The Hustler’s Gamble

5 : Turning the tables

Jamal had one chance to make this deal work. He had promised Leonard Marks results, but the project was already over budget, permits were delayed, and he was running out of time.

If he didn't find a way to fix things fast, he would lose the deal - and his credibility.

But Jamal wasn't about to give up.

The Search for More Money

The biggest problem was money. The $500,000 from Marks wasn't enough to cover the rising costs, and no bank would loan money to a first-time developer with no assets.

That left one option - finding a second investor.

Jamal spent two straight days calling every wealthy contact he could think of.

Old hustlers who had cleaned up their money

Local business owners looking for a flip

Anyone who might be willing to take a risk

Each call ended the same way:

"You got experience in real estate?" No.

"You got any successful projects under your belt?" No.

Click.

After a dozen rejections, frustration boiled over.

How the hell am I supposed to break into this business if nobody gives me a shot? Then Deion called.

"I might have something," he said. "A guy named Victor Diaz. He invests in redevelopment projects, but he's cutthroat. If you waste his time, it's a wrap."

Jamal didn't hesitate.

"Set up the meeting."

The Pitch to Victor Diaz :

Victor Diaz was a self-made real estate tycoon, known for turning run-down properties into million-dollar developments.

Jamal met him at a rooftop bar downtown, dressed in his sharpest suit, ready to make the pitch of his life.

Diaz was in his mid-40s, slick, and unreadable.

He listened without expression as Jamal laid out the plan:

The Kingston District was a growing market.

The warehouse could become luxury lofts in a high-demand area.

The project just needed an extra $250,000 to cover costs.

Diaz took a sip of his whiskey, then set the glass down.

"Why should I trust you?" he asked.

Jamal leaned forward.

"Because I don't fail. You invest in me, and I'll turn this deal into pure profit." Diaz studied him. Then he smirked.

"I like you, Carter. You remind me of myself when I started."

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a checkbook.

"But if I back you, I own 30% of the project."

Jamal's stomach twisted. That was a huge chunk of the deal.

But without Diaz's money, there would be no deal at all. He extended his hand.

"We got a deal."

Diaz shook it.

"Don't screw this up."

A Race Against Time :

With the extra money secured, Jamal could finally move forward.

But there was another problem: permits.

The city was dragging its feet, and the project couldn't start without official approval.

Jamal needed an insider - someone who could speed things up.

That's when Reggie came through.

"I know a guy in the city planning office," Reggie said. "He's not gonna break the law, but for the right incentive, he can...move things along."

Jamal hesitated. He didn't want to start his first major deal with shady business. But the truth was, real estate was a dirty game.

A few days later, the permits were approved faster than expected.

Jamal didn't ask questions.

Construction Begins - And Problems Follow :

The day the first bulldozers arrived at the warehouse, Jamal felt a rush of excitement. This was really happening.

But construction wasn't just about knocking things down and rebuilding.

It was a constant battle:

A supplier backed out, delaying materials.

The crew discovered plumbing issues, adding another $15,000 to costs.

The city shut down work for a day, citing a permit discrepancy.

Jamal barely slept, spending his nights fixing problems, renegotiating costs, and keeping investors off his back.

Marks called once a week, always with the same question:

"How's my money looking?"

Jamal hated those calls.

The truth was, if anything else went wrong, he might not be able to pay Marks back on time. The Betrayal :

Just when things seemed under control, everything blew up.

Deion called, sounding pissed.

"Bro, you need to check the project site. Now."

Jamal raced over - and what he saw made his stomach drop.

Reggie. Standing in the middle of the site, talking to another developer. Jamal stormed over.

"What the hell is this?"

Reggie didn't even look guilty.

"Carter, you're new to this. The truth is, Marks and Diaz? They're betting against you." Jamal's fists clenched.

"What are you talking about?"

"They don't think you'll finish. And if you don't? They take the project for themselves. I was just making sure I had options."

Jamal felt like he'd been punched in the gut. The people backing him were waiting for him to fail. And Reggie, the one guy he trusted? He was ready to jump ship.

Jamal's blood boiled. I am not losing this deal.

The Comeback Plan. :

Jamal didn't have time to be angry. He had to outsmart them all. He went into full hustle mode:

1. Locked in construction deals faster, so there was no delay for Marks to exploit.

2. Reworked the budget, cutting every unnecessary expense to stay profitable.

3. Met with Diaz privately and renegotiated terms, ensuring that if Marks pulled out, Diaz would stay in.

Within two weeks, construction was back on track. Reggie tried to smooth things over, but Jamal wasn't stupid. He kept Reggie on the project—but watched his every move.

The Final Stretch :

Three months later, the project was 90% finished. The warehouse had been transformed into high-end lofts, and buyers were lining up.

Jamal called Marks.

"We're ready to close deals," he said. "The first units sell next week." Marks was silent. Then he laughed.

"You actually pulled it off."

Jamal smirked.

"You bet against the wrong guy."

Victory—But Not Without Scars

The project sold out within weeks, bringing in $1.2 million. After paying back investors, Jamal walked away with $200,000 in profit.

It wasn't an empire yet. But it was a start. He had come from nothing, gambled everything on a bluff, and turned it into a real business.

And this? This was just the beginning.