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It seemed too good to be true. “Why didn’t Jax tell us about Porter sooner?”
Mariah shrugged. “Maybe he didn’t realize that was the real bargaining chip.”
I wasn’t so sure about that.
"And if we're wrong about her? If this is another one of her games?" I said, the doubt creeping in again.
Mason cleared his throat, getting my attention. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, we focus on the facts at hand. This is a great start. We have an opportunity to get Rosalind to drop this lawsuit, Evan. We have to take it."
And just like that, the path forward was clear. It was risky, it was uncertain, and we didn't have nearly enough information to act on yet, but it was a chance to keep Sofia with us. A chance for us to be free of Rosalind, and I was willing to do whatever it took to make that a reality.
"Our immediate priority should be figuring out how to get to this Porter," Mason said.
"Agreed." Mariah radiated determination. She nodded and intertwined our fingers. "We can do this, Evan."
“We can, and we will.” I said, my own determination ringing in my voice. Together, we would navigate the path that lay ahead. We had Mason, we had the Careys. I had to believe our love for each other and our unwavering commitment to Sofia's safety would see us to the end of this. There was simply no other option.
* * *
The three of us discussed possible next steps while we ordered room service for lunch, then it was time to shift gears and focus on our other business here in Miami.
By mid-afternoon, Mason and I were navigating Miami's sun-drenched streets in a rental car as we went to meet with a knowledgeable realtor and see the potential locations we'd scouted for our new club. Mariah sat in the backseat, asking questions here and there as Mason and I discussed the properties, expressing a desire to know more about the business side of my life as well.
We arrived at the first property, with the blazing Miami heat pounding down relentlessly as we climbed from the car. Our realtor, a seasoned woman named Tabitha, was already waiting when we arrived. I knew we'd chosen well when she dove right into an insightful narrative of the property's strengths and pitfalls after joining us on the sidewalk.
Tabitha gestured to the three-story building in front of us, her hands in a dramatic arc as she spoke. "This property is located in a prime spot here in Miami. It's close to all the major clubs and has plenty of foot traffic from the nearby university." She paused for a moment, allowing us to take it all in before continuing. “Shall we go in?”
We followed her through the glass doors into a large vestibule, then the main space. It was much larger than the clubs we had in New York.
“The ground floor has two main spaces,” Tabitha said, walking around the large room and pointing. “One that could be used as lounge or bar, and another that’d be ideal for a dance floor. There's also a small kitchen and bar area that could be renovated and expanded to have additional service options. Upstairs, you have two more large spaces that could be used as private VIP areas, plus additional bathrooms and storage rooms."
Mason and I exchanged glances. This place was exactly what we were looking for. We asked Tabitha more questions about noise ordinances, parking availability, security measures, and building codes until we were satisfied. Once we'd thoroughly checked it out, taking our time to really look it over, we went on to the next property. While it had a nice view of the beach, it didn't even compare to the first option.
We thanked Tabitha for showing us around and promised to keep her updated on our decision before saying goodbye.
While walking back toward our rental car, Mason turned toward me, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Do you see it? What that place could become with the right designer and renovations? This could really be something special.”
I grinned back at him, his enthusiasm infectious. With everything else going on, I hadn't spent much time thinking about the future of our business, but seeing this property was even more motivation to get this situation with the Hawthornes resolved so we could get back to our normal lives.
Mariah had paid close attention all afternoon, observing everything. She’d been full of curiosity as we explored the properties. She hadn't been involved in my business at all up until this point, and I had to admit, I could get used to having her by my side in this area, too.
When we made it back to our hotel, Miami's vibrant nighttime scene was already coming to life around us.
"I'm impressed," Mariah confessed once we pulled the car into the valet station. "I had no idea there was so much involved in choosing a location. The way you consider the vibe and energy of a place, it's like there's an art to it."
I felt a surge of pride and affection. "You caught on pretty fast. Maybe we've got a budding businesswoman in our midst."
Her immediate reaction was a playful roll of her eyes, but her lips curled into a smile.
Mason chimed in. "I second Evan, Mariah. You've got a knack for this."
She laughed. "Yeah, right. I think I'll stick to going to school for now. But I won't deny, going along and seeing how you two work was interesting."
We strolled into the hotel, feeling much more at ease than when we'd arrived that morning, our conversation punctuated by laughter rather than worry. The sun was setting on our day, painting the Miami sky in hues of orange and pink, and the future of our new venture shimmered with potential. We'd accomplished a lot today, but I wasn't ready to call it a day just yet.
"What do you think about a night out on the town?" I suggested as we rode the elevator up to the penthouse.
Mariah's eyes widened. "Really?"
