26. Sneak Peek - Over My Dead Pitch!
Sneak Peek – Blurb
Silas Finn, a high-rolling realtor and single dad, moves into town to dodge the Hollywood spotlight. He threatens my throne as the queen of real estate in Summerville. There’s only one thing to do – kick my latest competition back to wherever he came from.
They say out with the old, in with the new. Not while I’m still standing!
The Mayor’s son is on the hunt for a new home and it comes with the fattest commission the town has ever seen.
Hotshot Silas thinks he can swoop in and use his charming looks to steal my deals.
Over my dead body, Silas!
I know this town like the back of my hand, and I’ll have him eating out of my palms in no time.
Game on...or so I thought. Things don’t always go as planned.
Silas comes with a mysterious past. And the one thing I love more than wrangling real estate deals, is unraveling mysteries. Especially when they come in a package like him.
As our office rivalry heats up, so does the undeniable electric chemistry between us.
My strategy to win the deal of a lifetime only ignites sparks, blurring the lines between love and hate.
Will our quests of success blossom into something more, or will it crumble like a business pitch gone bad?
Chapter 1 - Myra
Silas Finn is in my territory.
Except, he doesn’t know that yet. The man’s been here for a week, and he probably doesn’t even know my name. He hasn’t been in the office much since he just moved to town, but that’s no excuse.
Ignorantia legis neminem excusat.That’s Latin for ignorance of law excuses no one. It’s one of the few things I took away from Mr. Laudrum’s classical language classes.
Anyway, there’s no way I’m letting some random pot-bellied middle-aged man waltz into my Summerville and become the poster child of the real estate agency that I’ve been busting my tail feather off at for years. He may be the best thing since General Tso”s chicken, but this is Summerville, and he’s already taken two deals from me…in just one week.
It’s time the lioness shows herself to this newbie. Especially since he’s now my main competition for the hottest deal this town has seen in the past five years.
I’m outside Victoria Harper’s office. She’s the revered mother of the mayor and quite the legendary lady of Summerville. She called me in because she wanted to secure the best home in town for her second son who is relocating to nearby Charleston with his new wife at the end of the summer.
The job comes with the fattest commission ever and I need it. Scarlett, my friend and Victoria’s assistant, slipped up and mentioned that Victoria also invited Silas Finn to the opportunity. So, here I am waiting for the man while shoving a protein bar down my throat to finally introduce myself and see what the hype is all about.
“Pssst.” Scarlett’s whisper breaks the silence. “He’s here.”
“Where?”
“Nine o’clock.”
I swivel around and my jaw drops immediately, crumbs dribbling out of my mouth. He’s no random pot-bellied middle-aged man. This is a six-foot tall, confident, drop-dead handsome hunk of man-meat in his early thirties.
“That’s him?” I croak.
“Yeah.”
I watch his shiny black Oxford shoes eat up the ground as they march toward the elevator like a cheetah hunting for prey. He’s in beige pants and a red button-up dress shirt that molds his muscular body. He leaves the top button open, of course, just enough to reveal his collarbone and a hint of a mysterious tattoo.
OMG!Why does it feel so hot in here all the sudden?
“He’s early for his meeting.”
Scarlett’s voice jerks me back into reality. This is your enemy, Myra, not some kind of creamy birthday cake to drool over. I wipe my mouth and hurry from my stool to stand in the doorway leading into the office. He lifts an inquisitive eyebrow as soon as his eyes land on me.
“You’re here to meet Victoria Harper?” I ask.
“Yeah, I think so,” he replies, eyes on the screen of his phone as he types off a text with a serious expression. “Can I help you with something?”
My eyebrows fly towards my hairline. Can he help me? If he isn’t giving the most narcissistic energy ever. I clear my throat, making my tone as sweet as possible. “I think you’re the one who needs my help.”
That got his attention. He looks up and frowns. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“That’s okay.” I cross my arms over my chest and shrug my shoulders. “You probably barely know your way around town yet.”
I continue to stare at him. His hazel eyes resemble autumn leaves in the sun and his black hair is slightly mussed as if he dragged his hands through it. Maybe he has. Maybe he’s frustrated because things aren’t turning out the way he expected in Summerville. That would be great! The earlier he wears out and goes back to wherever he came from, the better.
One carefully carved eyebrow lifts this time. “Are you like…some kind of tour guide?”
“Tour guide!?” I scoff. “Do I look like a tour guide to you?”
He glances at his watch. “Whatever you are, I really don’t have the time right now because I gotta get to a meeting.”
My mouth is still hanging open in shock as he brushes past me and walks across the lobby. As I storm away from the insulting encounter with Silas, frustration still simmering beneath the surface, Scarlett catches up to me with curious wide eyes. “So, did you meet him? What did he say?” she asks eagerly, falling into step beside me.
I nod curtly, my mind still reeling from our exchange. “Yeah, I did,” I reply, my voice tinged with irritation.
Scarlett leans in closer, her interest palpable. “So, what do you think of your competition?” she probes, her tone expectant.
I can only muster a mumble in response, my thoughts still swirling. “Do you think Victoria could really give him the job?” I finally manage to articulate.
Scarlett shrugs, her expression thoughtful. “Honestly, I don”t know,” she admits. “But I do know you need this job, girl. And I think Victoria is gonna make this an open race.”
I let out a frustrated grunt, running a hand through my hair. “But do you think he can win?” I press, my anxiety mounting.
Scarlett hesitates, her brow furrowing in thought. “Silas used to be some kind of hotshot realtor in Chicago,” she explains, her voice lowered. “But I don’t know enough details about his background or why he moved here, of all places.”
I chew on her words, feeling a sense of unease settle in the pit of my stomach. “Hmm. When do you think his meeting with Victoria will end?” I inquire, my voice tense.
Scarlett checks her watch, her face pensive. “It should be an hour,” she replies. “Her schedule is back-to-back today.”
“Thanks, girl,” I murmur, offering her a stiff smile as I process her words.
Scarlett heads back to her desk, and I”m left alone with my thoughts. I make a quick decision. I’m not leaving until I know the verdict. Settling myself in a plush armchair, I pull out my phone, the minutes ticking by agonizingly slow. Every notification, every ringtone, sends a jolt through my already frazzled nerves.
I glance around the lobby, the anticipation gnawing at me. I find myself now pacing in the corner, my nerves on edge for ninety minutes. Ninety excruciating minutes stretched into what felt like a never-ending Twilight saga.
Scarlett’s message comes first, telling me that Victoria decided to throw it open, and just as I let out a sigh of relief, the double doors of the office swing open again.
And then, I see him, his tall, gorgeous frame striding across the lobby, heading towards the exit. For a few seconds, my legs are glued, and I can’t move as I watch him stride away, his confident gait eating up the floor with graceful cat-like movements.
No way I’m allowing a stranger to stroll in, look down on me, and vanish into the labyrinthine office corridors like a phantom in the night to claim my biggest deal. I feel a surge of determination. He won”t slip away that easily.
I race after him, but he beats me out of the building. When I emerge outside, he’s walking across the parking lot towards one of the cars that must be his.
“Silas Finn!” I call out at his back, my voice cutting through the air like the crack of a whip.
He stops dead in his tracks, his body tensing for a moment before he lifts his head from his phone and slowly turns around. The bored indifference he wore earlier vanishes, replaced by a flicker of surprise that quickly morphs into something resembling…interest? He walks toward me with wrinkled brows, his abrupt movements a sign that he’s shaken.
I almost smile as I watch his eyes gleam with confusion.
“How do you know my name?”
“Umm. It’s not a secret.” Gasping for breath from the short run, I manage to steady myself and muster the words.
“I see you’re a thorough tour gui—”
“Ugh! I am not a tour guide!” I retort, straightening my posture to assert my authority.
My eyes dart to his face, taking in the hard lines and rugged features softened by the dimple that breaks out as he smiles.
“You’re not? Then who exactly are you?” His follow up question hangs in the air, laced with a hint of amusement.
It suddenly clicks. He’s teasing me. He probably knows who I am under all that sarcasm.
His dimples deepen, carving into his cheek as he smiles, a fleeting glimpse of softness that defies the harsh angles of his face. It”s an unexpected contrast, like finding a serene garden in the heart of a bustling city.
But before I can lose myself in analyzing any more of his features, I focus back on the situation, mentally scolding myself for getting distracted by his devilish looks.
“You wanna know who I am?” I snap, my words marked with defiance. “I”m the best darn real estate agent in Summerville. I”m your competition in this town, and you’re gonna feel what it’s like to walk in my shadow.”
Silas raises an eyebrow, his amusement evident. “Is that a threat?” he quips, a playful glint in his eyes.
I bite back another threat, even though it’s pointless. I’m sure he already sees how rattled I am. “It”s whatever you think it is,” I shoot back sharply.
His grin stretches wider, infuriating me further. “If you wanna scare me, you”ll have to do better than that,” he challenges, his voice dancing with enjoyment. “All you”ve done is pique my interest.”
The audacity! I clamp down on the urge to fire back with every retort that springs to mind. “Well, you’ll be eating my dust in no time.”
Instead of the expected reaction, he simply smiles. A genuine, full-fledged smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes. “Okay, Ms.…?” he drawls, leaving the question hanging.
“You’ll figure it out soon enough.”
“True,” he concedes, his smile fading slightly. “But even at war, introductions go both ways, right?”
“Not at all,” I grumble, crossing my arms.
“Hmm. So, you probably think a fierce, fire-breathing Ms. No Name is a more impressive title. But I’m not really getting the ‘fire-breathing’ sense from you. More like, a lot of bark and no bite.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Ha! Is that right? What would you call it then, Mr. Smooth Operator?”
He chuckles under his breath, a low, rich sound that sends a shiver down my spine, despite my annoyance. “You know, for the best real estate agent in Summerville, you seem awfully out of breath already,” he teases, taking a step closer.
“Oh, please,” I sneer. “Don”t try to pump your own ego. You might just pop like an overinflated balloon.”
He throws his hands up in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. But admit it, Ms. No Name, you wouldn”t be half as interesting if you weren”t a little feisty.”
Wow. He just doesn’t stop, does he!? My cheeks burn with a mixture of anger and something else I can”t quite define. “Half as interesting? Oh honey, your charisma is drier than a desert in a drought.”
“See. Competition doesn”t have to be dull, does it?” he counters, his gaze locking onto mine for a beat longer than necessary. “Besides, a little spice never hurt anyone.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Silas”s grin broadens, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Now that’s a threat, I think.”
I collect myself, refusing to let him see how much his proximity rattles me. “It is. And if it wasn’t clear, I’ll run circles around you all day.”
He laughs, unfazed by my bravado. “You don’t say.”
“I checked you out. You”re a so-called big-time realtor and even won a few awards. What brings the esteemed Silas…Finn, was it? What brings a man like you to Summerville? Hit rock bottom? Big deal gone bad? Now, that would be a story for the books, wouldn’t it?”
I let my voice drip with sarcasm, gritting my teeth, determined to get under his skin before he gets under mine any further.
His smile drops off and I realize I just hit a nerve.
“Whatever your situation is, I actually like my job, this town, and the people I work with. Well, until you showed up,” I retaliate.
He arches an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.
“I’m here for deals, particularly the one for Victoria’s son,” I declare.
“Ah, yes, the infamous deal,” he muses, his tone casual. “Tell me, Myra, will it sting when I take another one of your deals away?”
My jaw tightens at the mention of the two deals he already stole. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much I’m bothered.
Wait a minute. I was right! He knew my name all along. I shrug my shoulders, my lips curling in a smirk, “Guess you looked me up, too, since you just spilled my name. Hurt me? Never. But it”ll hurt when you realize your Chicago ego couldn’t level up to my Summerville charm.”
He tilts his head, his gaze piercing. “I always do my research before making any moves. You think I was gonna work at a place I didn’t know anything about? Feisty, for sure,” he observes, a hint of admiration in his voice. “I like it.”
I roll my eyes, refusing to let his lame attempt at a compliment sway me. “You call that flattery? Save it for someone who cares,” I snap.
“Oh, I fully intend to.” He winks, leaving me speechless and utterly bewildered.
My heart hammers against my ribs as I turn to walk away, my mind a tangled mess of conflicting emotions. This Silas Finn — he”s unlike anything I”ve ever encountered before. And for some inexplicable reason, I can”t decide if I hate him, or if…maybe, just maybe, there”s a suggestion of something else buried beneath the frustration.
As we go our separate ways, I can”t shake the tension that creeps into my stomach. I can”t ignore the nagging voice in the back of my mind that wonders what his game really is.
I take my phone out and dial Scarlett’s number. She answers on the first ring.
“Hey, Myra.”
“I need a favor.”
“What’s up?”
I clear my throat and balance the phone on my ear. “I need you to look into Silas. I need you to find out every single thing about him that you can.”
“But why?”
“Because I need to know my enemy.”