Chapter Nine
Zade
It's been a week since the town meeting, and things in Cody have gone from bad to worse.
The atmosphere in Cody has shifted completely, and even the usually calm locals are on edge.
Juniper Harding has taken it upon herself to rally against the resort project, flooding social media with calls to protect the park.
To make things worse, she’s managed to convince the townspeople to file a lawsuit against me.
They’re arguing that my resort plans don’t just threaten the town’s character—they also violate several environmental regulations and local laws.
It’s clear she’s determined to stop me, and she’s not letting up.
Despite my best efforts, her campaign is gaining serious traction. More people are rallying behind her cause every day, and it’s not just the usual crowd of tree-huggers. Local business owners, the backbone of this town, are starting to waver.
Sitting in Brian's office, I’m wrestling with how to deal with the mess Juniper’s stirring up, but it's only making my frustration worse.
After another round of pointless meetings with Brian Ellis that led nowhere, I can't take it anymore.
My head's pounding, so I skip the driver and drive myself to the local café.
I step into the café and take a moment to soak in the cozy atmosphere.
It’s my first time here, so I head to the counter and order a black coffee—safe and simple.
As I wait, my eyes wander around the room, taking in the warm lighting and inviting space.
That is when I spot her—Juniper—sitting by the window, completely absorbed in a book.
The barista hands me my coffee, and I wrap my fingers around the warm mug, letting it ground me as I take another look at Juniper.
The sunlight catches the soft waves of her dark hair, and for a moment, she seems..
. different. She doesn’t look like a problem right now.
Just someone reading in peace. Her glasses catch the light a little.
They make her look more... focused, I guess.
Different than I’m used to seeing her. It messes with my head more than I want to admit.
With my coffee in hand, I stroll over, curiosity getting the better of me. “Hey there,” I greet her, pulling up a chair without waiting for an invitation. “What’s so interesting that it’s got all your attention?”
She looks up, clearly annoyed by the interruption. “I was enjoying some peace before you showed up. Can I help you with something?”
I lean back in the chair, my smirk widening as I catch a glimpse of the book cover she’s trying to hide.
It’s one of those covers—a half-naked guy with rippling abs, his jeans hanging low on his hips, and a sultry, windswept woman clinging to him like he ’s the last man on earth.
“Is that why I’m getting the cold shoulder?
Is that smutty novel of yours too distracting?
The cover alone could make a grown man blush. ”
Her eyes narrow, a flush creeping up her neck. “Careful, or I’ll read you a passage out loud. Let’s see how you handle that.”
I chuckle, raising my coffee cup in a mock toast. “I’m game. But don’t be surprised if I start asking for pointers. It seems like you’ve got some steamy secrets in those pages.”
“What do you want, Zade?” she asks, enunciating each word with careful precision. Her annoyance is obvious as she rolls her eyes.
I raise my coffee cup in a mock toast, still grinning. “I’m all for a good chat, but why so frosty? Maybe we’re not as different as you think.”
Her eyes harden, and she leans back, crossing her arms. “With you? Every word has a motive. So, what’s your angle?”
I tap my lips, pretending to think it over. “Maybe I’m just intrigued by you. Or maybe I’m planning to dismantle your campaign, piece by piece. Life’s full of surprises.”
“You’re impossible,” she mutters, clearly done with the conversation.
“Impossibly charming, I’d say,” I correct, standing up. “But don’t worry, I’ll leave you to your book.”
As I step outside, th e brisk air hits me, refreshing after the warmth of the café. I lean against my car, sipping my coffee, feeling oddly satisfied. That is when I notice it—Juniper’s bicycle, parked right nearby. A mischievous idea forms in my head. It’s childish, sure, but I can’t resist.
After a quick glance around to make sure no one’s watching, I casually walk over to her bike.
A silent deflation of her tires takes care of business.
When she finally exits the coffee shop, she looks relaxed, almost content—until she sees her bike.
Her face scrunches up. At first, she just looks thrown.
Then her jaw sets, and her hand shoots to her bike like she already knows exactly what went wrong.
I stroll over, putting on my best concerned expression. “Hey, need a hand?”
She glares at me, suspicion flashing in her eyes. “What are you still doing here?”
“Just enjoying a coffee,” I say innocently, holding up my cup like it’s evidence. “But it looks like you could use some help with those tires.”
“No thanks,” she snaps, her tone icy. She starts to walk her bike away, clearly too stubborn to accept my offer.
I follow her in my car, driving slowly alongside. “You know, you really shouldn’t be walking. Let me give you a ride.”
“I’d rather walk than accept help from you,” she retorts.
“Suit yourself,” I say with a smi rk. “But it’s a long walk home, and those jeans... well, let’s just say they’re gonna make it hard for me not to follow you.”
She stops and turns to me, her face flushed with anger. “You are such an asshole!”
“Thanks, I try,” I reply with a wink.
She starts walking again, faster this time. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
“Because you make it so much fun,” I tease. “Plus, I enjoy our little chats. Don’t you?”
“No, I don’t,” she says firmly. “And if you keep talking, I might just throw this bike at your car.”
“Now that would be interesting to see,” I laugh. “But seriously, Juniper, why do you hate me so much?”
She stops again, turning to face me fully. “You really want to know? It’s because you think you can come into this town, throw your money around, and change everything! You don’t care about us or this town!”
I raise an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. “And what makes you think I don’t care?”
“Because you’re all the same,” she says, her voice rising. “You and Brian. If you’re working with a guy like him, I know exactly what kind of person you are.”
“I’m working with him, but I’m also friends with Axel. You like him just fine,” I counter.
“Axel is very different from you,” she snaps. “He cares about people, about things bigger than himself. You... just by talking to you, I know you ’re selfish, ambitious. You don’t see Cody as a home. You see it as a project.”
I lean out the window a bit more. “Well, I do see it as a project. But it can be a good project. You just need to stop persuading people to oppose me.”
Her face turns bright red with fury. “You arrogant bastard,” she spits out. “You think you can just buy this town and everyone in it? You’re delusional, Zade.”
I nod, my tone softening just a touch. “I get it. You care. But so do I. We just care in different ways.”
She lets out a mirthless laugh. “Wow, you care about Cody! What? Do I look like an idiot? All you care about is money.”
She turns and starts walking again, faster now, as if she can outrun the conversation.
I follow, still driving slowly next to her.
“Come on, Juniper, let’s not pretend this is just about money.
Sure, I want to profit from this town, but don’t insult me by thinking that’s all there is to it.
You’re smart—you should know better. This town.
. It’s only gonna get better with my resort project. ”
She shoots me another glare. “You really think you’re clever, don’t you? That you can just outsmart everyone with a few well-placed words and a smug smile.”
“I don’t think I’m clever, Juniper,” I reply, my tone shifting into that mocking, know-it-all cadence. “I know I am. And the sooner you accept that, the sooner we can have a real conversation about what’s good for Cody.”
She stops abruptly, t urning to face me with a look that could melt steel. “You are the most arrogant, infuriating man I’ve ever met.”
I smile. “Thanks, I’ve been working on it.”
She crosses her arms, clearly trying to figure out whether it’s worth continuing this conversation. “Why can’t you just leave things as they are? Why do you feel the need to change everything?”
“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, Juniper,” I say, leaning back in my seat.
“Things don’t stay the same forever. They either get better, or they get worse.
And right now, this town is on the fast track to becoming a quaint little ghost town.
But with a bit of investment, a bit of forward thinking. ”
She glares at me. “You think you can twist everything to make it sound like you’re the good guy, but you’re not fooling anyone, Zade. Least of all me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of trying to fool you,” I say with a smirk. “But let’s be honest here—you and I, we’re not so different. We both want what’s best for Cody; we just have different ideas of what that looks like.”
She scoffs. “Don’t even try to compare us. You’re nothing like me.”
“True, I’m better dressed,” I say, gesturing to my tailored suit. “But beyond that, we’re both fighting for what we believe in. You’re just doing it with hashtags and heartfelt speeches, while I’m doing it with business plans and capital investment.”
“Don’t touch that park, Zade. Don’t destroy this town,” she pleads, her voice trembling with something raw, something deeper than anger.
“I honestly don’t give a damn about the people here, but that park—it’s different.
It’s unique. There’s a quiet beauty to it, something you won’t find anywhere else.
It’s untouched by all the noise and chaos you’re so eager to bring in.
And... it’s where my Grams is. Leave it as it is.
Not everything needs to be bought or built over. ”
“Grams?” I ask. My curiosity is piqued despite myself.
“We scattered my grandma’s ashes there. That place is close to my heart.”
“Oh, please,” I cut in, unable to resist, my voice laced with sarcasm. “Spare me the Hallmark speech.”
Her eyes flash with anger. “Huh! You can pretend to be a good guy all you want, Zade, but at the end of the day, you’re just another rich prick who thinks he can buy his way into control. You don’t get it, and you never will.”
I meet her gaze, unflinching. “And you’ll never get anywhere if you keep seeing every opportunity as a threat. But hey, keep fighting the good fight, Juniper. Just remember—every hero needs a villain, and I’m more than happy to play the part.”
She stares at me for a long moment, her chest rising and falling with each angry breath. Then, without another word, she turns and starts walking again, faster than before. I watch her go, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.