Page 215 of Money Reigns
I look between them, waiting for more questions. When they don’t come, I turn back to John. My voice is even, clipped. “Olivia didn’t communicate that she felt trapped. If I had known, I would have rectified it.”
I slide my hand into my pocket and pull out a small box. I set it on the table. It lands with a quiet thud. “My intentions are easy. I want to marry Olivia.”
Dean chokes on his cookie. Logan’s jaw tightens; Chase’s smirk stutters.
Good.
I use the moment to fix my gaze on Logan. “And if you ever refer to Olivia as‘a girl like her’again—as if to imply she’slessthan, I can show you what a man raised in the city can do.”
“I didn’t. But a man like you, using money as his bargaining chip doesn’t—”
“Doesn’twhat?Love?”
Dean recovers enough to speak, his voice rough. “We’ve seen you online, a different woman on your arm at every function. What’s Livvy to you?”
“Everything,” I counter.
“Any other questions in your arsenal? Net worth? Number of properties I own? … No?”
Silence.
“Good. I got the Amato’s to relieve you of Ronnie. He won’t be in charge of your inn anymore.You are.Outright.”
Jaws drop. It’s so silent I can hear the roar of the wind outside the kitchen window.
I continue, meeting John’s gaze. “I want to repair and renovate the inn. I know winter construction’s tough, expensive, slow, but I’ll eat the cost to get it done. She deserves to know her family has everything whole.”
Chase huffs. “You planning to send a fancy city crew out here to gut it?”
“No. Local.”
He raises a brow. “Good. Because I’m local. I own my own company. You want it done right, it goes through me.”
I consider him. “I get to recruit more men. We finish faster.”
Chase narrows his eyes. “But I’m foreman.”
“Fine, butwitha head contractor of my choice and I’ll triple your men’s salary.”
A beat. Then Chase nods.
“Good,” I say. “Then we’ve struck our first deal. Renovations start Monday. The men will stay. But if Olivia will have me; we’re leaving Friday.”
Chase’s smirk wavers. “And if shedoesn’t?”
My heartbeat stutters, but I push through it. My voice stays steady. “If she doesn’t, I have a plan set for that too.”
I look back at John. “Do I have your blessing to proceed?”
John frowns, gaze narrowing. “The inn is ours?”
I nod once. “As it should be. Paperwork’s in my bag.”
The men go stock still exchanging glances before John chuckles,hearty,his shoulders shaking as he does.
He claps me hard on the back and looks at his sons. “Son of a gun we’re free!”
A palpable weight lifts from the kitchen, Dean leans back in his chair. Chase shakes his head Logan’s shoulders drop.
