Page 61 of The Breakup Broker

"No need," I said. "James isn't here anymore. He's in every building we'll save, every small business we'll protect." I touched the doorframe one last time. "He's in everything we're about to do."

I spreadthe blueprints across the counter atRise and Grindjust as the lights flipped on and the first pot of coffee started brewing. The coffee shop had just opened, but Savvy knew the barista, and we’d come early to commandeer every table in the place before the morning rush.

By the time the board meeting started, there wouldn’t be a single seat left unclaimed.

“The James Morrison Preservation Center,” I said, tapping the architectural renderings. “A permanent foundation to protect River Bend’s history while securing its future.”

Mason whistled low, studying the plans. “Starting with Main Street?”

"Starting with hope." I pulled out the grant proposals. "Every historic building owner will have access to funds for modernization that preserves character. James said River Bend's heart was in its bones. Those bones are the people, and we aren't letting my father take this town."

"And the board meeting later?"

I fought to keep the grin off my face. "Make sure every table is filled. Not just with board members, but with everyone who makes River Bend what it is. Patterson’salready working her magic on the guest list. By the time Richard walks in, he’ll be outnumbered in his own game."

Mason smirked, shaking his head. "You’re good."

"I learned from the best." I moved the blueprints, revealing the document beneath—the one establishing the foundation with my fifty-one percent share. "By this time tomorrow, River Bend's future will be secure. And Richard will show everyone exactly who he is."

I ran my finger along the edge of the foundation agreement, its weight pressing on me. This wasn’t just about River Bend—it never had been. James always said that small towns like this were the heartbeat of something bigger, something worth protecting.

The foundation wasn’t just a safeguard for River Bend but a shield for every historic small town fighting to survive in the shadow of corporate greed. It was about preserving the diners where people swapped stories over coffee, the mom-and-pop shops that knew your name, and the sidewalks where kids grew up playing tag. James believed those places weren’t just relics of the past—they were the soul of the future.

And Richard? He’d do what men like him always did—grab for power, step on the people who couldn’t fight back, and expose his true nature in the process.

I just had to make sureeveryonewas watching when it happened.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Savvy

"What do you think, Commitment? Trust fund baby or corporate titan?" I stood before my breakup wardrobe, considering what Richard truly was. "This is job number three hundred and forty-six. The last one."

Commitment bubbled thoughtfully, his iridescent fins catching the morning light. Behind him, stacks of James's first editions lined my bedroom walls like silent witnesses.

"You're right." I reached past the dependable blue blazer I usually wore, pulling out the black power suit with its razor-sharp tailoring. "He's definitely a trust fund baby who thinks family money makes him untouchable. Time to teach him a lesson."

My phone buzzed—a text from Henry.

Henry

Everything's ready. Mason's got the seating arranged exactly how we planned.

I checked my reflection, adjusting the suit jacket's sleeklapels. Sharp, uncompromising, and absolutely lethal. Perfect for taking down someone who thought money could buy anything—or anyone.

"You know what's funny, Commitment?" I dabbed on my signature red lipstick—armor, not allure. "All those perfectly orchestrated breakups, all those clean endings I crafted ... none of them were really clean. They were ... postponed messes."

The first edition ofJane Eyrecaught my eye, James's letter still marking the page. I picked it up, the familiar feel of it grounding me. "But this one? This mess needs to happen. Right in the open where everyone can see the truth."

I pictured Rise and Grind in about two hours, packed with River Bend’s finest—all the people Richard had tried to manipulate, now gathered for what would be his final act. The best part? He wouldn’t even realize he was walking onto a stage.

Victoria had played him perfectly, feeding his ego just the right bait—a private meeting about merging assets, about finally getting his hands on what he’d always wanted: the Morrison money.

"What do you think he'll do when he sees me there instead of Victoria?" I asked Commitment, who flared his fins importantly. "Yeah, me too. He'll be shocked. Too focused on the threat right in front of him to see the trap closing."

I slipped James's letter into my blazer pocket, right over my heart. A reminder of why I was really doing this—not for money or revenge, but for legacy.

I checked the time—6:45. enough time to catch my usual train.

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