“That’s right. There are a lot of couples and families in Boston and New York who need a quiet retreat like this.”
My dress shoes shifted on the sand beneath me. The real estate development company had insisted we come down to the beach so we could better visualize its plan for luxury homes on Maine’s coast, but I felt like I was surrounded by a flock of overeager gulls in suits. Notthat I could judge. This business meeting was my first time not wearing a suit since I started at the company. My assistant, Caroline, had forbidden me from bringing a suit or tie, saying it would be good for me to wearnormal people clothesfor once.
As if suits weren’t normal.
“What are the plans to mitigate the environmental impact of the development?” I asked.
“Our firm has a strong record of compliance with the minimum standards set out by our federal and state environmental laws when it comes to air and water quality, along with the soil contamination,” one of the gulls said.
My eyes wandered down the coastline. It was wild and rugged, one of the rare untouched areas of this part of the state. And I was responsible for deciding what happened to it.
“This is one reason we consistently attract luxury clientele. They love hearing about our innovative green building practices.”
“Complying with the minimum standards set forth by environmental laws is innovative?” I asked.
Another gull piped up. “We find strong messaging largely relies on cohesive branding. There are no laws that prohibit us from using the terms ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘green construction.’ ”
How inspiring.
I held my tongue as they continued their pitch, ending with a presentation in their office with blueprints and renderings of their proposed home designs.
“We worked closely with your parents to create these plans.” The man’s tone was friendly, but I sensed his underlying irritation. While I did understand his frustration—they were having to repitch me after almost having a closed deal—I wasn’t going to sign off on the sale just because my parents had agreed to it. This deal had nothing to do with the company. After my parents passed, their lawyers had notified me that they owned a large piece of land on Starlight Grove’s coast. They’d held on to it for forty-five years, but when Blackthorne Ventures approached them to buy it, they’d pursued thesale. They’d passed away before the final contract could be signed, so now it was up to me to approve the sale. It should have been a no-brainer. The land alone was valued at close to ten million dollars—enough money to be set for life.
Enough money to retire.
Dreams of no longer being the CEO of Empire Enterprises were tantalizing. I’d dedicated the entirety of my thirties to the company in a sad effort to win my parents’ love. Something I’d never achieved and now never would.
I mulled over the sale on the short drive back to Starlight Grove’s downtown. The faster I closed this deal, the faster I could head back to the city and to my normal life. But somehow, that didn’t loosen the tension in my chest.
I slid into a parking spot in front of the coffee shop. When I first arrived in town a few days ago, I’d been a pretentious ass, assuming a shop named Beans ’n Bliss in a tiny town like this would have shitty coffee. I was wrong. I’d come every day so far—twice yesterday—and gotten whatever ridiculous latte the barista had suggested. I had yet to be disappointed.
My phone rang as I stepped inside. I glanced at the screen, planning to send the call to voicemail before I saw it was Caroline. I groaned internally before answering.
“Yes?”
“Oh good, you’re already grumpy.”
“What is it?”
Ella waved at me as I got to the front of the line. I fished a twenty out of my pocket and handed it to her. “Surprise me.”
“You want me to surprise you?” Caroline asked. “Great, because that’s why I’m calling.”
“I wasn’t talking to you.” I stepped to the side as I waited for my drink.
“Too bad. There’s a last-minute event in Boston tonight that you need to attend.”
I frowned. “Caroline, I distinctly remember you yelling at me totake time off.” I lowered my voice so no one around me could overhear. “You’re the one who rented me this house in this bizarre small town.”
“Yes, but this event is for charity.” She pushed on before I could interrupt her. “It’s a gala to raise money for childhood cancer research.”
I clenched my jaw to stop myself from letting out a string of curses, because my assistant had me. She knew exactly what to say to manipulate me into saying yes, because I hadn’t always been alone in the world. At one time, I had an older brother. My chest squeezed tight. Saint spent years of his young life in and out of the hospital before cancer took him from us, leaving my parents cold and broken. I had only been four when he died, so I barely remembered him beyond the pictures that had lined the halls of our home and the pointed comparisons my parents made between the two of us.
“Why can’t I just send a donation?” I gritted out.
“Okay, so here’s where it gets tricky.”
I scrubbed my hand down my face. I wasn’t going to like this. Ella called out my name and I picked up my latte—iced this time—and took a cautious sip. Sweet, fresh strawberry flavor hit my tongue, and I gave the barista a thumbs-up, juggling my phone and drink as I headed for the door.
