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Over double what the building had been worth when I’d taken out a partial loan against it.
“I’ll think about it,” I lied and then I hung up before he could respond.
“You’re actually thinking about it, aren’t you?” Jazz said after a moment. “I mean, one point five million for the bakery?”
“I’m not thinking about it at all,” I said. “I just had a theory, and I think I proved it.”
“I’m not following.”
“He offered me double what the building is worth. Why?”
“No idea.”
“Because whatever Kurt and the Smith Company have planned for this area, a million five is nothing to them. This building—this area—is zoned commercial residential. Think luxury condos, high-end boutiques. Own all the buildings in the area and what do you have?”
“A monopoly.”
“Bingo.”
“We still can’t prove that Kurt is behind all these roadblocks. I mean, we have a hunch but no proof.”
“I know where you’re going with this. We couldn’t go to the cops even if we had proof. The Smith Corporation has deep pockets, and with deep pockets, you can own people in positions of power.”
“There’s a solution,” she said.
“I’m not involving Slash.”
She held her hands up in defeat.
“He’s already not liking all the stuff going on with this place. Telling him about Kurt would give him even more ammo.” I walked over to the stove.
“More ammo for what?”
“More ammo for proving him right. That I need Duke. That this place isn’t safe.” I bit my lip. “That selling the building isn’t a bad idea.”
“He wants you to sell it?”
“He suggested it, but he didn’t fight me when I pushed back. I mean, he did have a valid point about my safety over this building, but it’s been in my family for three generations. And with what we just found out we can be pretty confident this building is going to be worth a lot more after the developments around here are complete. It sounds like a lot now, but it’s actually a rip-off long term.”
Was I being foolish? Was I being overly sentimental?
“I could start over,” I said quietly. “A million five would allow me to open another bakery in a different part of town and even expand. It’s not the work I’m afraid of. It’s…this is all I have left of my father. I’m not sure Slash understands that. There are some things money can’t buy.”
“What’s not to understand?” she inquired.
I didn’t want to share Slash’s past with Jazz; it wasn’t mine to tell, but she was a good friend and a business partner. It wasn’t like I was gossiping, I rationalized.
“Slash didn’t know his father. He made his own way in the world. The Blue Angels are his family. Having something of my father’s… it’s not the same for him.” I paused. “Selling the building…I just can’t. Ican’t, Jazz.”
“Then don’t. We’ll figure something out.”
“What exactly will we figure out?” I asked in frustration. “If I don’t sell, Kurt is going to up his game. And then where will we be?”
“So, what do we do?” she asked. “Not tell Slash and wait?”
“Right now, we bake cupcakes.”
* * *
