23. Mia
23
MIA
The house is finally starting to look like the bed and breakfast I envisioned. The sunroom, which Theo and I worked on together, is a bright and inviting space. The living room now looks like something out of a novel with its fireplace and bookshelf of exciting reads for my guests. Each bedroom has been lovingly decorated, capturing the cozy, vintage charm that my grandmother’s house always had.
It’s time to take the next step. I still need to order some new sheets, get a couple of updated appliances for the kitchen and do a few other small things, but for the most part, it’s ready. Now, it’s time to take pictures of the space and start listing it places. I need guests to be able to find me.
I step back and look at the living room through the lens of my camera, adjusting the angle slightly. I’m trying a few different filters, lenses, and angles, because the truth is that I have absolutely no experience taking photos. I just want it to look good. I want people to see the photos and think the place looks so cozy that they couldn’t imagine just staying in a regular hotel.
This place is finally coming together, and I can't wait to start taking reservations. The thought of welcoming guests here, of sharing this special place with others, fills me with a hopeful sense of excitement.
My next task is to cook a typical “breakfast.” Since I’ll be listing the rooms as part of a bed and breakfast, people will want to know what the breakfast includes. The best way to display that will be to cook a typical breakfast, lay it out on the dining room table, and take pictures of the food.
Rolling my sleeves up, I get to work in the kitchen, putting biscuits in the oven. I’m going to have a lot of food when I’m done, but I want to make sure the breakfast buffet looks its best.
Once the biscuits are in the oven, I work on some scrambled eggs and bacon, the savory smell of them filling the house.
I can’t believe that I might be doing this on the daily if I get guests to book as soon as August.
A knock sounds on the front door. I pause what I’m doing, listening closely, trying to make sure I’m not imagining sounds now.
Wiping my hands on my jeans, I walk to the front door and open it to find a man in a crisp suit standing there. It takes a moment, but then I recognize him. This is Theo’s business partner. His stern expression immediately sets me on edge.
“Hello, Miss Phillips,” he says, extending a hand. “My name is Steve. I’m Theo’s business partner.”
I shake his hand, wary. “Hello, Steve.” I want to ask him what the hell he’s doing here, but I’m not quite that open with people when I first meet them. I know I met him the other day, but I was seeing red as I complained about the materials’ location, so I barely even looked at Steve. For all I knew, he was just a contractor. But today, it’s clear he’s much higher up than any of the contractors working on the neighboring property.
He doesn’t waste any time. “I’m here to make you one final offer for the property.” He hands me an envelope. “It’s a very generous offer, significantly higher than the previous ones my partner thought would get you moving.”
I take the envelope, but I don’t open it right away. Instead, I study Steve. “So, Theo sent you here?” I ask, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice. It’s not working very well.
“Theo and I are partners, yes. I understand that he’s made you a couple of offers, and you refused them. This is one you won’t be able to refuse.”
I want to laugh in Steve’s face, because if he thinks there’s an offer I won’t be able to refuse inside this envelope, then he doesn’t know me very well. I can and will refuse anything, but curiosity gets the best of me.
I open the envelope and scan the document. The number is, indeed, much higher than any of Theo’s previous offers, but there’s something about Steve’s demeanor that feels off, almost like a threat.
He’s standing just inside the doorway even though I don’t remember telling him to come inside. He leans forward eagerly and nods at me as though willing me to accept it.
“I’ve already told Theo I’m not interested in selling,” I say, handing the envelope back to him.
Steve’s tone becomes colder. “I strongly advise you to reconsider. This is the best offer you’re going to get. If you refuse, things might get…complicated.”
I feel a surge of anger. “Is that a threat? Because you don’t want to start threatening me. I know my rights.”
Steve smooths his hair back even though it doesn’t need any smoothing. The gel is holding it perfectly in place. He holds his hands up in a show of innocence. “I would never threaten anyone. I’m just letting you know the facts.”
“The facts are that this is my property, unless you want to try to claim you’re some long-lost relative of my grandmother’s and you should have been included in the will.” I laugh aloud at the ridiculousness of the idea. “Let me tell you a fact, even though you probably don’t want to hear it. You should have secured the property you wanted before you started building. You shouldn’t have started building a resort that needs more space when you don’t have more space.”
Steve’s face changes. He’s no longer smiling that slippery smile that bordered on flirtatiousness. He’s now serious. Still suave, but serious. “Theo is very determined to see this project through. He’s a good man, but he understands the importance of business. It’s better for everyone if you agree to the sale.”
I can’t believe Theo would send his partner to do his dirty work. I can’t trust Theo, even though he said he and his partner don’t agree about the property. How well do I really know him after all these years? The betrayal stings more than I care to admit. “You can tell Theo that I’m not interested in his offer. I’m not interested in your offer. In fact, I’d like you to leave my property now.”
But Steve doesn’t back up. He doesn’t disappear back through the door. He continues to stand there, and that only angers me even more.
“Do I need to speak more slowly so you can understand?” I ask, barely keeping my anger in check.
“I understood you perfectly. I’m just not sure that you understood me .” Steve’s voice has gotten lower, and I don’t want to admit it, but I feel a little intimidated.
“I understood you, but I’m not accepting your offer. People are allowed to refuse, you know. Just because you have money doesn’t mean everyone else has to fall in line and do exactly what you want them to do. Offer me five million next time. Ten million, even. I’m not going to accept.”
I look over my shoulder at the homey space I’ve made of the living room. Steve isn’t a person who would understand. I can’t even try to explain to him what restoring this place means to me. A home—a place where I can make other people feel at home. But Steve only sees dollar signs. And Theo, too.
I can’t believe he sent Steve over here after telling me that he was dropping the idea. He was even willing to put the project on hold while they figured things out. I made love to him. I opened up to him.
And now this? It feels like betrayal of the highest order.
“Perhaps you don’t have a financial advisor who can help you with these choices. I’d be happy to recommend you one. He can help you work through options and what you could do with this sort of money.” Steve wiggles the envelope again like he thinks I might be tempted to take it.
“No, no, and no. I don’t want anything from you. I don’t want your financial advisor friends, or your money, or anything to do with the resort. Now, get off my property, or I’m going to call the police.”
Steve finally understands that I’m being serious. He steps back over the threshold, onto the porch. I don’t want him to say anything else.
I close the door in Steve’s face, my hands shaking with fury. How dare Theo try to intimidate me like this?
I pace back and forth on my side of the door as I listen for Steve’s footsteps to move away. How dare he? I’m absolutely furious, and even though I know I should give myself a chance to cool down first, my feet are heading in the direction of Theo’s resort before five minutes have passed.
I can’t let this go. I have to confront him.