7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Leo
I didn’t think it was possible, but I think Juliet hates me even more than she already did.
I breathe in the smell of freshly ground coffee beans as I sit inside near the front window of one of the local coffee shops. Even in a quiet, slow-paced establishment like this, I still can’t find any peace.
My mind refuses to let me relax.
Not only am I having to run my company from across the country, but I’m also having to make some of the toughest decisions of my life.
Where am I going to bury Dad when he’s gone? Do I keep or sell his beloved Corvette that he used to take my mom for rides in on the highway with the top down? Who do I give the estate to if I decide not to keep it and if I do keep it, who will run things?
And, of course, what do I do about the family business?
I barely have any answers to all of my questions, and Juliet’s and my father’s constant disappointment in me isn’t helping me make confident decisions.
I take a sip of my americano and peer through the window, watching a few people make their way up and down the sidewalk. It feels like everyone moves in slow motion here. No one rushes anywhere.
I can’t believe I used to live here. I used to be one of these people until I decided to change. To make the most of my life somewhere bigger with more opportunities.
It worked out.
The bell over the door dings as a dark, haired man strides inside. He glances over at me and grins for a second before heading in my direction.
I straighten up, not knowing what to expect.
“Leo Galloway? ”
“And you are?” I question him, suspicion creeping up the back of my neck.
The man sticks his hand out the moment he gets close enough to my table. “Devon Ramos. I own Mile High Construction and Development out in Denver.”
I shake his hand. “How do you know who I am?”
Devon chuckles before inviting himself to take a seat at my table. “You and your father are town legends. The family behind one of the most lucrative businesses in town.”
We don’t exactly have that much competition, and we’re steadily running out of money as we speak.
But I don’t say any of that to a stranger. Especially not one in the same industry.
“You’ve done your homework. I’m sure you also know that I’ve left to start my own company in New York City.”
Devon nods, his expression turning more serious. “And I also know that your father is battling cancer.”
My hand clenches on my thigh, my heartbeat sounding in my ears. Something about everyone knowing that my father is dying makes me uneasy .
“Why are you here?” I question him.
Devon leans forward to rest his hands on the table. “I’ve talked to your father a few times about a possible business deal. He has been…reluctant to work with me, though. I assume that you’re back in town to take over.”
Everyone must assume that.
“What business deal?” I reply, unable to help my curiosity.
The side of his mouth curls up.
“I’m interested in buying your father’s company. I’d like to combine it with my own,” Devon explains.
My eyebrows lift. “You’d supply the construction side of your business with the materials made from the logging facility.”
His grin broadens as he nods. “I figured you would understand. It’s good business, and I’d be willing to pay you a handsome amount.”
I tap my fingers against my thigh as I think. If the company is given to me, I could sell it to Devon and not have to worry about it any longer. I could go back to New York with a big check and funnel it into my own business .
After setting a chunk aside to deal with the estate. Maybe I’ll sell that too.
What would I need it for? I have a huge penthouse in the city, and I don’t see myself traveling back and forth between Evergreen Heights and New York. I’d just be losing money paying all the property taxes for the estate.
“Did my father give a reason for saying no?”
Devon threads his fingers together. “I admire him. He’s a great businessman, but I’d chalk his resistance up to plain stubbornness. The company is his baby. He doesn’t seem like the type to sell it to just anyone.”
His baby. Yeah, that seems about right.
“That does sound like him,” I murmur.
“I’ve had several conversations with him trying to convince him,” Devon replies.
“Recently?”
“Our last talk was a month ago,” Devon says before chuckling. “He’s got a pretty nurse looking after him.”
My blood burns hot as I force myself not to glare at him. She’s not my girlfriend, but the thought of him ogling at her makes me want to get up from this table, punch him and leave.
That’s a stupid move though, especially since I’m somewhat interested in his offer.
It would spare me the headache of finding someone else to run the company, but I know that selling to Devon would make my father and his father roll in their graves. It’s a family business.
I was always expected to run things when Dad retired, and I was willing to do it until things soured between us.
I should just sell the damn company and put my back to this town, but there’s something deep within me that’s having a hard time letting go of it all.
“We’re quite a ways from Denver,” I comment. “Wouldn’t it be a hassle going back and forth?”
Devon waves his hand nonchalantly. “It wouldn’t be a hassle to me. Besides, this is a charming little town. I don’t mind visiting.”
At least he isn’t some cutthroat businessman who only sees dollar signs. I’ve dealt with plenty of them back in the city .
“Are you planning on overhauling anything or making any changes?” I ask him.
Devon tilts his head a little. “I’m sure I’d make some changes to fit how I run my own businesses, but I wouldn’t know what I would change until I see under the hood.”
If I kept the company for a short time, I’d make changes myself. I don’t know why I feel like I need to be informed of what he would do.
Evergreen Heights is welcoming of outsiders, but I don’t know if I can say the same for my family.
“When are you trying to purchase the company?”
Devon shifts in his seat. “I don’t mean to sound uncaring in regard to your father and his legacy, but I’m willing to buy it as soon as today. Do you have control of the company currently?”
I can’t do that. There’s no way I can sell the company while he’s still alive. Despite how shitty he has made me feel, the guilt would eat me alive.
“Not yet. I haven’t gotten around to getting the paperwork together for that. ”
Devon nods, a sympathetic look forming on his face. “Of course. You have other things on your plate. There’s no rush from me.”
He’d probably run the company well. He seems invested and cool-headed.
“Put your contact in my phone. I’ll need some time to think things over, but I’d be willing to have another conversation with you,” I tell him as I slide my phone over to him.
Devon takes my phone eagerly. “I had a feeling you’d be good to work with. You’ve done some incredible projects with your company in New York.”
“I poured a lot of time, effort, and money into my business,” I reply, remembering the years of struggling on my own until I finally landed some investors who believed in me.
Once the money started rolling in, I built something incredible. Something I could be proud of.
My investors are quite happy as well.
“And it all paid off,” Devon says before handing my phone back to me. “I know where you’re coming from. It took a while to get Mile High off the ground, but when it finally did, business soared. I’m thinking of expanding to Boulder eventually.”
The corner of my mouth curls up. “I was considering expanding to Boston in the future.”
Devon laughs. “Look at us. Pulling off our wildest dreams.”
I’ve always wanted to be in the development space. It was exciting seeing what all of our lumber was turned into, whether it was houses for families, popular restaurants, or someone’s first business. We were the foundation for people’s dreams.
When I decided not to run the family business, I knew that I wanted to stay in the same industry. Not only was it what I was taught, but it was also my passion. It feels like it’s in my blood.
“How long are you going to be in town for?” I ask him as we both stand from the table.
“I’m heading back tomorrow, but I visit every so often. Any time you want to talk, just give me a call. I’d be happy to come back,” Devon replies before holding his hand out. “ It’ll be great doing business with you, Leo. I have a good feeling about this.”
He seems confident that I’ll agree to work with him, but I guess I can’t blame him. He knows that it’s a good deal for someone who already has another business outside of the family company.
“See you soon,” I tell him as I shake his hand.
Devon nods and turns to walk out of the coffee shop, leaving me alone with his offer.
I feel like I need to consider every option before me. If I do that, I’ll feel less guilty if I decide to sell everything.
I can’t just give up all my hard work in New York, and I don’t know if the trouble of running both companies will be worth it. That’ll stretch me thin, and that’ll require me to come back to Evergreen Heights more times than I’m comfortable with.
This place is just full of painful memories.
I toss my almost empty coffee cup in the trash and head out of the coffee shop, figuring I should go look over more paperwork. That’ll give me a clearer, more logical perspective of what the best thing to do is .
Turning the business around will be a pain, and maybe it’ll be better to let someone else take on that burden.
My phone rings. I pull it out of the pocket of my coat, expecting to see a call from one of my employees back in New York, but that’s not the case. It is a New York City number, but the caller ID reads Isabella .
I exhale slowly, my breath coming out into an icy cloud as the temperatures continue to drop with every passing day.
I try to remember the last time I saw her.
Probably a late night at one of the upscale bars I frequented after long days at work.
I think I took her over to one of the nice hotels afterward, and we spent the night in a suite.
I don’t take women back to my penthouse. I don’t really invite anyone over. Flings are just flings.
They don’t need to infiltrate my personal life any more than I already allow them.
I hit the decline button, not interested in the phone sex that she probably wants to have. Honestly, I haven’t given any of the women that I see from time to time a single thought since I arrived in Evergreen Heights .
There’s only one woman who continues to breach my mind, and she can’t stand me. Yet I can’t stop thinking about her.
I wonder what all has happened to her since I left town. I wonder who the father of her child is and if she ever loved him. I wonder if part of her misses me or still loves me.
Pointless wonders.
I’m not staying here, and I doubt she wants me to. I burned that bridge when I broke her heart and left everything behind.
To this day, guilt churns in my stomach at the thought of the damage that I’ve done to her. She didn’t deserve it. She was perfect.
Even if all she wants to do is argue with me and tell me how much she doesn’t like me now, I still think she’s perfect.
She’s a nurse who helps people, even the person she should hate. She’s a mom with a daughter who looks like the happiest kid ever.
She has grown into the caring, passionate woman I always expected her to be.
The last thing that I need to do is stick around and ruin things all over again.