Page 14 of Lease to Love

“I didn’t ignore communication. I ignored you.”

I stepped closer, arms still folded over my chest like armor.

His expression didn’t change.

I pointed toward the cup in his hand. “Enjoying that?”

He looked down at it like he’d forgotten he was holding it.

“Very much, thanks.” Another sip. “The apples and cinnamon sticks are a nice touch.”

Then he tossed the half-full cup in the trash.

Asshole.

“You know the lease has a late-fee clause, right?” His eyebrow lifted. “Five percent of the monthly rent, applied on the fifth day, and an additional two percent for every week after that.”

My jaw tightened. “I know what’s in my lease.”

“Do you?” His tone was mild, which somehow made it worse. “Because ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. I’ve been patient, but patience has a limit.”

“Patient?” A sharp laugh escaped me.

It came out like a blade.

“You’ve been patient? You’ve been having your property manager bug me every day just so I can tell him the same thing I’m telling you, and you call that patience?”

“I’m here in person, aren’t I?”

“Yeah. You are.” I spread my hands. “And I’m still trying to figure out why when email is perfectly fine.”

“I’m here because I want to have a conversation and you won’t answer your damn phone.”

His voice dropped.

“I need to know if you’re planning to pay or if we need to have a different conversation.”

A different conversation.

I knew what that meant.

Lawyers and paperwork and my name on a court docket.

My boutique turned into another empty storefront for the developers to circle.

I swallowed my anger and willed myself to speak calmly.

“I’m going to pay.”

The words came out through clenched teeth.

“I always pay. I haven’t missed a payment in three years before this, Roman. I’m not going to start now.”

“August is almost over.”

“Thanks for the reminder.”

“I’m serious. You’re having a bad month, and I understand that, but my job is to manage the property. If I let one tenant slide, I have to let all of them slide.”