TYLER

Two weeks have passed without a word from her. I’ve tried hundreds of times to get in touch with Margaret.

I tried all the obvious ways first—calling, texting, emailing. No response. I can’t imagine she’s not getting her messages, so she must just be deleting them on sight, and I can’t blame her. I shouldn’t have left when I did, but at the time, it hadn’t felt like I had a choice.

I realize how it must have looked to her in retrospect. I just never expected she’d shut me out completely. If I’d have known, I’d have waited longer, explained to her in person before acting in a rage and booking the first flight back to New York to take care of any business keeping me from Margaret.

And now, it seems, I’ve done it.

I’m back in New York, back to my life that should feel like it has everything, and yet, I have nothing. I couldn’t pull Jess out of school, so she’s staying with my parents in Harp’s Haven for a few weeks while I finish up my business here. It’s taking longer than I thought, and every day I spend here has me antsy, on edge. But if I don’t finish this now, I’ll be looking over my shoulder forever, and I can’t have that.

I came here to finish a job. So finish it I will do.

As I wait in the conference room for others to file in, I glance at my phone, debating one more attempt to the front desk of the Lilac Inn. I already know how this phone call will go, however, since I’ve had it twenty times before...and counting.

Either Emily will answer and hear the sound of my voice, then hang up immediately, or Luca will answer, hear the sound of my voice, and hang up immediately. I’ve been around this rodeo plenty.

I even sent her a letter—a personal, handwritten note, but I doubt it ever got delivered to her room. If Emily’s screening her calls, I’m sure she’s screening the mail, too. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if Emily’s screening Margaret’s phone and deleting my calls and messages as they come in.

“Good morning.” A man’s voice startles me from my thoughts. “Mr. Daniels, pleasure to meet you.”

“Tyler.” I survey the young man’s bright eyes, the excitement and optimism bubbling through. “How are you, Seth?”

“Very well.” Seth sits back in his chair, a bright, ambitious young man—the same sort of man I’d been upon arriving in New York City so many years ago. “I have to say, I was surprised by your call. I thought you’d keep the company until the day they buried you.”

“You and me both,” I say with a laugh. “Are you married?”

“No, single.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Let me know when you meet someone, and I’ll explain everything to you.”

He laughs. “I don’t know, Tyler. I don’t think I could give it all up for a woman.”

“Then you haven’t met the right one,” I say, and my voice comes out suspiciously like a growl. I try to recover with a forced laugh. “Just you wait. Give me a call when it happens, and we’ll talk.”

With a hint of alarm, Seth nods. “Tell me more about the company.”

“You have everything you’ll need in front of you.” I nod toward the thick packet I’d had my people send over to Seth’s office awhile back. He’s had plenty of time to review it, and we both know it. “The company’s growing and bringing in revenue like crazy. I’m selling it to you for a bargain. We both know that. I’m not here to negotiate; I’m here to sign the papers.”

Seth leans forward. He’s a smart man, a young guy who invested in the right cryptocurrency at the tender age of twenty-one—a young man I know is in the market to buy businesses. I’m just hoping he’ll buy mine.

“Why me?” he asks.

“Excuse me?”

“You and I both know this deal is too good to be true.” Seth pushes the papers into the middle of the table, his eyes not bothering to glance at them. “Why me? You could’ve called up anyone with this offer, but you chose me, and I want to understand why.”

He’s smart, Seth. Smart enough not to argue with the price, smart enough to leave negotiation off the table. It’s merely one of the reasons why I called him first. The other reason goes deeper than that. When I came to New York, I started in maintenance. I worked my way up the ladder. Seth was my replacement for the first apartment building I serviced. He knows what it’s like to work his way up from nothing.

“Let’s just say that you remind me of someone.” I give him a wry smile. “I know you’ll take this company good places.”

“This is about that apartment complex in Brooklyn, isn’t it?”

“You did your homework,” I say, approving. “I signed off on your hire once I gave notice.”

“I saw your name on all the work logs. I just hadn’t put two and two together.” Seth gives a bright, genuine grin for the first time. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

“So, do we have a deal?”

“Where do I sign? He leans forward. “Any advice for me?”

“Fletcher comes with the company. He’ll watch your back for anything related to the business.”

Seth eyes me with caution. “I sense there’s a caveat to that.”

I purse my lips. “No,” I say finally. “It’s just what I’ve said. He’s the best businessman around.”

Understanding flickers in Seth’s eyes. “I see. Business comes first.”

I pull out a pen and offer it to him. “Are we ready to sign?”