32. Theo
32
THEO
I pace back and forth in my office, the view of the growing resort outside doing nothing to get rid of the anxiety I’m feeling. Negotiations with Steve have been relentless, and I’m starting to feel like I’m fighting a losing battle. The community meeting went well, but convincing Steve of the revised plan’s merits is another story entirely.
“Think, Theo, think,” I mutter to myself, running a hand through my hair. Steve is a businessman through and through, and the bottom line is his priority. He sees the original plan as the most profitable, and he’s not wrong. But this isn’t just about money anymore. It’s about the community, about Mia, and about doing what’s right.
The fact is that the original plan isn’t an option anymore. And if it’s not an option, then we have to move on to the next best thing.
I hear footsteps in the lobby, clicks across the new tile floor, and I look up at my office door, my heart pounding hard as I wait for whoever might come through. Maybe it’s just a contractor with more questions. Maybe it’s a concerned or nosy citizen. Or?—
“Theo,” Steve’s voice is hard and unyielding as he pushes his way into my office. Technically, it’s his office too, but he’s never shown any interest in working on site.
“Steve.” I hold my hand out to her, and he hesitates before taking it. He shakes it, and his grip is firm, just like his voice. I can tell that he didn’t come here to chat about the weather. I wish I was better prepared to face this conversation.
“I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I’m not budging. The original plan is the best course of action. We both agreed to it, and you can’t back out now.”
“Steve, we’ve been over this. The original plan isn’t an option due to Mia’s unwillingness to sell the property.”
“Then push her more. Everyone gives at a certain point. You just haven’t found that point yet for her.”
“I’m not willing to push her anymore.”
Steve smirks, and I dislike the distance in his eyes. I partnered with him on this project because he’s a big investor. Someone I trust recommended him as the person to have on board for a project this size. But now, I’m not sure why I ever thought I could do this. I can’t handle Steve’s pushiness. “Roberts, you have to decide what’s more important to you—a profit or a girl who will move on in a few months anyway. Something lasting or something temporary? You’re good-looking. Don’t tell me you can’t get laid if you really want to.”
“I would prefer if we keep my sex life off the table for discussion. Thank you. The point is that the second plan gives us a profit. We won’t be losing money. The money we make will be split as we agreed, and we can invest it in new projects. The community is excited about this plan too, so to go changing it by?—”
“That’s not my problem. The revised plan isn’t profitable enough. Maybe it is for you, but I’ve had money tied up here for months, and the resort isn’t being finished fast enough.”
I grit my teeth, frustration bubbling up. “If we push the original plan, we’ll alienate the entire community. We need their support, or this project will fail. Don’t you realize the power one news article can have? All it would take is one person writing about how the resort stamped out one of its own resident’s dreams of a bed and breakfast and there goes any chance we have. Oak Island is small and has to be treated with care.”
Steve’s voice lowers, taking on a more threatening tone. “Listen, Theo, I’ve been patient, but my patience is wearing thin. Either you get on board with the original plan, or I’ll find someone who will. Don’t think I won’t.”
Steve marches out of the office abruptly, leaving me staring at the door in disbelief. The threat hangs heavy in the air, and I know Steve isn’t bluffing. He’s capable of following through, and that puts me in an impossible position. Would he really buy me out so that I have no say-so in the project anymore? The very idea makes me worried for Mia and how he might force her to sell.
I slump into my chair, running my hands over my face. How did it come to this? Everything was going so well, and now I’m trapped between a rock and a hard place. I know I need to tell Mia, to be honest with her about what’s happening, but the thought of her reaction terrifies me. She’s already suspicious, and this will only confirm her worst fears.
A buzz pulls me from my thoughts. This time, it’s a text message from Steve. I open it, my stomach twisting as I read the words:
You have until the end of the week to decide. Don’t make me do something we’ll both regret.
The threat is clear, and the deadline only adds to the pressure. I can’t keep this from Mia much longer, but I’m not ready to face her anger and disappointment. Not yet.
I stand up, slip on my sandals, and head for the door. I need to clear my head, to figure out a way to handle this without losing everything. The beach is just a short walk away, and the sound of the waves always helps me think.
The walk to the beach is quiet, the only sound the crunch of gravel under my feet. The sun is starting to set, casting a golden glow over the water. I breathe in the salty air, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
As I reach the shoreline, I kick off my sandals and let the sand cool my feet. The waves lap gently at my toes, and for a moment, I close my eyes, letting the sound soothe me. But I can’t stay here forever, hiding from my problems.
Steve is working his hardest to drive a wedge between Mia and me, and I can’t let that happen.
When I return to the resort, Mia is on her front porch. I almost don’t see her, but then, she moves.
I head toward her porch instead of the resort. Maybe I can hide from this a little longer and pretend that everything is okay.
When I reach the top step, Mia stands. “I just finished eating dinner. Do you want some?”
I nod, but Mia doesn’t immediately respond. She just scans my face for a moment like she can see the worry physically on my face. I do my best to smile. “What did you make?”
“Chicken fajitas. I cut way too many bell peppers though, so I hope you like peppers.”
“Love them.” I sit at Mia’s dining room table, and she brings my plate out a moment later. I can feel her eyes on me as I eat. Something has shifted between us, but I don’t know how to fix it.
I need to come clean, let her know how I’m being pressured, but I think if I even bring up the words “bigger resort,” she might chase me out of here with a broom or hammer or whatever else she has lying around.
I take another bite of my fajita, and when I look up, Mia is watching me. She doesn’t even try to act like she wasn’t.
“The meeting with everyone last week went well, huh? It seemed like everyone liked the idea of free amenities for a year.”
I frown, not sure why she’s bringing it up now. “Yeah, I thought it was a good way to combine my goals with what the community needs.”
“Kind of like bribery?” Mia tilts her head to the side in the cutest way that she almost offsets the challenge in her words. But I catch it anyway.
“Sure, you could call it that. But it’s some pretty great bribery. Besides, not all bribes are bad. I remember when my little sister was being potty trained. My parents gave her candy every time she went on the toilet. That’s like bribery, isn’t it? But nobody has a problem with it.”
Mia smiles a little, and I know that I hit the spot with that story. I take another bite of fajita.
“Sure, okay, bribery doesn’t have to be a bad thing, as long as it’s honest. People would be really disappointed if they thought you were going to do something, then they found out that wasn’t the case after all, like if they thought they were getting pool tables and movies and everything and…they didn’t.”
“Sure, yeah, that makes sense. But I keep my promises. Why? Has… someone said I don’t?”
I think about Steve’s surprise visit to Mia’s house with a different offer. What if he’s come over again and been whispering in her ear about how I don’t keep my promises and I won’t do everyone on Oak Island right?
“No, I… I just wanted to make sure.”
“You know me. I keep my promises.”
Mia grabs a rag and starts cleaning the already-clean counter. “Sure, I do, but it’s been a long time. Things can change, and…money also changes people.”
I want to disagree with her right away, but something tells me I should keep my mouth shut. “Yeah, that’s true.”
With one last bite, I finish my fajita and dust my hands off on my jeans. I want to stay. I want to pull Mia into my arms and whisper to her that I’m taking care of her the best way I know how. But I don’t think she would let me. She wouldn’t let me hug her, kiss her, and make promises to her.
So, I just stand, desperate to escape the awkwardness and figure out a way to deal with Steve’s threat.
“Thanks for the food. You’re a great cook.”
“But now you need to get back to work,” Mia finishes my excuse.
“Yeah, I… There are some things I have to get done.”
“Well, have a good evening then.” Mia continues to scrub at the counter.
I hesitate beside my chair, still trying to decide if I should make a move. But everything in my gut is screaming that this is the wrong moment. I need to keep waiting. I need to figure out my life, my investments, first.
Mia can’t come first right now, and even though it’s true, I realize how wrong it is.