Chapter Twenty-Seven
Liam
I'm enjoying my lunch out on the patio off my home office, Hemingway by my side, when I hear voices in the house. No, not just voices engaged in conversation – I hear shouting. Janice is clearly arguing with someone. I start to walk back into the house to see what's going on, when I see Paige and Janice enter, shouting back and forth at one another.
Paige is fuming, completely red in the face, and poor Janice is doing her best to hold her ground. Doing her best to keep back the charging bull that is Paige Samuels. I have no idea what's gotten her so worked up, but I need to defuse the situation quickly.
“Hey now,” I say, stepping in between the two women. “What's going on?”
Janice normally keeps her cool and remains unflappable about most everything, but this has gotten to her. Clearly. She points at Paige, anger in her eyes. I've never seen Janice this upset before, and if not for the anger on Paige's face, I might almost find it comical. But, there is a tense energy in the room and I know that something is about to blow up in my face. Big time.
“I told her I needed to check with you before sending her up,” Janice almost shrieks. “But, she pushed past me and came up anyway.”
“Because I shouldn't have to get permission to see you!” Paige says.
“It's alright, Janice,” I tell her. “I got this. Just go get some tea and try to relax for a bit.”
Janice shakes her head angrily and exits my office, leaving me with a pissed off Paige – and I have no idea why she's so angry in the first place. I walk over to my bar and pour myself a drink.
“Would you like one?” I ask her.
“No,” she says, pacing the room. “We need to talk, Liam.”
“Okay, let's talk,” I say. “What's got you so riled up this morning?”
I take a pull from my scotch and lean against the bar. I have to admit, Paige is pretty hot normally. But, when she's mad, there's something about her that's even sexier. Something that's even more appealing. Something about that wildness and rage bubbling out of her is really making me hot for her.
Her raven hair is pulled back in a high ponytail, but some loose strands are falling free around her face, and her pale skin is red with fury as she stares at me with a look of pure hatred. If I were a weaker man, I might flinch from that look. But, I hold my ground. I'm not a man who is easily intimidated.
I've had worse looks from meaner people before – people I actually hate. People who would actually do me harm, given the chance. I know that whatever is bothering Paige, we can talk it out, work through it, and make everything okay again.
“Mayor Goodrich stopped by to see me again this morning,” she says.
“That's enough to ruin anyone's day,” I reply. “I can see why you'd be so pissed off.”
She continues scowling at me, her face losing none of the anger that she stormed in here with. Which, makes me think this has less to do with the mayor and more with me.
“Actually, he had some interesting insight to share with me,” she snaps. “Like how Anderson Development is looking to buy properties in Port Safira to develop and flip.”
“And you believe him?” I scoff.
“No, not at first. Like an idiot, I gave you the benefit of the doubt,” she says. “But then Skyler came back – who happens to be my very best friend -- and said she had a very interesting visit with you too.”
I set my glass down and walk over to Paige. I reach out to her, running a finger down the side of her face. She pulls away. Despite her rage and fury, I can't help but feel myself growing harder for her. I want nothing more at that moment than to channel all her ire into an epic fuck session.
And believe me, with that much rage and angry energy flowing through us, it would be epic.
But, I can tell she's nowhere near into it at the moment, so I lower my hand and take a step back. I look at her for a long moment and then return to the bar, where I pick up my glass and take another sip.
“I can see you're upset,” I say. “But, this is all just a misunderstanding, Paige.”
“Oh?” she says, her voice dripping with disdain. “So, you're not making deals with businesses in Port Safira to snap them up? You're not buying up big chunks of my town to develop the shit out of?”
“Well, yes and no,” I say. “It's a little more complicated than –”
“So, you are looking to do business in Port Safira, then?” she asks. “It's really not that complicated. You either are or aren't buying up businesses with the intent to develop the land. Something, I'll remind you, that you explicitly told me that you weren't here to do.”
“Paige, listen,” I say. “It's not what you think.”
“Liam, you told me from day one that you had no interest in developing Port Safira,” she snaps. “You're a liar. A goddamn liar.”
“Things have changed, Paige,” I say. “And believe it or not, I'm actually trying to do the right thing here. We're on the same side.”
“The right thing?” she says, a look of pure rage twisting her normally beautiful features. “By lying to me? By keeping all this a goddamn secret from me? By driving people I've known my entire life out of town and killing their businesses? All so you can turn a profit? And all of this after you looked me in the eye and assured me that you weren't going to do it. That you loved this town just as it was. You son of a bitch. You goddamn son of a bitch.”
Her voice rises, and I fear there might be no getting through to her – at least, not in her current state. As enraged as she is, there's not going to be a way to explain what my intentions actually are. Not without it leading to a bigger, nastier fight. I want to explain to her that this really isn't what it looks like and that my intentions are pure. I'm afraid, however, she's not going to hear a single word I say.
But all I can do is try.
“I'm not looking to destroy the city,” I say. “I'm really not. All I'm trying to do is keep as much of it out of Damon Moore's hands as humanly possible.”
“Oh, so it's a competition between the two big, bad developers, huh?” she roars. “If you two wanted to have a 'who has the bigger dick fight,' couldn't you have picked somewhere else to do it?”
“I didn't say that,” I say.
Though, if I'm being totally truthful, it is – at least partially – about that. I can't let Damon win. But I also can't let him destroy this town and all its natural charm either.
“I know you don't believe me, but I want to do what's right for Port Safira, Paige. I'm trying to do what's right,” I say. “Believe it or not, this isn’t about money.”
“It's always about money with people like you,” she says. “And you don't care how many people – good people – you hurt in the process, so long as you can keep padding that goddamn bank account.”
“Oh, you're right back to making assumptions about me again, I see,” I say, my voice sharp.
“Assumptions that now appear to be backed up by fact,” she spits.
I'm trying to be understanding. Trying to be reasonable. Trying to see this from Paige's point of view. I know what it looks like to her and can understand her being upset about it. But, I don't like having accusations hurled at me. Nor do I particularly enjoy having ignorant assumptions made about me. And though I'm trying to keep it reined in, I feel the first stirrings of anger rising up within me.
“Facts? Paige,” I scoff. “You have absolutely no idea what's going on –”
“Ahh, here we go. Now the truth comes out,” she cuts me off. “Just like Damon and Goodrich, you think I'm stupid. You think I'm an ignorant little bumpkin –”
“I think you're being unfair to me and making assumptions without knowing the full story,” I say. “And you're so pissed off that you're not even giving me a chance to explain my side of things.”
Paige shakes her head and points her finger at me. “You're nothing but a liar,” she says. “You are just like every other developer who waltzes into this town to do their thing. Except, to be honest, you're even worse than they are. At least they are upfront about what pieces of shit they are. You hide it. And what’s worse, you actually made me care about you before you stabbed me in the back.”
“Well, maybe that was a mistake,” I say.
I clench my jaw so tight, I know it's going to ache later. At this point, I'm so pissed off and doing everything I can to keep from unleashing on Paige, I can hardly see straight. Having someone come in here and criticize me the way she is, throws a switch in my head. And it has me reeling with anger. I fear if it continues, I might say something I truly regret.
Which means that one of us needs to leave. We shouldn't be around each other right now, given that we're both obviously, pretty hot.
“Yeah, maybe it was,” Paige says. “Maybe it was a huge fucking mistake.”
Her voice softens a bit, and I can tell she's hurt. Her eyes shimmer and I can see her fighting back the tears. As much as I want to go to her, to comfort and soothe her, to make her feel better, I know there's no way she will ever see me as anything beyond a money-hungry developer. As one of the leeches who's destroying her town. One of the leeches that she hates with every fiber of her being.
I turn back to my drink, to avoid looking at her. I can't right now. Both of us need to take a step back, take a breath, and calm the fuck down. As enraged as I am, I know I shouldn't be around her. And since this is my house, she needs to go.
“Janice can see you out,” I say.
“I can see myself out.”
And just like that, she's gone.
I slam the tumbler down against the bar so hard, it shatters in my grip. Scotch and shards of glass fly everywhere and blood oozes from my hand. I look down at it and see the sunlight glinting off the jagged fragments embedded in my flesh, but I don't feel anything at all. Nothing but anger and pain.
I mentally kick myself about a thousand times. I should have known better. I really should have known better. I should never have gotten involved with someone else so quickly. I let myself care too much. Let somebody in too deep. I was blinded by her beauty and charm and let myself fall too deep, too soon.
Honestly, I probably shouldn't have let her in at all. I probably shouldn't let anybody in ever again. This is what happens when you do. It never ever ends well.
And here I am, sick with rage and broken-hearted all over again.
~ooo000ooo~
My thought is – if Paige really knew and understood all the details of my plan, she'd be on board with it. Hell, she'd probably be leading the charge to make it happen. It's been a few hours since our blow up and I still feel like shit. And not just because my hand is bandaged up from the glass I'd broken.
No, I feel like absolute shit for letting things get to the point they did with Paige. I should have found some way to communicate with her. A better way. A way to make her understand what it is I'm really doing. But, I failed on that front.
In fact, given the way we'd left things, I had failed pretty fucking miserably.
Wanting to make amends, and hoping that she's cooled down some by now, I head down into town. I briefly consider stopping to get her some flowers to apologize, but think that might be a little too over the top. Paige is a woman who respects actions. Not words. Not flowers. Action is the way to get through to her.
So, I intend to show her my actions are all above board. Show her that I'm not the monster she thinks I am. And show her that my plan for Port Safira is one she can, and should, get behind.
I find a spot just off Sapphire Avenue and park. Grabbing my satchel that has all the documents, contracts, and paperwork I want to show her to prove I'm not what she thinks I am, I get out of the car. Locking it behind me and setting the alarm, I turn and head off down the street.
I'm about halfway to Paige's shop when I see a familiar face walking toward me, a wide, greasy smile on his face. Damon Moore stops in front of me, smirking and blocking my way. The anger he inspires in me bubbling just beneath the surface, I have to physically restrain myself from punching him in square in the face.
“I don't have time for you right now, Damon,” I grumble. “Get out of my way.”
“We need to chat, Liam,” he says.
“No, we really don't,” I say. “I've got nothing to say to you.”
“No, but I have something to say to you.”
I move to step around him, but Damon moves with me, blocking my way.
“I'm not in the mood to deal with your bullshit, Damon,” I say, my voice low. “So, I'll ask you again, get out of my way.”
My fists are balled at my sides and I'm ready for a fight. I pray it doesn't come to that because it's the last thing I need. All I want is to talk it out with Paige. To make things right with her. Damon doesn't budge, so I start to go around him. Instead of moving to block me again, he reaches out and grabs my arm.
I yank my arm away and round on him, drawing back my fist, letting the rage flow through me. Damon, being the pussy he's always been, backs up a couple of steps, his hands up, palms facing me to show he's not a threat. Reluctantly, I lower my hand, but it remains balled into a fist, ready to rock at a moment's notice. There is no way in hell I'm letting a little punk bitch like Damon Moore get the drop on me.
“I'll make this quick, Anderson,” he says, obviously knowing that his time with me is running short. “All I'll say is – stop making offers in Port Safira. Stop trying to buy up properties here. Move on, or else.”
I glare at him, a malevolent smirk touching my lips. “Or else?” I ask, arching an eyebrow. “Or else – what?”
“I heard about what happened to you in Seattle,” he says casually. “Damn shame, you almost getting knifed in a dark alley like that. Heard they never caught who did it, either. And golly, I'd just hate for you to run into that guy again.”
“Is that a threat, Damon?”
“No, just expressing my sympathy for an increasingly shitty world. The last thing I'd ever want is for you to wind up hurt, Liam. You're a giant of the industry, after all,” he says. “All I'm saying is that if you keep on your present course, you're inviting trouble into Port Safira. All I'm saying is that you need to see the bigger picture and calm your shit down.”
“I'm inviting trouble? Funny. It sounds like you're the one resorting to threats and violence. Not that you'd actually have the balls to stand up to me yourself,” I say. “No, you're the type of pussy who'd hire another pussy to knife a guy in the back in a dark alley. Now, if you'll get the fuck out of my way, I have a meeting.”
That last part's a lie. I came down to try and talk to Paige – not that he needs to know that. But now, with Damon looming over me, watching my every move – not to mention the fact that he just threatened me – I'm tempted to put off my meeting for a bit, just so I can walk into any of these businesses around me and make an offer today.
Just to fuck with him. Just to show him I'm not one to be messed with either. Yeah, maybe Paige is right, and this all boils down to a “who has the bigger dick” contest. Well, I'm about to show him that the bigger dick belongs to me. By a goddamn mile.
When I moved here, I really had no intention of doing business in Port Safira. Not at first. But Damon forced my hand and now, I have some stake in the game. Unlike him though, I have no intention of demolishing the town and inviting high-end chain stores in. But, with Damon Moore and Mayor Goodrich pulling shady shit to accomplish that, it's hard to stay out of it.
And it's not only about money. I don't want this town to lose its charm, to become a shithole just because Damon Moore wants to get even richer. And if Damon is allowed to keep on doing what he's doing, Port Safira is definitely going to become a shithole. If he's allowed to run all the new projects, it's only a matter of time before buildings start collapsing and people start dying. And after that, it's not going to be long before all the residents start moving away.
If Damon Moore is allowed to build Port Safira in his image, it's going to be a dead spot on the map. Nothing more than a ghost town. And it'll all happen within a decade. I don't want to see that. I won't let that happen.
Damon scowls at me, his eyes bulging and red with anger. He stares long and hard at me. If looks could kill, I would be dead already. But I gave it right back to him, not backing down. Not one fucking inch. Damon likes to think he's a tough guy, but he doesn't scare me.
Even if the incredibly unlikely event that he gets the drop on me and somehow manages to beat the shit out of me, I'll still get right back up and make my deals with the people in town. Nothing Damon can do will hurt me. Nor will it stop me.
There is absolutely nothing Damon can do that will keep me from doing business any-goddamn-where I please. He's my bitch. He's always going to be my bitch. And it's most definitely not the other way around.
“I'm warning you, Liam,” he says, his voice low and supposedly menacing. “I'm not the kind of person you want to fuck with.”
“Neither am I, Damon,” I reply. “You should know that by now.”
I step around him and walk off, the rage in me overflowing. I can feel his gaze on me, burning holes into my back as if he was shooting daggers in my direction. Originally, I intended to go straight to the bookstore to see Paige. I am going to set things right with her, but it's going to have to wait a minute. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. This will give her a little more time to cool down. So, when I finally get a chance to talk to her, maybe she'll be in a more rational, receptive mood.
I glance back and see Damon still standing where I'd left him. Still watching me. I raise my hand and give him the finger as I turn and walk into one of the other local business on Sapphire – Red Door Gifts and More. It's a tiny little trinket and card shop that has a charming, vintage feel to it.
The bells overhead chime and the elderly lady behind the counter is reading a book when I enter. She puts it down and smiles at me, adjusting her glasses.
“Welcome. Let me know if there's anything I can help you with, sir,” she says.
“Actually, I think there very well may be something you can help me with,” I say.
I reach into my pocket, pull out a business card and hand it to her. She takes it and looks it over, then glances back up at me, a curious expression on her face. No doubt, she's heard about all the business deals going on around town.
“My name is Liam Anderson,” I say. “I'm with Anderson Development Enterprises. Do you have a minute to chat? I have a proposal you might be interested in.”