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“I can come back some other time,” I said, jumping to my feet.
“No, it’s fine. I’m up now.” He waved me back to the sofa. “How can I help you, Mr…?”
“It’s Jax. Jax Jordan.”
The older man leaned down to murmur in his ear. He may have thought he was speaking softly, but I heard every word. “He says his name consists of only one syllable, and yet he keeps doubling it.”
Bousset nodded thoughtfully, like he was giving that real consideration.
“No, I…look, I’m a little nervous here. But I, uh, received your notice in the mail. About the eviction. That’s why I set up this appointment.”
He continued to stare at me thoughtfully, unblinkingly, giving me no encouragement.
“I live in one of your buildings, you see. On West Ninth Avenue?”
“I own an entire block of buildings on West Ninth, Mr. Jordan. Perhaps you could be a bit more specific?”
“It’s on the corner? The address is 4433 West Ninth? I have a shop there?”
“Are you asking me?”
“No, that’s where it is,” I said more firmly, taking out the implied question marks from my tone. I also pulled a letter out of my pocket and unfolded it. “I’m in number 4433. West Ninth. It’s a small bakery and sandwich shop called “Bake Love, not War.” I got this notice in the mail,” I said, holding it out toward him.
“Oh yes,” he said, grimacing slightly, but making no effort to take the letter. “I’m familiar with the bakery. What about it? Was there something unclear in the eviction notice?”
“Yes, there certainly was. It was unclear why the hell I received one in the first place.”
He raised one dark eyebrow at my tone, and I was a little shocked myself. I hadn’t planned to be aggressive. I wasn’t usually a bold person, and to speak to an Alpha that way was kind of unheard of for any omega. Being upset and angry was what had made me step outside my comfort zone and come here in the first place but speaking up about it was totally unlike me. Still, I had worked myself up to come here, and I was fired up and feeling energized. Having come this far, I wasn’t willing to back down now.
“You can’t just put me out, because I have a lease. I mean, my grandmother did, and it was legally transferred to me after she passed away. So, it’s mine for the whole term of it. You say here that you expect me out before Christmas, which, if you don’t mind my saying so, is a little ‘Bah Humbug,’ but whatever. Some people don’t have a heart, I guess. But back to my lease—it’s all notarized and everything. I have it right here in my pocket, if you want to look at it.”
“Mr. Jordan,” he said, sounding tired. “Despite your rather remarkable little speech, your lease is more than likely illegal. I’ve seen a copy of it. My uncle was the former owner of the property, up until his death a few months ago, so I have familiarized myself with all the leases in that building.”
“Oh. Well, I-I only met him a few times—he was more of a friend of my grandmother’s than mine—but I assure you it’s legal. Your uncle was more than willing to transfer the lease from my grandmother after she passed away to me. And he did,” I said, finishing my little speech triumphantly.
“Didhe? I have to say it’s an unusual document—in fact, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Your lease is for a term of ten years, at the rate of two hundred fifty dollars per month. That amount wouldn’t even pay the taxes on such a property, and I have to wonder at my uncle’s frame of mind when he agreed to such a ridiculously low figure.”
“His mind was fine. If you’re implying he was senile, or something … well, he wasn’t. He was perfectly fine. You can ask the lady who witnessed it, if you don’t believe me. He was just a nice person, and he told me he wanted to see me succeed.”
“Oh? And why is that?”
“I-I don’t know. He was nice, like I said.”
“Nice?” he said, again with the eyebrow. “Did you give him some…” His gaze roved over me familiarly, leaving me a little hot and bothered, not to mention red-faced from his regard. He pursed his lips. “Some ‘incentive’ to be so nice?”
“What do you mean? What kind of…” I suddenly realized what he was asking and shouted at him. “I don’t like what you’re implying!” I was way too loud as I yelled at him and jumped to my feet, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
One of the two men, who must have been bodyguards, growled menacingly at me, and I shot both of them an alarmed look.
Bousset glanced over at the man with a reproving glare, and he flushed but didn’t stop, until Bousset barked out,“Arrêtez.”
He looked back at me and made a gesture “I can assure you, Mr. Jordan, I meant no disrespect in what I said.”
“All evidence to the contrary,” I said. I lifted my chin defiantly, narrowing my eyes at him, but I sat down again too. I felt awkward, but I still needed to get this matter settled.
He shrugged, seeming irritated. “I’m merely saying that lease was totally unlike anything my uncle would do, and I wonder if he received any other inducements from you.”
I frowned at him for a long moment before I raised my chin and admitted the truth. “I-I don’t know what that word means.”
