Acid churns in my stomach, rolling up into my throat. It takes all my willpower to swallow down the urge to vomit.
Please, let’s just get this over with.
Luke parks and kills his engine. But it’s not Luke who everyone’s watching. All eyes are on the limo as it comes to a stop.
The driver, wearing a black suit, exits the vehicle and opens the rear passenger door. Sylvia Maddox emerges, once again wearing all white from head to foot. She takes a step and surveys the damage. Her brows pinch, and a look of surprise sweeps over her face before it is quickly schooled.
She knows that Pane’s lost. There’s no way for him to recover from this.
From the other side of the limo comes a short man wearing a tweed suit and wire-rimmed glasses. He’s carrying a clipboard in one hand and surveying the land with a confused expression. It’s like he’s thinking,Isn’t there supposed to be a house here?
“The valuator,” Pane tells me, putting an arm around my shoulders. “He judges what the business is worth.”
A bitter scoff escapes my lips. “What business?”
But Pane just squeezes me, offering what comfort he can, before releasing his grip to greet his mother.
“Pane.” Sylvia air-kisses his cheeks. “I heard about the storms. Rowe”—she nods to me—“I’m sorry for what happened.”
“Thank you,” I tell her.
Luke is out of his truck and watching. He’s got a load of paperwork in his hands, and he’s eyeing the house like a snake about to sink its fangs into a rabbit.
Mrs. Maddox’s gaze sweeps across the yard as she slowly takes in the rubble. “Stone’s business has already been valuated. Your brother has done well.”
“I’m not surprised,” Pane tells her.
She shakes her head. “As much as I’d like to extend the contest, you both signed a contract. Your brother has worked hard, just as you have. Given the circumstances, I’m afraid that there’s no choice but to award the president and CEO position to—”
“Wait.” Pane flings out his hands. “Just wait.”
His mother rolls her eyes. “You can’t save this.”
“Yes, I can,” he insists in a tone that makes her pause. “Just watch me.” He then turns his back on her, cups his hands over his mouth, and yells, “Donner! Donner Wright!”
There’s a brief silence before the answer comes. “Here!”
Donner slips out of the tangle of people and approaches us, looking as oiled up as ever.
Pane gestures to his mother. “Sylvia Maddox, meet Donner Wright. He runs the off-grid yurt community.”
Donner’s glistening pecs glint in the sunlight as he approaches with a grim smile. “Pleasure.”
Sylvia shakes his hand with the tips of her fingers.
“Donner helped with the renovation,” Pane explains.
“Wonderful.” Sylvia gives him a tight-lipped smile. “Pane, none of this changes the fact that—”
“This property is in foreclosure,” Luke announces, deciding to take this moment to step up and let everyone be graced with his presence. “In accordance with the terms of the loan, if the land owner does not have the funds to pay a substantial amount of the mortgage that is owed, then the property returns to the bank and will go to auction.” Luke’s smug gaze lands on me. “Do you have the funds, Rowe Wadley?”
Anger rakes over my chest.Does it look like I have the funds?I want to spit. I’m silent for a moment, feeling the weight of the crowd staring at me.
It’s a fight for me to get the words out. “No, I don’t.”
Sylvia Maddox stares openly at me. She must think I’m such a loser. This woman will never approve of me, not with how messy my life is.
Luke starts to shove a piece of paper under my nose, but Pane steps between us. “Wait. This isn’t over.”
