AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“See you soon.”
She closed the door. Her phone rang. Leo again? It wasn’t Leo, it was her father. She studied the screen. She should return his call now, but Mrs. Mackay was expecting her for dinner. She tossed her phone onto the bed and left the room. She’d call her father later.
By the time she returned to her room, she’d missed three more calls from her father. Why didn’t he leave a message? She pushed the call button.
“It’s about time,” he said in a harsh voice.
Her father was known for his temper, but he’d never spoken to her like this before, and it worried her. “I’m sorry. I’ve been busy packing.”
“You asked me to look into the Crete property. You didn’t tell me it was ten acres. It’s an incredibly valuable piece of land. I’ve discussed it with my team, and they all agree it’s a gold mine. My architects can draw up some plans.”
What the hell? “Whoa, Dad. Slow down.I’m not the owner until probate has finished.When I asked you to look into it, I wanted your feedback on the terrain and the property value, that sort of thing. I didn’t mean I want you to build a new hotel.”
“What else would you do with a farmhouse and ten acres on Crete? Raise sheep? Be realistic, Cassie.”
“Beatrice loved the property, and I do too,” she said. “She wouldn’t want me to tear down her house to build a hotel.”
“I know you cared about her, and I’ll always be grateful she gave you a job when you couldn’t find one. I mean, it’s not like a PhD in classics guarantees a lucrative job.”
His tone was patronizing and aggressive. Was that what he really thought about her degree?
“Excuse me?”
“Look, I need this deal,” he said in a rough voice. “I was sure I would get the Triton Hotel project, but Malcolm Sutton beat me. I think he lowballed on purpose.”
She’d never heard her father sound so vulnerable. If her father lost his business, he would hold the Suttons responsible. A wave of dread passed through her. If she moved forward with a relationship with Leo, her father would be furious. On the other hand, Malcolm was the acting head of Sutton Properties, not Leo. Her anxiety lessened, but just the same, she needed to be careful.
“I had no idea any of this was happening.”
“I’m sorry to dump all this on you. It’s my concern, not yours.”
“No, I’m glad you told me.” She debated bringing up his name, but she had to find out where her father stood in terms of Leo. “Mom told me about the Suttons. She mentioned there’s another son, but he has his own business. Is he a threat to you too?”
“Leo?” He barked out a laugh. “He’s nothing but a lazy, rich playboy,”he said, his voice full of spite. “Malcolm is much smarter. Developing this property could make a fortune for you and me. It could be my chance to gain an advantage over Sutton Properties.”
Cassie’s heart sank.Meraki wasn’t legally hers yet, andthings were already a mess.
“I’m sorry, Dad. Developing the Crete property would go against everything Beatrice stood for. I can’t imagine she’d want—”
“The professor is dead,” her father interrupted. “What she would want doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It. Matters. To. Me,” Cassie said, anger rising in her voice. “Don’t you ever speak about Beatrice that way.”
“I’m sorry to be so blunt,” her father said with a heavy sigh. “My business is on the line. Please give what I said some thought.” He hung up.
Stunned, Cassie sat on the bed and stared at the phone in her hand. Selling Beatrice’s property would be financially lucrative, but she would always regret it.
