If the media discovered her connection to Tony Harper, everyone’s career could end abruptly—and the impact on Noah’s company could be huge.
So Cassie did what she always did. She slapped a smile on her face and pretended Noah hadn’t offered her everything she’d ever wanted. “My answer is the same as last time. Thank you, but I’m perfectly happy with the way I’m managing my business.”
“My offer is something most people only dream about.”
“I know, but I’m not interested.”
“What more do you want?”
He sounded as frustrated as Cassie felt. “I don’t want anything from you.”
Noah stared at her as if she was crazy. When she didn’t say anything, he took a deep breath. “Pastor John has been talking to the owners of five properties not far from the church. If they agree to sell him their land, he’ll have enough room to create the tiny home village.”
Cassie’s stomach churned. She knew what Noah was going to say next—and she didn’t like it.
“If you sign an exclusive contract with my company, our trust will buy the properties and donate the land to the church.”
Her palms were sweating. “That’s blackmail.”
“It’s a business transaction.”
“Fiddlesticks. That’s not business; it’s extortion.”
“Fiddlesticks?”
Cassie snatched her water bottle off the table. “I thought you were a good person, but I was wrong.” She took a deep breath, barely managing to control her temper. “You don’t care about helping homeless people. All you want is the exclusive rights to sell my jewelry. I don’t know why you think you can manipulate people like that, but it stinks.” Without looking at him, Cassie started walking toward Bigfork.
She was angry with Noah for trying to blackmail her, angry with the man who had accused her dad of something he didn’t do, and angry with the media who’d made it ten times worse.
“Where are you going?” Noah yelled.
“Home. I’ll take a bus from Bigfork.”
Noah’s footsteps crunched against the gravel. “It’s Sunday. There might not be a bus.”
Cassie ignored him. If there was no bus, she’d call her friends. If they couldn’t pick her up, she’d catch a bus tomorrow.
“Come on, Cassie. Look, I’m sorry if I offended you, but this is important.”
She stopped and spun around. “You think money can get you everything you want. Well, I’m telling you right now—you’re wrong. If your trust wants to buy the land for the village, then buy it. But don’t use it as a bargaining chip to get what you want.”
“Fine. We’ll consider buying the properties regardless of what you decide to do.”
“You know what I’m going to do.” She turned around and kept moving.
“You can’t walk back to Bigfork.”
Cassie could do anything she wanted, including being angry at the Neanderthal standing behind her.
“This is ridiculous,” Noah yelled.
Cassie kept walking.
“Let me drive you to Sapphire Bay. You can sit in the back seat. We don’t have to say anything to each other.”
When Cassie stepped onto the road, Noah ran back toward the parking area.
Within seconds, his SUV appeared beside her.
