Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Jackson sat at his computer, staring at the research he’d done on Ernie Sinclair.
It was true that the man had grown up outside of Sacramento and had moved to Christmas Grove when he was in his twenties.
He’d gotten into the winery business, but his real estate development business had been what really put him on the map as a successful businessman.
Ernie had a hand in building up some of the neighborhoods in Christmas Grove, but it was really the development of downtown that had been his specialty.
And that hadn’t come without controversy.
There were more than a couple of articles from the town newspaper archives that portrayed Ernie as ruthless.
One story in particular told the tale of Ernie stealing land out from underneath a family that was struggling to pay back taxes and turning that land into a premier winery.
Another article detailed the hostile takeover of a ranch that ended with an interview with a young girl crying because her favorite horse was sold to the highest bidder.
The man that was depicted in the articles didn’t sound anything like the man they’d met that morning, but Jackson knew that successful business people could be deceiving.
Some of the most ruthless were the ones who were the most welcoming and kind, getting people to trust them before they snatched everything right out from beneath them.
He prayed that he was wrong and that Ernie Sinclair wasn’t that kind of man.
But to be as successful as he was, there had to be some truth to the stories. No businessman with his achievements got that far without getting a little dirty.
Jackson hoped that Ernie had kept his word and called Vincent. He fingered the card that Felicity had given him when he’d offered to call and make the appointment. Since she was busy in the store, he had time before he had to go into work.
There was only one way to find out. He picked up the phone and dialed the number on the card.
“Vincent Sinclair’s office,” the nasally voice said on the other end of the line. “How may I help you?”
“Hello,” Jackson said. “My name is Jackson Bell, and I’m calling on behalf of Felicity Hill. We’re hoping to get an appointment to see Mr. Sinclair as soon as possible about some foreclosure paperwork.”
“I’m afraid that Mr. Sinclair is unavailable. I can direct you to our lawyers if you need information about a foreclosure.”
“No, I don’t need the lawyer,” Jackson said patiently. “We spoke with Ernie Sinclair this morning. He specifically said for us to talk to Vincent. He should have called to let the office know we’d be in touch.”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss the internal workings of the office, Mr. Bell. All I can do is take a message. Would you like to leave your number?”
Jackson swallowed his annoyance and left his number.
He could tell by the assistant’s tone that he was unlikely to get a call back.
He’d spent enough years working with corporate offices to know that someone in Vincent’s position didn’t talk to anyone who was in foreclosure, and their only hope of getting an audience was if Ernie made good on his promise to call Vincent.
After his research, he wasn’t at all sure that Ernie would keep his word.
“I’ll just have to keep calling,” Jackson said to himself. “Or go by the office.” The idea was appealing, but he’d give it a little bit of time before he started making a complete nuisance of himself.
The sound of a car door closing caught his attention, and he got up from the kitchen table in the cabin to see who had arrived. As he peered out the front window, he spotted Larry the producer and his sidekick, Trace, getting out of a silver Escalade.
Trace had a phone pressed to his ear while Larry was standing in front of the cabin, gazing at it with a wide smile on his face. The man actually clapped his hands together with glee like a child in a candy store.
Jackson stepped out of the cabin and stood on the front porch. “It looks like you like what you see.”
Larry’s expression instantly went blank. “I didn’t see you there, Jackson.”
“That’s because I was inside,” he said dryly. Larry wasn’t fooling him. He loved the orchard and could see his film being shot there. That meant that Felicity could negotiate a decent rate. “When do you need to start filming?”
The director ignored his question and moved into the field past the cabin where rows and rows of apple trees were lined up.
Trace glanced over at Larry and visibly shuddered as the man walked through the trees. “Be careful, Larry. Don’t let one of them fall on you!”
Larry waved a hand at Trace and just kept walking.
Jackson took a seat on the front porch, unwilling to let the producers out of his sight.
He just wanted to see what they were looking at and what their reactions were.
When Larry returned from the orchard, he walked up to Trace and said, “Make the deal with Ms. Hill. You were right. The orchard is perfect.”
Trace nodded and followed Larry to the Escalade.
The two got in and headed back to the store.
Jackson hopped into his truck and followed them.
He pulled in right beside the Escalade and watched as Larry wandered off, inspecting the property.
He held his hands up in a box shape as if he were studying what a camera shot would look like once he started filming.
Jackson caught Trace rolling his eyes just before he skirted around a tree and headed for the store.
Laughing to himself, Jackson followed Trace and walked right up to Felicity as Trace was handing her the contract.
Felicity immediately handed it to him and said, “Can you check the terms and make sure I’m not getting shafted?”
Trace quickly snatched the paperwork back and said, “Wait. Let me make sure it’s all correct first.”
Jackson swallowed his laugh as Felicity snickered softly.
“I’ll be right back.” Trace hurried out of the store, nearly tripping over his own feet as he went.
“That was interesting,” Felicity said, turning to Jackson. “Was it something I said?” she added jokingly.
“I can’t imagine,” he deadpanned. He assumed that Trace had tried to lowball Felicity, but once she handed him the contract, Trace had realized that Jackson already had a generous contract and would know the offer wasn’t a good one.
Jackson just hoped they offered her something fair.
He didn’t want to spend all day dealing with Trace Rhodes.
When the bell on the door rang again, Trace walked in, a bright smile on his face. He once again handed the paperwork to Felicity, but she didn’t even look at it before passing it to Jackson.
“I think you’ll find the terms more than fair,” Trace told Felicity.
“Jackson Bell is representing me,” she said. “Talk to him.” Then she stepped away to go ring up a customer who had an entire basket full of gifts to purchase.
After reading every last word of the contract, Jackson took out a pen, crossed out the amount they were offering her, and added fifteen percent.
He also jotted down an extra clause that said if they caused any damage to the structures or the orchard, the production company would be liable to pay for repairs or replacements.
Trace gave him a flat stare as he took the paperwork back.
After reading the corrections, he clamped his mouth shut.
Jackson didn’t miss the tension in his jaw as he gave Jackson a slight nod, indicating that he agreed to the terms. Trace stuffed the paperwork into his binder and said, “I’ll be right back. ”
Jackson watched as the man stomped out of the store.
“He doesn’t look happy,” Felicity said.
“He’s not. I got him right up to the upper end of their budget and made them liable for any and all damage.
Larry isn’t going to be happy with his negotiating skills, but Trace wouldn’t have agreed if he hadn’t already been authorized to go that high.
” Jackson stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets and rocked back on his heels, feeling satisfied.
“I’ve done enough deals to know that you got the better end of the bargain. ”
She eyed him. “How much did you get me?”
After he told her the number, she let out a low whistle. “And that’s for just a few days of filming?”
“They say they only need a few days, but you have to be open to them coming back for reshoots,” he said.
“I’m open,” she said, her arms wide as she grinned up at him. “For that kind of cash? They can film here every year.”
He shook his head, amused. “You might want to see how invasive they are before you start signing more contracts, but I agree it seems like easy money.” Jackson just kept his fingers crossed that production was well equipped to handle filming on location without any major issues.
The next time the bell rang, Larry and Trace walked in together. Larry walked over to Felicity and held his hand out to her. “You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Hill. But I have to admit that your orchard is gorgeous. It’s going to be worth every penny.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I can’t wait to see the movie you’re making. When does it come out? Next Christmas?”
“Yes. We’re aiming for the weekend after Thanksgiving. I’ll expect a gift basket after all the fans come out to see the orchard.”
Felicity started to laugh but covered it with a cough as she nodded. “Definitely. When the masses show up, I’ll remember who made that possible.”
“I look forward to it.” Larry gestured for Trace to hand her the paperwork.
She scanned it and then handed it to Jackson for one last look. When he approved it, she signed. Larry signed right after her and then said they’d get her a copy in the mail.
“Oh, no need. I have a copier here. Let me just scan it.” She disappeared into the back and returned a minute later with the contract in an envelope. “Thank you, sir. It’s been a pleasure.”
“It certainly has,” Larry said and then mimed tipping a hat. He handed the paperwork to Trace and then strode out.
Trace tucked the envelope into his jacket pocket and started to follow his boss.
But after two steps, he ran into… or was he attacked by…
a display of greeting cards. Jackson wasn’t quite sure.
What he did know was that he felt a familiar magic tingling in the air, followed by an intense feeling of disgust.
Trace scrambled to get to his feet while Felicity went over to offer him a hand.
“No,” he snapped as he pushed the display off him.
“I don’t know what it is about this place, but it’s a true safety hazard.
I’m going to have to up the insurance policy to make sure we’re covered when the entire crew is here! ”
Jackson heard a faint scoff in the background and a whisper that said, “Don’t trust him.”
“What was that?” Trace asked, glancing around and waving his hands above his head as if he were trying to bat away a fly. “Did someone say something?”
“No,” both Felicity and Jackson said at the same time.
He stared at them for a beat and then huffed as he walked out of the store.
Felicity and Jackson both started to laugh, but they were silenced when the magic around them intensified.
“The fairies are here, and they aren’t happy,” Felicity said.
In Jackson’s mind, he heard one of them say, We don’t trust that man. If he comes back, we’ll only run him off again.
“They don’t like Trace,” Jackson said, stating the obvious.
“I know. But I just don’t know if they hate the idea of the movie filming here, too,” she said as she glanced around as if looking for the fairies to appear.
The magic in the air suddenly felt lighter, and Jackson said, “I think you have your answer.”
She let out a sigh of relief. “Good. We need that money.”
The door opened, and Holly Holiday, the town librarian, walked in, full of Christmas cheer. “Hello, Felicity! Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you, too, Holly. What can I help you with?”
As Felicity helped Holly, Jackson walked out onto the front porch and watched as Larry and Trace climbed into the Escalade and left the property. He felt rather than saw a form materialize beside him. He knew without even needing confirmation that it was Grace, the Christmas fairy.
“You’re doing a good job helping Felicity find her Christmas joy,” the fairy said.
“I’m trying. She’s agreed to go to the Christmas ball with me this weekend,” he said.
“Good.” The fairy pressed her hand to his arm, making his entire body come alive with her magic. “Bring her on a snowmobile ride tonight under the moonlight. We have something planned for her.”
Jackson turned to look at the fairy, but she was already gone, leaving only a trace of her magic behind.