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“Ours.”
“Yours,” he corrects.”
I smirk. “Okay, mine. But what do you want me to do with it?”
We’d only spoken briefly about Sunset Cove since that first meeting.
Everything else we’ve spoken about has been about Grandfather’s vision for the Park Avenue branch.
I assumed Sunset Cove would require some renovations, which I already see Aurora has in the works. Renovations are my area of expertise. I turn dumps into palaces and shitholes into luxury apartments you can sell for a million dollars apiece.
“Has all the paperwork been finalized?” He sets his coffee mug down and leans back in his chair.
“As of yesterday.” I take pleasure in securing another win, so I don’t tamp down the pride in my voice. Even when you know you never fail, it’s always good to succeed and get the job done. “I’m just waiting for William to get the transfer of assets document.” That will name me alongside Aurora on the property, then I’ll receive the official title of ownership after the sixth-month mark of our marriage.
Grandfather gives me his I-knew-you-could-do-it smile. “Perfect.”
Things are as perfect as they can be for now. After talking to Aurora last night, I got a good glimpse of how important Sunset Cove is to her.
She was protective of the place. As she spoke, I knew if she ever found out I blackmailed her father to get Sunset Cove, it would break her.
Finding out how I forced him to use his executive powers to undercut her would probably make her hate him as much as she hates me.
I’m sure Aurora is aware of how her father initially got in debt. I am too. I found that part out without Jericho’s help.
Although it’s admirable the man tried to save his wife, I won’t condone love turning anybody into a fool.
How can I when I’ve been there and done that? I have the physical and mental scars to prove it, and I could have written the unabridged version of the idiot’s manual.
In the end, when love has to compete with death, death will always be stronger. It will always win, always take precedent, always, always be the master. And there’s nothing anyone can do about it. God or mortal.
“Well, here are the next steps.” Grandfather straightens and rests his elbows on the desk. “Vladimir Markov wants to buy Sunset Cove.”
My brows rise. Vladimir Markov is one of the richest men in this world. He’s a Russian oligarch who practically owns Europe. There’s hardly a square mile on the continent without some asset that belongs to him. “He wants Sunset Cove?
“He approached me about it months ago. Initially, he wanted to purchase the resort, but William Wright told him it wasn’t for sale.”
On hearing that, something pinches in my gut. It feels like guilt, but that’s an emotion I haven’t felt in years.
The feeling only surfaces now because I know William would have been eyeball-deep in debt at the time Vladimir approached him, yet he never considered parting with Sunset Cove until I forced his hand.
“He offered three hundred million,” Grandfather continues with an amused expression.
“Seriously?” My mouth loosens. I wasn’t expecting to hear that, but the offer is definitely in line with the value. If I’m being honest, it might not even be enough. That old Hollywood clientele from the past has raised the value of Sunset Cove substantially. There’s even a fucking wall containing the signatures of some of the most famous people in history. Musicians, artists, actors, actresses, and supermodels. Name it, they’re there.
“Vladimir is willing to pay for the history of the place.” Grandfather gives me a ruthless smile. “I told him I could definitely get it for him for that offer. Obviously, the money is yours when the sale has been finalized.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s well deserved.” He gives me a clipped nod. “We need to do state-of-the-art renovations to bring the place up to speed. Vladimir wants to keep all the sentimental elements but give it a completely new look.”
Sounds good, and right up my alley, but this will fan the flames on the infernal fire blazing between Aurora and me.
When she finds out about the plans for Sunset Cove, it will be hell to pay. But there’s nothing she can do to stop me, even with her ten percent ownership.
That percentage was the bare minimum I had to leave her with in accordance to her mother’s will. But it will only be relevant until the end of our marriage. Once that time has passed, all other rules come into effect. Particularly, the separate contract I signed with her father giving me certain permissions in regard to Sunset Cove.
It means I can sell the place without any problems, or legal backlash from Aurora. Those are the parts she doesn't know.
