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“You broke into his phone?” Travis asks incredulously.
I shake my head. “He let me borrow it because I didn’t have mine.” I don’t even bother admonishing Tana for confiscating mine. “There were all these text notifications from his father about Tingel Island. He knew that I was the other interested party, and was demanding Max find out everything he could from me.”
“And did he?”
Another shake of my head, this one leaving it hanging down. “No. I don’t know. I don’t even think he shared the information that I was the buyer. Was it important that it be kept quiet?” I ask suddenly.
“No, it’s just what we always do,” Tana says. “You like to keep things quiet.”
“So it won’t hurt anything, even if Max did tell his father.”
“I can’t see why it would. Steele is headed up there now. Patel got in touch with me earlier today, said he was accepting a counteroffer and did we want to up our bid.”
“We don’t.”
“If you’re sure.” She studies me with a wary expression as I blow on my soup before taking another spoonful.
“It’s… spoiled for me now,” I say.
“And is Max spoiled for you now?” she wants to know.
“He’s with his father. It doesn’t matter.”
The doorbell rings. And then again, insistently, like whoever is out there is demanding to be let in.
46
Maximus
An older woman lets me in, showing me to the kitchen where a tired-looking Cady sits at the counter, finishing a bowl of soup.
It’s such a normal picture that my chest squeezes from want at the sight.
Cady picks up her bowl as I stand awkwardly in the middle of the huge kitchen, stocked with every appliance known to man. I watch as she puts it in the sink. “That was Tana,” she says unnecessarily. “I assume she won’t be back while you’re here. Unless there’s shouting.”
“I hope there’s no shouting. Nick slept through everything at the condo.”
She winces. “That wasn’t my finest moment.”
The way she says that gives me a shred of hope. The fact I was allowed inside the house, was the first sign all is not lost, and I want to gather every little bit of hope I can find.
“I did tell my father that you were interested in the island,” I tell her steadily. “He knew the company name, but not that you were personally involved. And I’m sure I said something as a way of trying to gain his favour.”
Cady nods and keeps nodding. “I’m not sure how I feel about it.”
“It was wrong of me and I’m truly sorry. I should have kept your confidence.”
“I remember when I found out it was Sandflower involved,” Cady muses. “I was so excited. I thought that gave me the inside track, but the reality was that it didn’t do anything. I think it’s time for me to apologize to you.”
I catch my breath. Apologize to me? I didn’t really think about that. “If we go back and forth with apologies, we’ll be here all day.”
“I’m sure you have somewhere to go,” she says stiffly.
“Actually, I don’t.” I take a deep breath. “My father is headed up to meet with Patel. I didn’t go with him.” I pause. “I told him I was finished with him.”
“Finished?”
“I quit,” I clarify. “I’m climbing the fire escape. This is my grand gesture. I’m doing something I’m afraid of—for me, it’s breaking ties with my father. I’ll figure out a way to help support my mother…” I swallow. I haven’t given this enough thought. I may have paid off my debts to him, but my father provides thousands of dollars for my mother’s care. If I have to take over that—
