Page 131 of When Fate Breaks
“Okay, well,Annabelle–”
Not my name.
He wouldn’t know that though. Basically no one does. No one calls me Evangeline.
No one but–
“I’m here because I have a proposition for you,” Remy finishes.
I make it obvious I don’t care to listen to his proposition, bending over to pull a bowl and spoon out from under the counter along with my box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I turn around to grab a carton of milk from the mini fridge.
“Did you hear me?” Remy questions.
I pour the milk over my cereal and take a large spoonful in my mouth. “Unfortunately,” I mumble between chews.
Remy blows a breath out his nose. “Look, Annie, I know you’re not my biggest fan–”
“I’m not yourentire family’sbiggest fan,” I scoff.
“Yeah, well, I might be able to change that for you.”
“Highly doubtful.”
Remy’s lips press together, his eyes surveying me for a moment before he speaks again. “We’d like to buy the store.”
I nearly choke on my cereal.
“Are you kidding me right now?” I sputter. “How many times have we been over this?”
“I think we should go over it again.”
I drop my bowl onto the counter with a loud clang, shoving my finger in Remy’s direction. “You’re not going toVan der MoochJacks out from under us. This isourstore.Ourlegacy.”
His gaze drifts away from my face, looking around at the disheveled displays and dusty shelves. “Yeah, some legacy.”
I rear back. “Screw you, Remy.” I try to turn and run away from the counter and back to the sad, but safe, confines of my dad’s office, but Remy grabs my wrist, halting me.
“Hey,” Remy says, his voice softer now. “I only say that because I know what it can be.”
“Yeah, and so do I,” I grit, yanking my wrist from his clutch. “And we don’t need you to do it.”
“Annie,” Remy whispers, shaking his head. “We both know that, within a few months, there might not be a store left for you to do anything with.”
My cheeks heat and my eyes begin to burn, forcing me to look away from him. Remy reaches out for me again, but I cross my arms, stepping just out of his reach.
“Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen,” he says.
I turn my gaze slowly back to him. “By you buying the store from us?” I question. “Takingit from us? What exactly does that do for us? Me and my dad would rather watch the store go under as Jacks Hardware thaneversee it becomeVan der MichaelHardware.”
Remy grinds his jaw. “There’s other options we can discuss,” he says. “Investment options. The name doesn’thaveto change.” I raise a brow and he shrugs. “There’s a real opportunity here.”
“An opportunity,” I repeat, a humorless laugh escaping me. “That’s all you people care about. Another dollar sign. Another trophy to add to your stolen collection.”
Remy raises a brow. “A stolen collection’s still a collection.”
My arms fall to my sides. “You’re incredible,” I mutter, shaking my head.
“Thank you.”
