9. Noah
9
S immering.
It’s a new kind of rage that pulses through me. Not the kind when a client lies to me assuming I’m too dumb to see right through it. But this one bothers me to the core.
And if I know myself, I know exactly why.
Ignorance.
I hate when I don’t have a fucking clue what’s going on.
Dad sits across me, picking up a cracker and taking a bite. “You sure have a way with that girl. So, you off today? I’m thinking we should take Jackson off Levi’s hands for a bit—”
“How long has she been staying here?” There’s an edge to my voice that Dad probably doesn’t deserve but I sure as hell couldn’t take it out on Charlie.
Dad cocks his head. “Who?”
“Charlie,” I bite.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He shrugs and leans back.
I’ve had just about enough of being treated like an idiot for one morning. I glare at my father. But I don’t have the patience to argue with a third party. “Fine. I’ll just go ask her myself. It’s been a while since she and I had it out in the middle of Main Street.”
“Wait.” He sighs. “I moved her in yesterday.”
“ You moved her in?”
“She came in last night asking for a room and…she had a lot of stuff with her.”
I sit up, running a hand over my face. “Are you charging her?”
“I humored her with just enough to cover taxes.”
“When were you going to tell me?”
“This isn’t about you, Noah.”
I shake my head because I know what he’s not saying. It’s not my business . But to hell with it. “Why?”
“Roger gave her five days. She didn’t want to come here, but I have a feeling it was between this place or her car.”
I curse under my breath and slide out of the booth, leaving a tip for Tess on the table.
“Want an espresso to go for the office?”
“I’m not going to the office.”
The unlabeled door swings open with a creak, and I step inside. I’m early for my meeting with my client—which is Monday—but this won’t wait.
I’m in the same dark denim and black polo from when I left the Inn an hour ago.
Roger Harris’s office is a dimly lit and cluttered space. An oak table that looks like it’s been chewed up rests in the center. The walls are grey and the flickering overhead lamp is going to give me a migraine before I walk out of here. Which is fine because I’ll be that much more of an asshole.
“Noah! Good to see you. Got yourself working Saturdays now? You really don’t take breaks, do you?”
I glare grimly at him. It’s usually something I do with my clients when I need to get the upper hand. When I need to pull the truth. Or when I’m about to terminate our agreement. “I'm afraid this isn’t a social call, Harris.”
“Oh,” he releases a breath. “We’re all set for court, aren’t we? You said the builders didn’t have the right to walk out on the job short notice. You said—”
I set my hands in my pockets. “I’m here about another matter.”
He’s thrown off guard but shrugs to appease me. “I guess I could spare a few minutes.”
“A young woman came to see me today with a claim against you regarding her apartment. A…Charlotte Whitley.”
He leans back in his chair waving a dismissive hand. “Eh, she’s got nothing. Girl can’t even afford a lawyer. Telling you, you gotta stop taking those pro bonos.”
I offer a tight grin. “Perhaps you’re right.” I sigh and twist, pacing his office. “But for your sake, I do need to ask you a few questions.”
He spreads his arms openly. “Go for it. Got nothin’ to hide.”
“I’d like to see Charlotte Whitley’s apartment.”
Harris holds up his finger, as if to say he knows this one. Like we’re practicing for one of our court cases. The ones I always win for him. “She never had an apartment here. She lived with her mother, who was under the lease agreement.”
I nod with an unamused grin, giving the guy credit for that factual correction. “I’d like to see Sara Whitley’s apartment.”
He grimaces. “You sure? I mean, someone did just die in there.”
Fire burns my chest but I’m not like my brothers. I’m not my father. I contain my anger. I strategize.
I can wait for my punch.
I twist my hands like I’m out of options. “Kind of necessary if you want to prove you did nothing wrong.”
He nods and grabs his keys.
I take another walk through the cold, empty space. Floorboards squeaking with every step.
I look up at the ceiling again in the kitchen. My gut wrenching when I calculate approximately how long it’s been like that.
“And look,” Roger continues his mind-numbing theories. “You and I both know that for a new tenant, I can raise the rent as I see fit. It’s the existing tenants I have a limit on. And she wasn’t on the lease, so…”
I nod, giving the small space one last look. “Yes,” I mumble. “An unfortunate technicality.”
“Exactly. Unfortunate for her . I’m still good, right?”
I perk a brow at him and take another few photos of the water damage, afraid of what I’d find if I had it inspected by a professional.
“How many times would you say she complained about that?” I ask with a bite to my tone. Surprised at how difficult it is to keep emotions in check.
Roger hesitates. “I…uh…don’t think she did.”
I nod slower this time. “Rog, if she does get a lawyer to take her case…will they find something during discovery?”
“Nope.” He says too confidently, and I get the urge to get physical. It troubles me.
I narrow my gaze. “Remember. They check her emails too.” Even if I have to wrestle them out of her.
“Maybe…four or five.”
“And how much did you say you wanted to raise the rent?”
Roger’s irritation grows. “Look, that girl’s been getting away with murder, paying fourteen hundred for this place. I was merely raising it to market.”
“I looked up what ‘market’ is on the way over, Roger.” I don’t need to tell him the highest listed is two thousand and that’s in crisp renovated condition.
He shifts uncomfortably.
“What it might look like you were doing is raising it higher than market so you can make up the difference on the last few years.”
“They destroyed this apartment,” he shouts, spreading his arms wide. “Look at this place. It’s a dump—”
My jaw hardens at the fucking audacity. “Think you might have a problem on your hands, Rog. I’d hate to see you lose this building because of it.”
“Wh-what do you mean? You don’t think she’ll get a lawyer, do you? Hell, I’ll counter-sue. She used to stand outside with a small table set up and hand out free books to people. You know what kind of traffic she caused? Disturbance? And I checked her storage unit last night to make sure it's empty, the girl managed to sneak half the apartment in there. I can use that in court, couldn’t I? Isn't that some form of trespassing?”
“Hmm. Maybe. You’ll have to ask your lawyer about that.”
“You’re my lawyer.”
“Not anymore.”
“Pardon?”
“Not only was what you did unethical but doubling the rent without proper notice and justification is illegal. I’m dropping you as a client effective immediately and representing Charlotte and anyone else in the building who may be sending complaints that are being ignored. I appreciate you showing me around and letting me snap some photos. I’ll be in touch.” I walk toward the door.
“Wait. Stop. What about the Craig Builders case? We have a court date, you can’t back out now.”
“I’m headed to my office to notify the courts of a conflict of interest. I strongly suggest you pay the builders for their time and ask them to drop the charges.”
I stalk toward the elevators.
“Wait. I can renegotiate the lease. Maybe give her the apartment back.”
I twist. “Oh, you’ll be giving her something back. Her rent. Every penny. Starting with the first month she complained about the water damage.”
A mixture of shock and anger warps his features “That’s four months’ worth.”
I smile diabolically. “Pennies compared to what I can do to you in court. Negligence, extortion…”
“Extortion?”
“How else do you describe asking someone to cough up a bunch of money or else?”
He watches me like he doesn't recognize me. "I've known you half your life, Noah. You would do that?"
I don't even blink. "And how long have you known Charlotte? Did you care where she slept last night?"
He sighs and nods, the fight draining from his eyes. “I’ll have Mike drop off a check to her at the library first thing Monday.”
“Send me a copy of the cleared check and we won’t have a problem. And a note assuring her that her belongings are safe in the storage unit.”
Roger shifts his gaze.
"Roger, her things. It's been less than twenty-four hours. They're still in tact, correct?"
"They were stored without authorization. I had everything picked up by the auction house this morning."
My legs carry me toward him in a menacing manner. My voice is icy, even for me. “Which one?”
I stop by my office to officially withdraw my representation of Roger Harris and his development company. Which is no easy feat, especially since we have a court date set for his suit against Craig Builders.
But even after I submit a notice to all necessary parties, forward a copy of his files, and return unearned fees, I still feel like shit. Like I didn’t do enough to get justice for Charlie.
And I’m pissed.
I’m angrier with her now than I’ve ever been and that’s saying a lot because this girl’s been getting under my skin since the day I met her.
And she never stopped.
“How much was left when you went back there?” I ask Dad when I return to the Inn.
“Few boxes. Not much.”
“Were they heavy? Was it everything she needed?”
That’s not what I want to know. What I want to know is how much did she lose because of this asshole? How much more does Charlie Whitley have to lose in this town?
How much longer will I sit back and let it happen?
“Son, I gotta be honest. I don’t think she was in the frame of mind to think about what she still needs or wants. I think she thought about whatever will fit.”
There’s that simmering again.
“Grandpa!”
Well, that helps… a little.
I watch my nephew race from the door and jump into Dad’s open arms behind the bar. This kid is easily my favorite kid in town. He’s got the energy of a nine-year-old and the sense of humor of a young adult. Levi strolls in behind him, exhaustion etched on his face.
Since firing his nanny a few months ago, he’s been taking Jackson to the ranch with him on weekends. It’s not exactly ideal for either of them, but the town has few options left when the only eligible candidates applying are single women looking for a real-life love story with the oldest Reeves brother.
And he’d rather suffer through full-time single parenting and running a business than hire someone looking to play wife.
“Can I leave him with you again this weekend?” Levi asks Dad, settling next to me.
“Hey, bro. Good to see you too.”
“Sorry.” He sighs. “Forgot to pack a lunch for Jackson so had to finish up at the ranch to get him here.”
Tessa shakes her head and disappears into the kitchen. Which is odd for her. Tessa typically moves at a leisurely pace—especially when it comes to serving my older brother. His long-standing animosity toward dad’s latest bartender grew after she “poisoned” Jackson’s old nanny at his birthday party late last year.
At least that’s what Levi claims. Tessa merely knocked her out with a strong drink because the woman kept yelling at the birthday boy for eating too much sugar.
The town rogue at her best, if you ask me.
“Dude, it’s three in the afternoon.”
He sighs, running a hand over his bearded face. “I know. I lost track of time. Anyway, shouldn’t you be at the office working your life away?”
“I was. Just had to check with Dad on a couple of things.”
Dad turns to Levi. “Charlie checked in last night.”
“What? Why?”
“Ask your brother.” He turns to me. “If I know you, you went to have a few words with her landlord.”
“More than a few,” I admit.
“Isn’t he your number one client in town?” Levi asks.
“Not anymore. I returned his fees and told him to find a new attorney.”
Levi looks at Dad. “You charging her?”
“Pennies. I’m trying to move her into the suite starting next week, but she’s fighting me on it.”
“Does Pepper know?”
“No.” We both answer that one.
Tessa returns with a platter of a burger and fries, setting it in front of my nephew. “Here you go, hun. Made those extra crispy for you.” She winks and ruffles Jackson's hair.
His eyes are wide and hungry. “Thanks, Tessa.”
She moves to us. “And what’s Grumpy and Grumpier having this fine afternoon?”
“I’ll get my usual myself, ” Levi grumbles.
“Sorry, I took grumpy with a side of asshole off the menu last week.” She cocks her head and grins. “Can I interest you in a smile and a lesson on manners instead?”
Dad chuckles. “Don’t bother, he's allergic.”
A smirk touches my lips as Tessa moves to stand across Jackson, stealing a fry and leaning in like she’s sharing a secret with him.
“Isn’t it about time she skip town or gets fired or something?”
I backhand his forearm. “Keep your voice down, she might hear you.”
“The fuck are they whispering about, anyway?”
“How much of a dick you are?”
Levi glances at his kid. “Traitor.”