Page 120 of The Main Event

“If you want to be the hero, then fine. She has to go, though.”

“Oh, she’s going.” Jax clutched the file to his chest. “Come on. We’re ending this now.”

I had questions—oh, so many questions—but this was something I had to let him do on his own. So I followed, and watched with wide-eyed interest as he stormed up to the table I’d left his parents at.

Tammy was still there, of course, regaling them with stories that had them laughing as if she was the funniest woman in the world. Obviously, they were faking it—even the Hunters couldn’t find Tammy amusing—but it didn’t matter.

Jax didn’t stand on ceremony as he approached the table. Instead, he threw the folder I’d retrieved from Tammy’s desk in the middle of it.

Tammy’s eyes went wide when she saw it.

“What were you doing in my office?” she hissed.

“What were you doing entering a secret agreement to help my family try to take this hotel from me?” Jax countered.

“I was doing no such thing.” Even in an angel costume, Tammy couldn’t pull off an innocent act. “I just had a discussion with your father, and we agreed that perhaps he knew what was better for this hotel.”

“Oh, I’m sure he told you that,” Jax agreed. “He has no interest in helping you, though, Tammy.”

“I don’t care about myself.” She was clearly lying because her eyes darted to the left almost immediately. “I just want what’s best for the Hunter.”

“Well, what my father might not have told you—mostly because he’s using you as a means to an end—is that he’s just looking for the money. He wants to force me to sell the hotel and split up the proceeds between the family.”

“No, he said that he wanted to see the hotel return to greatness,” Tammy countered.

“Is that what you told her?” Jax’s eyes were blazing when they fixed on his father. “Did you actually pretend you were going to run this place with her at your side? That’s low even for you.”

“Jaxson, I don’t know what sparked this bit of melodrama, but it’s clear you don’t know what you’re doing here,” Jared countered. “I mean … look at this party.”

“You mean the hottest party in Salem?” I snapped. I should’ve kept my nose out of it, but I couldn’t quite seem to force my mouth shut.

“Is that saying much?” Jared drawled. “I mean … it’s Salem.”

“He wants to clean up the hotel and break away from the witch stuff,” Tammy said. “He has better ideas.”

“Geez. You’re so deluded.” Jax reached up to run his hand through his hair and seemingly remembered the wig, so he let it drop. “To make a business thrive in Salem, you have to embrace the light and the dark of the witches. This town is the witches. Period. You either have to accept that or move on.”

Tammy looked taken aback. “Well, I don’t accept that.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway. You’re fired.” Jax was starting to ramp up his vitriol, and I was here for it. “I’ll give you twomonths of severance. I don’t need you anyway. I can handle this hotel without your expert opinion on everything.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Does that mean you’re staying?”

He cast a look over his shoulder, and his gaze was soft when it landed on me. “I am staying,” he confirmed. “I planned to tell you tonight. There’s even a big bottle of champagne waiting for us in my room so we can celebrate. This is what I want.” He lowered his voice. “You’re what I want.”

It was everything I wanted to hear. Sure, it might’ve been nice in a romantic setting, but I didn’t mind it happening out here in the open so everybody could hear it either. “Wow.” That was all I could say. “Just wow.”

He smiled once more before turning back to his father. “I’m not selling this hotel, and there’s nothing you can do to make me. I am selling my condo in Boston. I’m moving here. I’m going to see Grandpa’s dream come to fruition. This is the life I want.”

One of his cousins—a bottle-blonde with a sourpuss look on her face—made a protesting sound. “What about our inheritance?”

“I believe you’ve already gotten your inheritance, Tinsley,” Jax replied. “Grandpa gave you everything he wanted to give you.”

“And what about you?” Tinsley fired back. “Why were you the special one he gifted millions to?”

“You guys clearly don’t understand the situation here,” Jax replied. “The hotel is worth virtually nothing until the renovations are completed. The money Grandfather left me came with strings attached. It has to go toward the renovation. It was only enough to do one floor.

“We’re handling the rest of the money to finish the renovation,” he continued, moving his finger between himself and me. “We’re doing it together because that’s whatGrandfather would’ve wanted. More importantly, it’s what I want.”

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