Chapter Twenty-Three
Twenty-Three
What. An. Idiot. Why was I such an idiot?
I made my way back to the cabin with a plate of peanut butter cookies, a peace offering.
Mark had been snoring on the sofa when I got up, so I’d walked down to the Orangery to ask Jonas for some extras.
We had Twiggy and Dots to consider, and I didn’t want him thinking I was still in love with him.
I wasn’t. The sun was out so I’d cracked the windows and doors to get rid of the hangover fug, and I could hear Mark on the phone as I tiptoed into the kitchen.
I was in two minds about popping the oven on to warm the cookies through when Mark started laughing and my brain tuned in to his conversation.
‘Piece of piss, mate. The old man doesn’t even own the land. It’s fair game.’
I froze, listening at the door. Mark was speaking in his wide-boy business voice, which he only used when he had information on a property deal and was up to no good.
‘You’re gonna love it. Absolutely spot on for what you need – loads of space. And once you get rid of all the trees, I reckon you’ll fit fifty houses on here, minimum. And that’s without touching the holiday huts, so you can keep the woo-woo retreat going for cashflow if it floats your boat.’
I gave an involuntary gasp. The sneaky little rat!
‘Yeah, yeah, sweet. We can make it happen as fast as you like – that’s the beauty of it.
Two signatures and it’s ours. I’ve tracked down the owners and the fella is interested in the three million in principle.
’ Mark laughed. ‘I know. Peanuts for what we’ll make long term.
He said he’ll get the woman on board, no problem. ’
Oh. My. God.
‘I’ve got a few loose ends to wrap up before I head back tomorrow. The ex-wife won’t be happy when she finds out, but nothing I can’t deal with.’
I slammed the door open at that and marched in. Mark jumped and nearly dropped his phone, his smarmy smirk replaced with a look of pure panic.
‘Speak-to-you-later-mate-bye,’ he said, hanging up. ‘Sara? What the hell do you think you’re doing? How dare you eavesdrop on my private phone calls!’
‘Are you for real? You’re in my bedroom, Mark. On my holiday. What exactly is going on here?’
‘You can’t just burst in and ambush me. Look, I’m sorry I gave you the brush-off last night, OK? I know it’s made things weird between us.’
‘Don’t change the subject,’ I said, trying to keep my voice steady. ‘This has nothing to do with last night and you damn well know it.’ Mark side-eyed his phone as it lit up again. ‘Tell me what’s going on. Right now.’
‘OK, OK. You’ll find out eventually, so it may as well be now.
But no need for the histrionics, alright?
It’s totally legit.’ I pursed my lips and waited for him to continue, scared of what I might say if I opened my mouth.
‘It’s no secret I’ve been scouting for land in Scandinavia on behalf of a client who is looking to invest.’
My blood was already boiling at his switch in tone.
‘Mm-hmm,’ I said, eyeballing him.
‘And when I arrived, it got me thinking about whether there might be a mutually beneficial deal to be done.’
I nodded, furious. ‘Go on…?’
‘So, I called him – literally just now – to float it as an area to look at.’ He shrugged. ‘That’s all there is to tell.’
‘Do you think I’m stupid? What a load of old bollocks.
You’ve been sniffing around this place like a dog after a rabbit ever since you stepped off the boat.
Holiday, my arse – I should have known better.
You’ve been casing the joint this whole time.
Trying to work out how to get your greedy little hands on it. ’
‘Why are you acting all surprised? It was you who suggested I check it out.’
‘As a retreat, you moron, not as a get-rich-quick scheme!’
Mark laughed. ‘Don’t get all holier than thou with me,’ he said, brushing past me into the kitchen. ‘You’ve done far worse. Getting criminals off on technicalities, knowing full well they’re guilty. But who cares, as long as you get your bonus – eh, Sara?’
‘Don’t you dare turn this on me!’ I said, getting angrier by the second.
‘Don’t like it when I hold the mirror up? We’re not so different, Sara, remember that.’ He picked up a cookie and gave me a wink.
‘Why can’t you ever just tell me the truth?’
‘Fair enough. You got me.’ He held his hands up. ‘I hadn’t heard of this place, and I wanted to check it out.’
‘It’s been a work trip all along?’
Mark shrugged and half-nodded. ‘Kind of. With some bird-watching in-between.’
‘And what’s the verdict?’
‘My client is interested in buying it.’
What the actual fuck?
‘How can he buy it when it’s not for sale?’
‘Don’t be na?ve, Sara. Everything’s for sale – we both know that. It’s just about agreeing the number.’
‘And Tore has agreed to three million?’
Mark paused. ‘Not Tore, no.’
Surely Henrik and Jonas wouldn’t have gone over Tore’s head. They couldn’t have. ‘Who then?’
‘Look. I’ll level with you. Again, only because you’ll find out anyway. The Nilsen family don’t actually own Firefly Forest. Another local family does. The Bakkens.’
I frowned, trying to get my head around what he was saying. ‘Meaning?’
He rolled his eyes. ‘Meaning any deal that gets done will be with the Bakkens and not Tore. Bjorn Bakken is very interested in the three million.’
It was a double blow. ‘I can’t believe this. How bloody stupid am I to think you were here for a break? You’d think I’d know you well enough by now. You just used me to book in here and do your dirty deal.’
‘Who cares if I did?’ he snapped, irritated. ‘Why are you so invested? You’ve only been out here a couple of weeks.’
‘Because I feel responsible! It’s my fault you’ve managed to bulldoze your way in here, pretending to be a guest. Tore took the booking because I was here. And now you’re planning to swing a wrecking ball through his life and snatch the land his family have lived on for generations.’
‘What are you talking about? My investor doesn’t want to wreck anything; he wants to make this place bigger and better.
Capitalise on its success. Refurbish the cabins, build a proper spa, get some top chefs in.
He’ll throw loads of money at it and add that layer of luxury you thought you were getting when you booked. ’
It was hard to argue when I’d said those exact words to Mark, but now I understood what it was, I felt ashamed for having wanted all that.
‘I was an idiot before, and I’ve changed my mind.
Firefly Forest is perfect just as it is, because it’s the opposite of all that.
The Nilsens have created something unique and magical here.
And their vibe and approach – their secret sauce – isn’t scalable.
The kind of luxury you’re talking about would ruin it.
This place wouldn’t be the same without them. ’
‘Agreed,’ Mark said, nodding.
I felt my shoulders drop. ‘You agree?’
‘Absolutely! It wouldn’t be the same without the Nilsens and my client has no intention of getting rid of them.
It’s their brand of tranquillity that guests are buying into,’ he said with a smile.
‘They’ll be kept on with full employment contracts and excellent terms and benefits; nothing to worry about there. ’
‘Employment contracts? To work in their own business?’
‘Don’t take it so personally, sweetheart. It’s quite simple. Tore doesn’t own the land and the family who do are keen to sell. It’s only fair that they’re allowed to do so, don’t you think?’
‘No, Mark, I don’t think that. I think you’re meddling and mansplaining where you’re not wanted. And don’t call me sweetheart.’
He held up his hands. ‘Apologies, old habits. Let’s just agree to disagree then, shall we? I’m afraid I am wanted here by Mr Bakken and I’m dealing with him directly to work out the finer details of the sale.’
‘You’re not floating it as an area to look at then, are you? There’s already a deal on the table.’
‘Potentially.’
‘Is this really what you’ve become? A wannabe property tycoon, preying on innocent families doing good in the world?’ I rubbed my temples in frustration as I tried to think of a way out of this. Where was the win-win? There had to be a way to negotiate a deal.
Mark lowered his voice. ‘Look. I get it. This is your retreat. You found it and now I’m making a nice little wedge out of brokering a deal, which doesn’t seem entirely fair.’
I put my head in my hands. ‘It’s not my retreat, Mark. For God’s sake – listen to yourself!’
‘How about I try and swing you a finder’s fee?’ he said, ignoring me and typing aggressively into his calculator. ‘Hmm? Would ten grand make you feel better?’
I gave him a murderous look. I was going to scream.
‘OK, OK. Twenty.’
‘This isn’t about money. You don’t get it, do you?
Please don’t do this – Firefly Forest is special.
’ I was trying to appeal to his good nature, but I wasn’t feeling very hopeful.
Was this really the man I’d married? A man who put profit before family?
A man who put profit before everything and didn’t even want a family?
‘Firefly won’t be any less special for changing hands.
And once the deal is done, Tore can retire and enjoy the spoils of all his hard work.
Henrik and Jonas will both get a chunk of cash and won’t be tied to a dilapidated old building for the rest of their lives.
Think about it. Don’t let your ego block a deal that might feel like a lottery win to them. ’
I was seething. ‘Have you asked them?’
‘The Nilsens?’
‘Yes. Have you sat the three of them down and told them what your client is thinking? Or were you planning to do a deal with Mr Bakken in secret and buy it from under their noses?’
‘I mean, that’ll be down to the lawyers to discuss,’ Mark said. ‘I’m just the estate agent.’
He was an estate agent when it suited him. Mum was right – he was a chicken-shit.
*