Page 58 of The Activist and Her Billionaire

“Besides the fact I am a partner in the joint venture entity that owns this place?” she asks sarcastically.

“You can’t enter,” I say, and I push the door towards her.

But she wedges her foot in the way.

“You are breaking and entering,” I say.

“You are trespassing,” she responds.

“I’ve already been to court quite a few times,” I reply. “I’ve been over the law. I know who owns this. California has what they call squatter’s rights. Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Right now, I have it.”

I have my phone in my hand. I am guessing Jack is more than halfway home but would turn around for me in a second.

“Is that what your strategy is?” she gloats. “Play with Jack’s emotions so he can’t act rationally. Get to Jack’s little head and make it do all the thinking?”

“It’s not little,” I reply viciously. “Mm.”

That triggers her. She takes a swing, but I use the door to block her. She has about fifteen years on me, and I am in way better shape. She is strong because she’s desperate, but I am stronger. I start dialing with my free hand.

“Who are you calling?” she panics. Her face is made up like a comic strip villain, contorted with total derangement.

“If I call Jack, you can bet he will come back and be on my side,” I say in my most obnoxious, condescending tone. “If I call the cops, they’ll tell you that you can’t do anything about it. And by the way, if I contest an eviction, it can take up to a year minimum for you to get me out of here.”

Adrianne wags her phone at me. “Ha, ha,” she says triumphantly. I have recorded it all. Now I can prove to Jack that you were sleeping with him to get him to drop the demolition.”

“Or he was sleeping with me to get me to look the other way while he tore my house down,” I reply, flipping her logic around.

“We’ll just see now, won’t we?” she smirks.

“Lady, I know he’s tearing the house down. What exactly did you come here to do?”

I suddenly feel super isolated here with the Queen of Crazy. I don’t think there is a soul around except Adrianne and me.

“Do you know what they call you at Red Hawk?” I say. “Stalker investor. When they find out that you laid in wait until Jack left to accost and threaten me, they’re going to have all kinds of new names for you.”

She staggers at that.

“You’re just making that up,” she hisses. Tears glisten in the corners of her eyes.

“You know I’m not,” I say. “I suspect this isn’t your first time in this boat. Speaking of boats, I spent all morning on Jack’s boat. Ever been?”

The woman is shaking. It starts at her lips and then travels. If it got any more severe, I was afraid I would have to call an ambulance.

“You’re going to be at my mercy if you don’t get the hell out of here,” I say, “Just give up and leave before you embarrass yourself.”

“You give up and leave,” she says, still hovering in my doorway.

For the first time, I see a parallel between her and me. I have been crazily clinging to something that will not pan out. The difference is that I am slowly letting go. She needs to do the same. She and Jack will never be together – whether or not I’m around.

“Sure, why don’t I call and tell Jack that you and I are here chatting, and you just made me see the light,” I snark. “This is not about the inn. This is about you wishing you had Jack Houston for a boyfriend.”

“What if I do?” she growls.

“It’s not happening,” I say coolly. “Just like the inn. I am finished. So, you got no leverage.”

“If you tell Jack that I was here,” she finally manages to say. “I will make your life hell. What small change you got from the sale of this house will be spent on court fees. You’ll end up with nothing.”

“Then I’ll be as rich as you now, won’t I?” I say, and I close and lock the door on her.

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