Page 65 of The Secret Heir Next Door

And as much as I want to believe in us, in what we could have, I can’t shake the fear that I’m setting him up for a life of regret.

14

LOGAN

I’m standing on the patio, watching the last guests filter out of the garden. The party’s winding down, but the tension in my chest hasn’t eased up. The conversation with my family earlier keeps replaying in my mind, their harsh words like daggers.

I can’t let it show, though. Not here, not now. I need to focus on Serena and make sure she’s okay after everything. But just as I’m about to head inside to find her, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance at the screen and see Donald Levy’s name flashing.

Why is he calling me now? I step away from the remaining guests, finding a quiet corner of the patio, and swipe to answer.

“Donald,” I greet him, keeping my tone neutral.

“Logan,” he replies, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. “Got an interesting message today. Said you wanted to buy my building.”

My grip on the phone tightens. “That’s right.”

He chuckles. “Not sure what’s going on, but you’re the second person who’s asked about it. I just got off the phone with the first one, though. You’re too late. It’s off the market.”

“What’s it going to take to get you to change your mind?”

He pauses, and I can almost see the smirk on his face through the phone. “Nothing, Logan. This isn’t something money can fix.”

“Everyone has a price,” I counter, my voice hardening. “What’s yours?”

Another pause, longer this time. When he speaks again, his tone is colder and more serious. “Not me. This is bigger than you think.”

I don’t like the sound of that. “What’s going on, Donald?”

There’s a rustle on the other end of the line as if he’s shifting in his seat. “A company wants to take over the entire building. They’re planning to convert it into executive studio apartments, high-end, top-dollar units. They’ve offered me a very large sum of money, plus a cut of the profits. It’s a deal I can’t pass up.”

My stomach twists.

Executive studio apartments? That was my idea, something I’d shared with my brother when I thought I might need help funding it.

Did Chaz move this fast? And does he know that kicking Serena out of her shop is part of the plan?

“You’re telling me you’re selling the building?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Yes,” Donald confirms.

“Don’t you have someone in there that’s grandfathered in? Are they aware of that?”

“Yeah, they helped me out with that annoying woman,” he laughs. “They had me send her a letter stating that she didn’t adhere to the changes I requested; therefore, she’s got thirty days to be out.”

“And you didn’t send that letter requesting the changes?”

“Nope,” he chuckles. “It’s genius, really.”

“What if she takes you to court?”

“That girl is flat-ass broke, and she’s not very bright either. She can’t afford a lawyer. She won’t know to press the issue. It’s genius. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner.”

“That is pretty genius. And cutthroat.”

Fury bubbles up inside me, but I keep it in check. I need to think, to figure out how to fix this. “Donald, you need to reconsider. Whatever they’ve offered you, I can match it.”

“I’m sorry, Logan,” he says, and for the first time, there’s a hint of regret in his voice. “But I can’t renege on this deal. These people… they’re not ones you can say no to.”

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