Chapter Four: The Credit of Twenty-Seven People

“Where are these twelve investors?” Maria asked. “They haven't agreed yet.” Ajay covered his face. “You could at least lie and say we have two.” “A ledger may contain risk. It cannot contain false numbers.” Lin made forty-seven calls. A jeweler who had proposed at Lanterns declined. A real-estate broker hung up. An old finance-school classmate asked if Lin had joined a cult. The nineteenth prospect was Zhou Lan, owner of a neighborhood bakery chain. She ignored photographs of Lanterns and studied the employee authorization and lease. “Why claim this tenancy is worth over six million?” “Comparable rent, remaining term, and restrictions are attached. Conservative discounted cash flow gives $5.4 million,” Lin said, withholding the magic number.