not one for small talk or excuses. Rearranging my schedule
on short notice was going to be a hassle. But I knew I would do it. Trump
is an interesting guy and you can get sprinkled with gold dust just hanging
around him.
I was a little nervous the next morning and I was up early. The
TV show is not all fantasy. If you make a bonehead move in Trump's presence,
you can get fired and the execution will be quick and bloody. So I was
extra jittery. And the nine cups of coffee I had guzzled that morning
had electrified me into a ball of speed.
I decided to get to Easterwood Airport early. The College Station
airport is not exactly D-FW or Houston Intercontinental. So finding Trump
would be a snap.
Trump's jet arrived early. It was easy to spot -- it was painted black and it said "TRUMP" in three-foot golden letters. I saw a monster-sized limo speeding across the tarmac. Trump and his entourage were coming down the stairs and heading for the limo. So I ran.
"Ralph. Glad
you could make it," Trump said.
I could only respond by panting, gasping for breath after my sprint
across the pavement.
I was in the back of the limo with Trump and his girlfriend. "This
is Georgette." Trump oozed with pride as he made the introduction. "She
likes horses."
She was a beautiful woman even with the heavy makeup and gobs of
gold jewelry. She wore black pointy-toe high-heels and jeans that were
as tight as a blood-pressure cuff.
The limo was cruising over the hills like a smooth sailing battleship
floating on a two-lane highway toward Brenham. We were going over 90 mph
and I was nervous as a Chihuahua.
"We are going
to look at Lightning Ranch. I've promised Georgette she could have a new
horse every month. She already owns 37 horses and she wants a place where
its warm enough to ride during the winter," Trump said.
"And I want a special stall for my favorite Sorrel Stallion," Georgette
purred.
Lightning Ranch was nice all right. I could see how Trump might find
it appealing. It had a 9,000-square-foot Colonial home with an Olympic-size
swimming pool and a hottub. Plus it had a large arena, sweet Bermuda pastures,
and a big barn with enough stalls to keep Georgette satisfied for another
year or two.
The owner of the ranch strolled ahead with Trump and Georgette, pointing
out nice things like a salesman should. I stayed a few feet behind, listening.
Trump is no idiot. He drilled in, asking good questions.
Finally, he turned to me and said "What do you think?"
"It's a nice property, Mr. Trump."
"We'll take
it," Trump said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a checkbook.
He wrote a mammoth check.
I am not at liberty to disclose the purchase price. It was many
millions.
Trump scribbled out another check and handed it to me. "Stay here and
finish off this deal, Ralph."
Trump and Georgette sped off in the limo, spewing clouds of reddish
dust on the ranch road. My latest Trump encounter was over. Trump is always
fun to be around and I hoped he would call me in again on his next Texas
deal.
I unfolded my check. It was made out to me from a Manhattan bank
-- $10,000. Not bad.
The only problem was it was dated April 1, 2004. April Fool's Day.
...........................................................
Donald Trump and Ralph Bivins at the Trump World
Tower in New York.
|
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The ranch articles first appeared in
Texas Horse Talk magazine.
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