CHAPTER 2
Hugh
The engine roars beneath me as I gun my yellow Aston Martin down the winding countryside lanes, tires hugging the asphalt like a lover who won’t let go. It’s early April, my favorite time—spring clawing its way out of winter’s grip, wildflowers popping up in messy bursts of yellow and purple along the hedgerows. The air rushing through the gap in the window, smells of new grass, rain, and damp earth.
I breathe it in deep, letting it flood my lungs, a sharp contrast to the smell of exhaust fumes and crowds of hurrying bodies in London. The cityis a beast, holding opportunity and riches beyond imagination for the ruthless, but this? This is peace. I come back here at least once a month—my manor, my sanctuary—to rest, recharge, shake off the stresses of running billions in assets.
My phone buzzes in the center console, a harsh rattle against the leather. I snatch it up, thumbing the screen alive. Athena’s name glows. She’s my assistant, sharp as a tack and shockingly competent. I hit the speaker, keeping one hand on the wheel as the car purrs around a bend.
“Yeah?”
“Good Morning, Sir,” she says in her clipped, super-efficient voice.“Good news. Barrington the granddaughter is American, I hear. No word from her yet. The fact she hasn’t turned up is good news. Maybe she’s not interested in the property at all. Maybe she’ll accept your offer. We can live in hope.”
I lean back, jaw tightening.“Hope? No, that’s not how I run things.I want that land and I’m going to get it by hook or by crook. It’s a fucking disgrace, just sitting there rotting—ruins the view, drags the look of whole estate down. You know how stunning it could be if I got my hands on it. And no neighbors for miles—complete privacy. I’m not waiting. I’m going to hire someone to work on it.”
“Preston’s firm will be able to sort it all out for you. They’re clever. The real worry are those horrible developers, Harrington Group. They’re always trying to buy up chunks of the countryside, and I hear they’ve been sniffing around. If that girl hears from them first and sells, it’ll be lost for good. You’ll never pry it back from those vultures.”
My grip tightens on the cup, heat seeping into my palm. Harringtons. Greedy bastards with their glass towers and tacky resorts. The thought of them sinking their claws into the land next me makes me want to punch something. ‘They’ll completely devastate the whole area if she sells to them.”
My mother nods, sipping her tea.“You do indeed have to move fast. If I hear anything more about the granddaughter, I’ll let you know, of course.”
I nod, already halfway out the room, fishing my phone from my pocket. The hall echoes with my steps—polished wood, portraits of hundreds of years worth of ancestors staring down at me. I dial my lawyer, Edward, pacing as it rings. He picks up on the second ring.
“Why the delay?’ I ask. “Haven’t you found her yet?’
“Rest assured, there’s no delay, Sir. Everything is under control. We’ve got her details, and we’ll send them over in the next hours so you can reach out and make an offer.”
“Alright,” I reply, somewhat consoled.“I’ll expect these details today?”
“We’ll do our very best, Sir.”