Page 71 of Claimed By my Frenemy

“I need some time. I need to figure out if I can forgive you.”

“I know. I get it. Take your time, but I want you to know that I’m going to deal with Steve.”

“You said that before.”

“This time… I’m going to really deal with him. He won’t…” But I can’t make promises when I don’t know how Steve is going to react. I realize I have nothing to offer Mia, and she must realize the same thing.

She turns and heads toward the front door of the resort.

I stay frozen to the spot for a moment before I know I have to take drastic action. I can’t let things end like this. I can’t just give up. I’ve run the numbers before, but I need to run them again.

Before I do that, I’m going to set up a meeting with Steve. I need to fix this, and I need to do it quickly.

I grab my phone and dial Steve’s number. He answers on the second ring, sounding annoyed. “Theo, what is it now?”

“We need to talk,” I say, my voice firm. “In person. Tonight.”

There’s a pause, then he sighs. “Fine. Come to my office.”

I hear the annoyance in Steve’s tone, but I don’t care if I’m interrupting his schedule. This is more important than anything else he might have to do.

I give myself an hour to run the numbers, typing furiously at my computer and scratching figures across the legal pad beside my monitor. Finally, I think I have the best offer I’m going to be able to muster.

When I arrive at Steve’s office a little while later, the place is mostly empty. It’s pushing seven, and most people aren’t workaholics, not like Steve and myself. I wonder if I should have waited until tomorrow… In case I need witnesses. Steve isn’t going to like what I have to say, that’s for sure. I’ve always been good at negotiating, but this is different. This is personal.

Steve greets me with a scowl. “What’s so important that it couldn’t wait? I was about to head home. I thought you decided not to come in after all.”

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I’m not going to dance around it. “I want to buy you out. Your share of the project. Name your price.”

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Are you serious? You know how much money we’re talking about? Do you know how much I’ve invested already?”

“I’m serious. I’m tired of all this back and forth, you filing plans with the country behind my back, and otherthingsthat aren’t strictly legal.” Steve’s only response is in his eyebrows, slowly rising as he tries to figure out if I’m trying to threaten him or not.

“I haven’t broken any laws,” Steve finally states.

I’m not so sure about that but accusing him of crimes won’t do anything to help my case. “That’s not the point of why I’m here. I want you off the project. I think you would feel better investing your money in a property where you have complete control.” I keep my voice as neutral as possible, though what Iwant to say is, “I think you’ll feel better if you can boss people around and they just do what you say.”

“I’ve invested ten million already. Do you have that to just hand me?”

I swallow. Hear the number like that makes it sound so big—seven zeroes. “I’ll find a way to get the money. Just name your price. You want your ten million back? I can get it to you in six months.”

“Six months,” Steve repeats, but he sounds more like he’s toying with me. He’s smirking like I’ve come in telling knock-knock jokes.

“Yes.”

“But you have to understand that I’m going to want more than my ten million. This money has been dormant for the last six months. I could have been investing it in another property, a property where my partner is just as determined to turn a profit as I am.”

I ignore the dig. “I understand that. That’s why I’m willing to pay you out, including some interest that you could have earned on your money. Name your price.”

He leans back in his chair, a smirk forming on his lips. “You’re doing this so you can impress that girl? Let her keep her little beach shack? You’re making a huge mistake, Theo. This project is a goldmine. You’re willing to throw all that away?”

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to protect Mia and the community. So, what’s your price?”

He studies me for a moment, then names a figure that makes my stomach churn. It’s more than I expected, more than I can afford. But I don’t hesitate. “Done.”

Steve’s smirk widens. “You’re really going to go through with this, huh? Fine. I’ll draw up the papers. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. Without the extra building, you’re giving up half a million a year, easily.”

“Thank you, but I didn’t ask for your business advice.”

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