Page 45 of Claimed By my Frenemy

I just continue to look at him, unsure of how to explain that we’re going to have to give up that idea. I just can’t.

And whenever I think that maybe Mia would be receptive to my offer if it’s just good enough, I think about her face when I told her that I wasn’t going to continue trying to buy her property.

There was something genuine about it—excitement that showed she really cares about that place.

I look up and make eye contact with my business partner. “Steve, I understand your concern. I think it’s time to consider the second option, the one we sketched out if we weren’t able to obtain the property.”

“But that was when we had no way to contact the owner! We were looking up phone numbers that might be associated with this old woman. She was in a nursing home the whole time, though.” Steve places his hands on his hips, and his eyes become cold. “Now, it’s a different scenario.”

“Yes, she’s right there. She’s easy to contact, but I’ve told you that I’ve had several discussions with her.”

Steve shakes his head. He’s starting to get agitated. “It’s not a discussion, Roberts. It’s an offer. And she would be dumb not to take it. Have you offered her the million we discussed?”

I nod, feeling everything that Steve is feeling piling up on my shoulders. I came to peace about this situation a few days ago. I came to the conclusion that Mia wouldn’t change her mind. Now, I just need to get that idea through Steve’s thick skull.

“I’ve offered her every configuration I can think of. I even offered her a share in the resort’s profits.”

“Youwhat?”

“You want the property. I was trying to get it. It doesn’t matter, though. She’s not interested.”

Steve runs a hair through his perfectly coiffed hair as he begins to pace back and forth. “It’s not that hard. It doesn’t take that much. Didn’t you say you used to know her? Back in high school, you went to school together or something?”

“Yes, something like that.”

“So why is she so resistant to listening to what you have to offer?”

I sigh and close my eyes for a moment to gather my thoughts. “She’s just…stubborn. The property was her grandmother's. She has some important memories there, and she’s not willing to sell.”

“Those memories must be worth a lot if she won’t accept a million for them. What about the business dinner that I suggested? Did that not help at all? I thought for sure you twowould get to talk, connect, and she would see how important this resort is. It’s not just for us, because of course we’ll make money from it, but it’s also for Oak Island. There is little to no entertainment here.” Steve stops his pacing and turns to look at me. “What’s your plan, Roberts?”

I’ve already enacted my plan, and it’s nothing fancy, nothing grand, but I don’t know what else to do. I’ve given up the idea of expanding the resort to its full potential. “Give me time,” I tell Steve instead. I can’t tell him that it’s not going to happen, not when he’s in a mood like this. He won’t accept my answer.

Steve shakes his head. “You have a week. I want to be bulldozing that house before mid-June.”

I immediately picture the sunroom that Mia and I worked so hard on. I can see it shattering before my eyes as the place is bulldozed. That’s not going to happen. She’s not going to sell, and I’m not going to ask her again.

Mia and I have come too far. We’ve finally opened up about our feelings for one another. But I can’t tell Steve that. Not yet.

“Fine, we can talk again in a week,” I promise him, even though I know I won’t have any updates he wants to hear.

Steve finally stalks out of the office, and I flop into the office chair. I need a few minutes to recover from that.

I sit here in my office chair, staring at the closed door Steve just walked through. Why does this have to be so complicated? I know I have to make a decision soon, but right now, I need a break. I need to see Mia. She’ll help me clear my head.

Standing up, I grab my keys and head out. The walk to Mia’s house is short, but it gives me a chance to clear my head a bit. By the time I reach her front door, I’m still tense, but seeing her will help. It always does.

I knock, and within moments, Mia opens the door. She’s wearing a simple dress, and her dark hair is pulled back into a ponytail. She has a stripe of white paint across her cheek thatgives her a playful look. She is beautiful, and just seeing her face makes some of the tension ease from my shoulders.

“Hey, Theo. Come on in.” No questions asked about the serious look on my face.

“Hey, Mia.” I pull her into a hug, keeping it brief even though I want to stroke her hair, her back, everything. “What have you been working on?”

“I’m painting one of the bedrooms. There was nothing wrong per se with the paint in there, but it had some marks on it, and I want all the bedrooms to look fresh.”

I smile at her enthusiasm. “I can’t wait to see them when you’re done.”

We move to the living room, and Mia motions for me to sit down. “You look stressed. Is everything okay?”

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