Liam
Today started out like every other day has for the last ten years. I woke up, worked out, and had a protein shake for breakfast. Then I showered and got ready for the day. Then I do what I always do, I work.
I’ll do a couple hours at home on emails or paperwork, then head out right before lunch time to the office. Sometimes it’s the office in town, sometimes it's the office at Broken Ridge, and sometimes my office is a worksite. It just depends on where I’m needed.
Today, though, I’m at Broken Ridge at the insistence of Tori, who said she needed to talk to me aboutsomething important. Chances are high that the ‘something important’ has to do with her getting back in my bed. I knew it was a mistake to start dating her, and to be honest,datingis a bit of a stretch for what we were doing. I think we only ate one meal together the entirety of our “relationship,” not that I would even call it that. I thought she understood it was a hookup, nothing more, but I can’t help but feel she set her eyes on my bank account and thought some good sex would have me falling to one knee and declaring my love.
Worst part was, the sex was mediocre at best. She’s beautiful, but she has the personality of a shark. Even worse, in bed she’d just laid there like a starfish. Probably used to men fawning over her, just grateful to breathe the same oxygen next to her naked body. So now, for the last two months I’ve been dodging the hell out of her, but she just won’t take no for an answer, and I’ve had enough.
Today’s the day I let her go from the MS Group. Well, after she gets my new tenant set up, then I’ll let her go. I’m paying her the commission on the rental already, might as well let her close it out. I know she’s going to fight me on her termination, tell me that Broken Ridge isn’t sold out yet and therefore we need her, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. We only have three estate lots left, and only two of those are “available.” With the market right now, not many people are wanting to pick up acre+ lots for an estate-style home.
Luckily, we planned for this, and it doesn’t hurt our bottom line in the slightest that those lots sit vacant. We’ve run and built an incredibly successful development here and if all that’s left is two estate lots, I’m happy with that.
I’m biding my time in my back office until the tenant arrives to pick up the keys, but really I’m just hiding because I find Tori to be…unstable. I don’t ever want to call someone crazy, but she pushes the boundaries of acceptable behavior right to the brink. She may look like Miss America, but she’s got a little demon living in her soul.
The clock sitting on my desk hits 3:30 P.M. and I decide I’m done waiting.Screw it, I’ll hand the tenant the keys myself. It’s time for Tori to go. I stand up and make my way to the door when I hear the heavy front door open and Tori’s voice rings out through the office. It has the same effect as nails on a chalkboard and I cringe. I pause before walking out in case it’s a resident or client, eavesdropping like a creeper in my own office.
I’m stunned and mesmerized when I hear a soft sweet voice say, “Britain,” immediately grabbing my attention. Next, I hear her say “London,” and now I’m sure my mind is just playing tricks on me. Tori must be talking to someone about a trip or something, so I move in closer, to the edge of the door and strain to hear.
“What brings you to our little corner of the world? Your assistant said you were coming in from D.C., right?”
The sweet sounding voice takes a brief pause before responding. No one else might have noticed the small lapse, but I do the same thing whenever I don’t want to talk to Tori.“Well, I actually grew up around here, which feels like another lifetime ago now, but um, I’m back to take care of some personal business.” Okay, so she grew up around here. Britain. London.
My mind is starting to form pieces of a puzzle, and I’m so damn intrigued I can’t stop listening. I’m hoping they’ll keep talking, but also feel sort of bad and want to grant this other woman mercy when she clearly isn’t trying to make small talk. I mean, anytime someone says ‘personal business’ it’s basically polite speak for “mind your ownfuckingbusiness.”
“How long has it been since you were last here?”Anndd Tori flew right past that social cue.
“It’s been 17 years.” And with those words, my blood runs cold.Britain, grew up here, left 17 years ago.The puzzle pieces connect, and I flashback to a pretty, 18-year-old girl with the sweetest disposition, and my mind catches up with my body.
“Ha!” A sweet sounding laugh bursts fromher. “No, I left when I was 18. I’m sure you can do the math.” Her pause, again, is brief, allowing her dig to hit its mark. “Do you think you could grab-”
My mind registers that Tori has cut her off, but I don’t hear the words, becauseshejust delivered near definitive proof that she is who I think she is, and all I can think isShit. Shit, fucking shit. Next, I send out the silent prayer.Please don’t let this be my new tenant.
I’m snapped out of my pleading by Tori,“Let me go get the keys to the golf cart and we’ll be on our way!”Followed by the clipping sound of her heels making their way closer.
Fuck. I lean over to swipe papers off my desk so I don’t look like I’ve just been eavesdropping. As I snatch the papers, my phone flies off the top of them, landing on the floor with a soft thud. “Shit,” I let slip. Before I can react, Tori is slipping through my office door, shutting it softly behind her.
I don’t bother with pleasantries. Right now I just need facts. “Who is that out there?”
Tori seems a bit taken aback by my accusatory tone, but I don’t care at all right now.
She uses her thumb to gesture behind the door and says, “Who? Her?”
I could murder her right now. “Yes,” I hiss out, “her,” my voice a ragey whisper.
“Oh, that’s your new tenant, silly!” She’s either as dumb as a doorknob to miss, or a master manipulator to pretend, like she doesn’t understand the vibes I’m throwing her way.
“That’smy new tenant.” It’s a statement not a question as I let the dread seep into me.
“Yup, London Scott. Name’s on the contract I sent you last week. Not that you ever pay attention to my emails.” She pauses for a brief moment to scowl at me. “Oh! But I’m gonna try to sell her on an estate lot! She can definitely afford it. Seems like the rich type with a vacation house in every state. She pulled up in a brand new Porsche, Cartier watch, Hermes sandals. Yeah, she can afford it.”
All I hear is “sell her on an estate lot,” and my reply breaks through my lips without consent.
“No.” My tone is firm and resounding, surprising even myself. “Don’t try to sell her an estate lot.”
Tori’s wearing a face that lets me know I’ve truly shocked her, but per usual, she just keeps on living her life.
“Well, you can’t stop me from trying. I want the commission.Mommaneeds a new car.” Her voice is sickly sweet and fake. And with that, she winks and leaves me sitting in my office completely gobsmacked.
