“What, she’d break a nail if she serves more?” She emptied her water bottle.
“Keep eating—you’re hangry. The reservation is for Kieran Chase,” Chantal said.
Harper looked displeased. “Should I know who he is?”
“Yes. Kip and Kyle’s boss. The guys we danced with Monday. Kieran Chase and his brother own the Chase Group. It’s a billion-dollar company. They own the building where the women’s health center is. Open your phone.” Chantal held her hand out.
She googledChase Group. “Look. Kip’s the guy who’s in charge of the New Orleans branch. Wow, they’re hiring EMTs, Paramedics, PAs, Nurses—RNs, NPs, DNPs, and physicians. Also nursing assistants, technologists—radiology, lab, PTs, APTs. I think you should apply. Get away from the Sommerstones.”
“Damn it, Channy. You always push it one step too far. I’ll serve your party; that’s all. I’m going to bed.”
* * *
A setof knocks on their door made her jump while she was clearing her plate. She wondered if it was some of the construction people working on the main home. She and Chantal rented a guest cottage on the property.
She opened the door as far as the chain would allow. “Who is it?”
“Hi, I’m Brock Carpenter. I’m an attorney representing the new owner.” He handed Harper his license and business card. “With me is Barry Errol. May we speak with you?”
“Did you say Barry Errol? HGTV’s Barry Errol? The Barry ofOwen and Barry’s Your Sweet Home?” Chantal pushed Harper out of the way, dropped the chain and flung the door open. “Come in.”
Brock smiled at Barry. “It’s good to be you,” he chuckled.
Barry immediately entered and surveyed the home. “You kept the historical colors and the furniture. Beautiful.”
“Thank you. Um, I guess you are the new buyer?” Harper asked, her tone flat.
“Honey, are you alright? You look a little worse for wear,” Barry noted.
“She’s tired. She worked all night. Chill, Harp,” Chantal said.
Brock knitted his brows. “Ms. Rousselle, we can do this another day.”
“If you are going to evict us, might as well do it now,” Harper said.
“Did someone tell you you’d be evicted?” Brock’s brows creased more.
Harper continued, “No, I just figured, the previous owners barely said bye, and with a new owner?”
“New owner, yes. Evict, no. With the sale, your old lease nullifies. I have a new lease for you and Chantal to look at and sign.” Brock opened his briefcase. “Take your time, read it and, when you’re ready, call me at this number.” He removed another business card from a holder in his breast pocket and wrote a number on the back. “It’s my cell.”
“Can we look at it now?” Harper swiped her eyes.
“Sure.” Brock pressed his lips together.
Chantal and Harper’s dad was in the oil business. Harper worked in his office all through college, typing and proofreading contracts. It was the only thing he could talk to her about without them fighting. At twenty-seven, she was real estate savvy.
The previous cottage owners had all sorts of clauses in the lease that favored them. She and Chantal signed because the home was in the Garden District and had security. She lifted the cover page. The first thing she noted was a decrease in the monthly rent.
Harper cocked her head. “Mr. Carpenter, is this the right number?” She handed it to Chantal.
Chantal was also business savvy. She and Moises owned a successful upscale restaurant in the business district not far from Chase Security International’s building.
Brock smiled. “Yes, if you read down further, you will see why. But I’ll paraphrase: the new owner is a senior executive from a major security company. As part of that responsibility, the company requires some intrusions into his life, and in this case, his tenants’ lives. We will ask you to submit to a background check. As of today, the front gate will be staffed by armed personnel.
“You will be provided with a secure phone, at our expense, so your location cannot be traced. We will transfer your contacts.
“You will be asked to let the gate know if you are having visitors or deliveries. Take-out food will be delivered to the gate, and someone from our team will deliver it to you. Other deliveries and mail will be cleared and delivered to you. House staff will take your trash out.
