Page 70 of Claimed By my Frenemy

THEO

I should tell Mia.I just need to tell her what Steve’s pushing me to do. Then, I’ll make it abundantly clear that I’m not going to give in. But it’s so difficult to start that conversation. I can’t just walk up to her and say?—

The bell from the front door rings, and I frown. All my contractors have gone home for the day. If someone is coming into the resort right now, it could only be one of two things—something really good or something really bad.

I go to the top of the stairs from where I’ve been standing just outside the doorway of one of the newly completed guest bedrooms. Mia is standing in the lobby.

When she spots me, I see her face become more serious, tighter.

I descend the stairs. When I’m about three steps above her, she speaks.

“Theo, we need to talk.” Her voice is tight with barely contained anger.

I nod, feeling a knot form in my stomach. “Alright. Let’s talk. You know I don’t have anything to hide from you.”

Mia barks a laugh at that, and I know somehow. My stomach sinks. Steve has gotten to her. He’s approached her with another deal, another deal I didn’t approve. She’s furious with me, and this is it. I’ve lost my last chance to fix things with her.

“I know something’s going on. You’ve been distracted and secretive. And then there’s this.” She pulls out a crumpled piece of paper and passes it to me as I reach the bottom of the stairs.

I look at it, and even though it’s clearly English, it’s like my brain can’t comprehend what it’s trying to say. “Double-cross” and my name and… I don’t understand who would sabotage me like this.

Then, it all slides into place, and I see what Steve is doing. My anger starts boiling until my face matches Mia’s, but I’m not mad with her. No, I completely understandherperspective. I’m furious with Steve.

“Mia, let me explain this note. My?—”

But Mia doesn’t want to give me a chance. She bulldozes right over me.

Her voice rises until she’s almost yelling. “Explain? You’ve been lying to me, Theo. Pretending to be on our side while planning to screw me over. Iknowthat the original plans have been refiled with the county—the plans that include my property. And there’s only one reason why that would have happened even after you told me you weren’t going after my property anymore.”

Refiled? Now I’m really confused. I feel like Mia is moving three times my speed, and my thoughts aren’t able to catch up with her long enough to have a real conversation.

“You were just pretending that we had something so you could get close to me and screw me over. That was yourplanall along, and that’s sick! Sick, Theo!”

“Hold on. Hold on! That’s not true.” I’m practically pleading with her because I meant everything I said. I was willing to giveup the more profitable resort if it meant Mia and I could have a chance.

“I’m not going tohold on. I’m not going to listen to you or what you say ever again. I mean, coming to help me with my sunroom… That was good. Teal good. You had me fooled into thinking you cared about me and the house. Meanwhile, you were just planning to dothis.”

“Mia, please.” I reach for her, but she steps back, determined to maintain the distance between us. “At least listen to me. I never wanted to hurt you or the community. I’ve been trying to find a way to make this work, but Steve?—”

She cuts me off, her eyes blazing with fury. “Don’t you dare blame this on Steve. You should have told me what was going on. You should have trusted me. If Steve is trying to pressure you, that’s his issue. It’s up to you to be honest with me, to tell me what’s going on. But that would only happen if we had a real relationship.”

I don’t like that she’s referring to our relationship in the past tense. “I didn’t want to worry you. I thought I could handle it. I’ve been trying to tell you,wantingto tell you for days that he’s turned the pressure up. But it’s hard enough for me to deal with it. I didn’t want to put any pressure on you either.”

“Well, you thought wrong. I can’t believe I ever trusted you. I can’t believe I let myself get close to you again. I—” Mia breaks off and shakes her head, and I get the first hint at an emotion other than fury. She’s biting her lip, and I can see her eyes shining. She wants to cry, but she doesn’t even feel comfortable enough with me anymore to do that.

“Mia, please. I’m so sorry. I never wanted this to happen.”

She shakes her head, tears of anger and betrayal shining in her eyes. “Sorry isn’t enough, Theo. You lied to me. You kept secrets. How am I supposed to trust you now? I just… I never wanted to be in this position.”

I am not in a good position either. I have never wanted to be in this position, but Steve has put me here. And maybe my not being upfront with Mia has put me here too, but I’m not willing to accept full responsibility when Steve is the reason we’re both here.

She’s right about one thing. I’ve betrayed her trust, and there’s no easy way to fix that.

“Mia, I… I don’t know how to explain. I wasn’t deliberately trying to hide anything.”

“And that’s the problem. You thought you were doing what was best, and your best isn’t good enough.” Mia shakes her head and refuses to make eye contact.

I slowly reach for her, one more time, despite the fact that I’m still stinging from her last rejection, but she shakes her head.

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