Page 37 of Possessive Best Friend

“You said it would appear yesterday. What am I supposed to do about this now?”

“Nothing,” I say. “Sit tight. You’ve got the receipt already. The money’s coming.”

“Yes, $1.6 million, less than I had originally wanted. I settled in order to get the money faster, you see what I am saying? Now that deal doesn’t look so good.”

“Are you talking about backing out?” I ask him.

“I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. Really, Dean, You’re a businessman. You understand these things.”

I clench my jaw. I know what this asshole wants. He thinks he can call me up and try to shake me down for more money after we’ve already closed a deal, just because of some bullshit delay.

“Listen, Ron,” I say. “The deal is done. The papers are signed. If you want to break the deal now, while the funds are still in transit, I invite you to try and explain that to a judge. I suspect she’s going to want to know why you need the money do desperately fast.”

“That is none of your business,” he snaps.

“No, it’s not, I agree. But the court won’t see it that way. The court will want to know why you need so much cash so quickly.”

He’s quiet for a long moment. “If this is the sort of business you learned from your father, I now understand why he’s so despised around town.”

I flinch but don’t rise to the bait. “If you’re finished, I have work to do.”

“I’m sure,” he drawls. “Oh, by the way. Did my niece invite you to the manor tomorrow?”

“She didn’t,” I say, frowning.

“Ah, of course not. Well, the family is having a little… get-together. I think you should come. We can smoke, talk cars. I’ll forgive you if you’re willing to listen again.”

“I can do that,” I say, not sure why. I don’t need to suck up to this guy anymore. I’m not trying to close another deal.

Well, not trying to close a deal with him, at least…

“Good. Come by around three tomorrow afternoon. See you then.” He hangs up the phone.

I kick my feet up on my coffee table and lean my head back.

I’m not sure what the hell I’m doing here. I don’t know what I just got myself into. I never wanted to buy a warehouse and open some kind of indoor fun park. That’s my not idea of a solid business. This whole thing is Lora’s plan, Lora’s dream.

But I couldn’t keep toiling away for my father. I’ve been wanting to make a new move for a while now. The way he spoke to Lora was just the last straw.

Now that I’ve done it and quit, I feel unmoored. I feel adrift. Lora’s leaning on me, counting on me to know the business side of things, to come through for her. I’m going to, no matter what I have to do to pull it off, but still. Just last week, I had a steady job, a sure thing. I had a future.

That’s been pulled away.

Maybe for the best.

I text Lora a few minutes later.

Me: Just spoke with Uncle Ron. He tried to push me into paying more, but I took care of it.

Lora: That asshole!! Are you serious?

Me: He’s mad the money isn’t coming through fast enough.

Lora: Of course. What does he need that much money for so fast, do you think?

Me: Gambling. Unless it’s drugs. But I’d guess gambling debts.

Lora: Oh, god. That makes sense. My dad would give him any money he needs, but if he’s in debt to some gangsters or something…

Me: Exactly. Doesn’t want to go to your parents. I wonder how much he owes.

Lora: I bet you it’s two million.

Me: Ha, I bet you’re right. Oh, by the way, I’ll see you tomorrow.

Lora: Excuse me?

Me: Ron invited me to your little family gathering. It seems he still likes me.

Lora: Excuse me?

Me: Three tomorrow afternoon at the manor, right?

Lora: No.

Me: Oh, yes.

Lora: Dean, seriously. You don’t want to come. It’s not even my immediate family, my siblings won’t even be there. It’s all extended family. It’s the absolute worst.

Me: See you tomorrow.

I smile and toss my phone aside. It vibrates a few more times but I don’t bother checking it. She can tell me in person tomorrow whatever she’s saying right now.

I know what I’m doing. Maybe I’m a bit out of control, or outside of my comfort zone at least. Maybe I’m doing things I never quite pictured I could do.

But here I am and I’m not stopping. It’s because of her, because of Lora. Before she showed up, I was on autopilot, moving through the days without thinking. She’s making me wake up, making me step up.

That’s better than anything else.

I show up at the manor the next day, despite the annoyed texts from Lora warning me not to come. I buzz the intercom on the outside gate and the butler answers. “Yes?”