I read the number again.
I feel rather than hear Jade’s quick intake of breath next to me.
“This…” I flip back a page to read more carefully. “This must be some sort of mistake. This can’t be right.”
“Sydney,” Jade whispers, staring at the numbers on the page.
“A mistake?” The woman raises one perfectly manicured eyebrow. “I assure you, Miss Sinclair, I don’t make mistakes.”
I turn to the final page, eyes wide, searching frantically for something I know I’m missing, some sort of explanation.
“But this…” I swallow. “This islessthan we’re currently paying.”
A lot less, I think, but don’t say that out loud. This is a better deal than I could have ever imagined for us.
Next to me, Jade lets out a bark of a laugh, quickly covering her mouth.
“It is,” the woman agrees, nodding. “As I said to you before, I expect you two will find these new terms very agreeable.”
“But I don’t understand.” Bea pokes her head above the table and stretches out one paw to smack the corner of the paper.
“Bea approves,” Jade laughs, her voice shaky. “Wait, are pets allowed?”
The lawyer eyes Bea warily as she scrambles onto the table. “There is nothing in the lease that disallows it. But”—she purses her lips together, like she disapproves—“I would recommend checking with the city ordinances about allowing a pet in any area that serves food.”
I’m still too stunned by the rent cost to do anything but sit there, staring. Sighing, the lawyer takes the document from me and turns to the final page. Next to our names is a bright and friendly yellow sticker that sayssign here. She uncaps her pen and hands it to me.
“The new owner is very motivated to keep you as tenants. Especially considering the internet buzz surrounding this location. Virgil Inc. owns the building next door as well, so it is in his best interest to keep you happy with the terms of your rental agreement, so you stay. If this business is doing well, whatever goes in next door will likelyalsodo well, meaning more money for everyone. It’s a win-win.”
“Is this Alec’s doing?” Jade murmurs to me. She keeps her voice low, but I know just from glancing at the woman watching us that she overheard. Her face is impassive, not even a flicker of recognition at the name.
“Maybe. Or Ash,” I answer, my mind reeling. “But… They never said anything to me about it.”
“Would they, though?” Jade asks, looking skeptical. “It’s not like he asked you about the social media stuff.”
She’s right. I stare down at the rental agreement, my mind reeling. That’s the only explanation that makes sense here, isn’t it?
Do you even want to sign it if this is their doing? Do you want to be even more tied to them?
“Could you tell us anything about the new owners?” I ask, glancing up. “Give us a name, or…?”
She shakes her head, slowly.
“The owner has asked to remain anonymous,” she explains, as though this is a perfectly normal thing. “But, as I said, it’s in his best interests to keep you on as tenants.”
Jade raises her eyebrow at me. “Oh? It’s inhisbest interests, hm?”
I let out a long breath. Yep. That definitely makes it sound like it’s one of my boys.
“What do you think?” I ask Jade, frowning. “Should we sign, or…?”
Orwhat?I think to myself. What’s even our alternative here?
Jade snorts and reaches for the pen. “Syd, if those men really believe your pussy is worth almost twenty percent off our rent, who the hell am I to argue?” She sets her pen on the document, signing her name in black ink.
I blush, glancing quickly at the woman as she watches Jade sign, but there’s no judgment or curiosity in her eyes. She looks bored, completely uninterested in Jade’s flippant comment. Jade pivots the document toward me, handing me the pen. Bea rubs against my hand as I take it.
There’s a part of me that argues against signing, that doesn’t like the idea of being indebted to Alec, or Ash, or any of them in this way.
