Page 9 of Rich Man

An idea strikes me, but it all relies on the property owner being willing to sell now. The house hasn’t been on the market for at least a year – probably since Amanda and her family moved in. Though I know that I can convince them to sell. Money talks. It doesn’t matter how much they ask for. I’ll pay it.

I’ll pay anything if it means making Amanda’s life easier.

It doesn’t take me long to find the number I’m looking for. There aren’t many real estate developers in Blackwood Falls, at least not private ones – there’s been an influx of corporate developers coming in, building overpriced apartments and driving up rent prices. I’ve been taking the blame for that for years.

I call the owner – Mr. Kent Pierce – at his office number first. Impatience festers in my gut as the phone rings. I tap my foot against the carpeted floor of the car, listening to the grating ring. I’m so keyed up by the time the voicemail message plays that I yell out of frustration as I hang up. the phone.

“Goddammit,” I say, looking down at my phone. “This shouldn’t be so fucking hard.”

At a loss for what else to do, I reach out to my buddy at the police station. While it’s not exactly legal, he’s looked into things for me before. Getting the personal phone number of another real estate developer is the tamest favor I’ve asked for.

It takes Noah, my contact, five minutes to respond with what I need. In that time, I started brainstorming other ways Ican make Amanda’s life easier. I know for a fact that my reaction to seeing her home hurt her feelings, and while I normally wouldn’t care, I’m genuinely remorseful for it.

There’s no need to feel shame over doing what you have to in order to get by. Lord knows that before my grandfather willed me his house, I had my own fair share of struggles. And, contrary to popular belief, I don’t fault my tenants for the curveballs life throws at them. Sure, I’m strict with rents, but I don’t deny people extensions if someone has an emergency – provided they aren’t lying, which I always check up on.

With the number in my possession, I give Kent a call. He answers on the second ring, and his voice is just as grating as I remember. Taking a deep breath, I remind myself that taking out my anger on him isn’t going to do anything about the house situation. Once I’ve bought it, I can lay into this man for being a slumlord.

“Kent,” I say, my foot still tapping impatiently. “It’s Eric Joyner.”

“Eric,” he says, and I can hear that smarmy smile through the phone. “It’s been a while since I’ve heard from you. I trust you’re doing well?”

“I don’t really have time for pleasantries, Kent,” I say, struggling to keep my voice even.

He laughs, and when I catch my driver’s eye in the rearview mirror, I let my irritation show. It takes Kent a few seconds to get himself under control, and when he does, he says, “You’re the same as I remember you. No time for anything but business. You won’t make any friends like that, you know.”

“It’s a good thing I’m not trying to make friends, then,” I deadpan, earning myself another infuriating laugh from the manon the other end of the line. Before he finishes his laughing fit, I say, “I called to ask about the house on Willow Street.”

“Willow Street…” he murmurs as if sorting through mental files to find the place I’m talking about. “Oh! You mean the one you didn’t want a while back?”

“That’s the one,” I say through gritted teeth. God, I wish I could deal with anyonebuthim, but since it’s for Amanda, I’ll do it. “I’d like to revisit our negotiations.”

“Ah, why the sudden change of heart?” Kent asks, and I hear the creak of a chair, like he’s leaning back and putting his feet up. “Last time we talked, you said that the property was way too much work for the price – which has gone up, by the way. Property values in Blackwood Falls have skyrocketed in the last few years, which I should thank you for, by the way.”

“Don’t thank me,” I growl, before remembering this is likely the most important business deal I’ll ever make. “That’s the development companies coming in and building all those luxury apartments.”

“Well, they wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you,” he says, far too jovial for my liking. “So, like I say, why the change of heart?”

“Just call it preservation,” I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. “The house has good bones. I’d hate to see it fall apart.”

“My current tenants don’t have any problems with it,” Kent says, and my blood boils.

“Maybe,” I say, unable to keep my anger from seeping into my tone, “they just don’t have any better options.”

There’s a pause, and for a moment, I think the bastard has hung up on me. Then, he says, “Damn, Eric. Sounds like you’ve grown a conscious all of a sudden.”

“Just name your price,” I say, not wanting to indulge him any further. I have more than just purchasing this house to worry about. “I’ll come wherever you want to meet, cash in hand.”

“You’re serious?” Kent asks after another long pause.

“I wouldn’t be calling if I wasn’t,” I reply. “I don’t have time to sit and talk. Just text me all the details and I’ll be there. I’d prefer if we get this done today.”

With that, I hang up on him. I instruct my driver to head to the bank before I start my search for home health care – only the best for Amanda’s family. I’m well aware of the fact that I don’t come off as a good person, that I’m mean and rough around the edges, but I want to be good to Amanda. There’s no use in denying it. I’m falling for her, and when I do something, I go all in.

Chapter Seven

Amanda

The next morning, I’m pulled out of a fitful sleep. Eric is the first and only thought in my head. Despite my exhaustion from the long workday, the… extracurricular activities with Eric, and taking care of my grandmother when I got home, I just tossed and turned on the couch, dissecting every interaction between the two of us.

---