Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Charlie
My feet unconsciously shift back and forth from nerves as I stand in the deli, waiting for the order I called in thirty minutes ago.
I was hoping it would be done already, but it’s unusually busy today and looks understaffed.
Hayes is going to be livid if he finds out I ran across the street by myself, but I wasn’t prepared for the line of people out the door and Olivia was on the phone.
I’m back to being a prisoner of the fear that is Carter and I’m trying not to let it completely cripple me.
Officially, one week has passed since the flower debacle and I keep seeing them pop up every now and then.
Most of the town knows what’s going on, though, and has been throwing them away.
There’s still no proof that Carter has been sending them, but Detective Paul assures me every day that he is keeping a close eye on the situation.
It’s a blessing to know that he cares so much and is taking this just as seriously as we are.
Hayes has barely left my side for the last week, to the point where I have to convince him to leave me alone so that I can use the bathroom by myself.
It took thirty minutes for me to convince him to go have some guy time, but he acquiesced when I told him guns and ammo would be involved and I wouldn’t leave Olivia’s side.
Whoops. At least I know that he’s spending the afternoon blowing off steam, as he knows best. Hopefully he comes home in a better mood because the brooding is only adding to my anxiety.
Lost in thought, daydreaming about Hayes, I feel a hand reach out and touch my elbow, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin.
“Shoot! Sorry, Charlie!” Camilla looks at me with eyes full of remorse and the initial panic I felt dissipates. Camilla was one of the first people I met when I moved here and is the least threatening person in the entire town.
“Not your fault at all! I was distracted and evidently very jumpy.”
She giggles and nods. “Sounds like you have a right to be. The flowers? What the hell?”
My eyes roll as I shake my head. “It’s insane. This guy is completely insane.”
“Yeah, that’s putting it nicely. The entire town is ready to grab their pitchforks and storm to South Carolina, though. You’re loved here, girl. If you need anything, please let us know.” She says it with such sincerity that I can’t help but feel loved.
“Thank you. I appreciate everyone here so much.” I give her a hug and pull back. “What’s new with you? Dating anyone?”
“Ugh. No. I can’t even think about that right now.
We just heard from our landlord that they’re selling our building.
My parents are freaking out. We’ve been renting from them for years, and they just sprung it on us.
If they hadn’t just invested so much into the vineyard next to our farm, it wouldn’t be a problem. ”
“You’re kidding me?! I’ll talk to Olivia and see what she thinks.” Olivia knows more about the town than the mayor does. She’s friends with everyone and they love her. I’m honestly surprised she doesn’t know about this yet. The woman has eyes and ears everywhere, it seems.
Camilla and I spend another ten minutes talking about the property before my food is ready and I say goodbye. It already sounds like an incredible investment. The building is right on Main Street, the sellers aren’t looking to make a ton of money, and we already know and trust the tenants.
“Olivia!” I yell while running up the stairs of the office. “OLIVIA!” By the time I make it to the top of the stairs, she’s stepping out of our office, panic written all over her face at my screaming. Oops. The one time I went anywhere alone and now I’m screaming for her.
“It’s good! I’m good.” I speak breathlessly. In hindsight, running and yelling probably wasn’t my smartest idea.
Her shoulders visibly relax. “What’s going on?”
“I just ran into Camilla at the deli. She told me the building they're leasing is about to go up for sale. Apparently, the owners are from California and need to liquidate a bunch of their assets. She only knows because they just called her. They can’t buy it because they just bought the vineyard.”
Olivia smirks at me and sings, “Someone’s caught the investor bug.” She laughs and then says, “Seriously, you’ve brought me more property listings than my real estate agent.”
I grin back at her, full of pride. “So you want to look at it? It would be perfect for your portfolio!”
She purses her lips and then shakes her head. “Nah.”
Shock rocks through me that she isn’t interested. Olivia has always been involved in investing in the town. She hates when outsiders buy up all the property just to rent it out, especially because they always jack up the prices.
“Why the hell not? Do you think it’ll be overpriced?”
She shrugs. “I’m not worried about that. I don’t have enough time to handle any more properties right now. Not until I hire a new “you” and then give you the promotion you deserve, anyway.”
My shoulders fall as I say, “Oh.” Then it hits me, “Wait, what?”
She grins from ear to ear. “I want you to be my COO. You can make the small decisions and report to me on the big stuff, but I trust you. You’re getting an assistant, a raise, and an actual title.”
My jaw drops further with each word she says, completely in disbelief. “Me? You want to make me your COO?”
“Yep. You’ve earned it!”
A very unladylike squeal screeches out of me as I do a small happy dance.
Olivia laughs and gives me a hug. “I was planning on sitting you down and telling you all business-like, but this was way more fun!”
“I have to call Hayes!” He’s with Dan, Luke, and Levi at the shooting range, having guy time. The four of them have become quite the man tribe.
Hayes answers in the first ring, “Hey, Sunshine.”
“Guess what?! You’re talking to the new COO of Cascades Property Management! And I’m getting an assistant!” I squeal into the phone again, not able to hide my excitement. I went from an unknown assistant to the COO of a huge company.
“No shit? Congratulations, beautiful!”
“Thanks, babe! I’ll let you get back to shoot’n guns. I love you!”