The developer smirks and gives me another of his greasy smiles that makes my skin crawl. Narrowing my eyes, I shoot Goodrich a dirty look that tells him that I have nothing to discuss with him in private or not.
Damon nods to the Mayor before he turned and left the store. Through the front windows, I watch him on the sidewalk. He pulls out his phone and starts to check on something – probably ruining somebody else's life for money, no doubt.
Goodrich turns to me and gives me that politician's smile again. It makes my skin crawl every bit as much as Damon's had. There's just something gross about these men who think they hold all the power and control in the world. Masters of their own universe who think they can bully and bribe anybody into anything. And I have no doubt they win a lot of the battles they pick.
Christ, I hate men like these two.
And if they think they can bully and bribe me into anything, maybe because I'm a woman, I'm going to have to set them straight. I'm not a woman who is easily intimidated or pushed around. I may not be as outspoken as Skyler, but I'm also not some wilting flower, either. I know how to dig my heels in when I need to.
“Paige, listen,” Goodrich starts. “I don't think you're looking at the big picture here.”
“Oh? And tell me, Mayor,” I spit, “what is the big picture here?”
He sighs and wrings his hands together. “Look, we both know the truth of the matter, Paige,” he says. “Your bookstore isn't doing well and hasn't been for some time now –”
“That's none of your business, Brian,” I snap.
I try to always be respectful, but Brian Goodrich never fails to get under my skin. I grew up with the guy, went to the same high school, and know exactly what kind of a self-serving, self-aggrandizing, shameless, political whore he is. I know he has designs on offices bigger than Port Safira's mayor. I've even heard rumors of him running for a seat in the Senate in the future. And, I have to say, his lack of a moral compass, ethics, and decency would help him blend right into congressional culture these days.
“No, it's not my business, technically speaking,” he says, with a placating, condescending tone in his voice. “I only want what's best for you, Paige. I've always liked you –”
“No, Brian,” I reply, matching the tone in his voice. “You've always wanted to fuck me. There's a big difference.”
He gives me a patient smile. “That was a long time ago, Paige. I'm not the same guy I was back in high school,” he says. “If you could –”
“Oh? So, that wasn't you with your hand on my ass, trying to talk me into going to a hotel with you while your pregnant wife was at home at last year's Christmas tree lighting ceremony?” I say, my eyes wide with feigned shock. “Because the guy who was groping me – the piece of human garbage I told to get screwed – sure looked and sounded a lot like you.”
I see the color flare in his cheeks and he looks away for a moment. After clearing his throat, he straightens his shoulders and looks back at me. Although that patient smile on his face remains, I can see that any trace of actual friendliness has evaporated. Clearly, Brian is a man who doesn't like being turned down. And dislikes being reminded of his failures even more. Yeah, I think he would do really well in D.C.
“Look, I had a lot to drink that night –”, he starts.
“Don't even give me that bullshit, Brian,” I snap. “The only reason I didn't tell your wife is that I actually respect Morgan and I know what this would have done to her.”
“And I appreciate you not telling –”
“Shut up, Brian,” I sneer at him. “I didn't do it for you. I did it for Morgan.”
He sighs and runs a hand through his blond hair. “Look, I don't want to keep rehashing the past with you –”
“Given your past, I wouldn't want to either,” I say.
“Paige, believe it or not, I'm trying to help you here,” he says. “Your shop is going to go under. We both know it.”
“And, so what if it does?” I ask. “How would that impact your life in any way, shape, or form?”
“Honestly, it wouldn't,” he says. “I'm simply trying to help you get something out of this deal before you lose everything, Paige.”
“Oh, well isn't that sweet of you, Brian?”
He sighs again dramatically. “Paige, I can help you negotiate here,” he says. “I can force these developers to pay you top dollar for this land. They're desperate to have it because it sits in a prime location.”
“Prime location, huh?”
Goodrich nods eagerly. “Absolutely,” he says. “They want to develop this whole street. Bring in some high-end, name brand retailers. It'd be a huge boost to the local economy.”
“Not to mention the fact that having some big-time donors in your pocket when it comes time for your congressional campaign wouldn't hurt your chances, right?”
He tries, but can't quite keep the smirk completely off his face. Which makes me angrier and even more disgusted with the man than before. And I didn't think that was possible.
“That's not very fair, Paige,” he says. “I'm just trying to do right by Port Safira and the people.”
“Do right by the town and the people?” I ask, laughing out loud. “By pushing out the people who've lived here their whole lives? By making the place so expensive that the people who built this goddamn town can't afford to live here anymore? Is that how you're doing right by the people of Port Safira, Brian?”
“Again, you're not seeing the bigger picture –”
“I swear to God, if you tell me I'm not seeing the bigger picture one more time, I'm going to find a big picture and cram it up your ass.”
Brian looks aghast for a moment then just chuckles and shakes his head, obviously amused by me. The usual cue that he's about to say something terribly demeaning, sexist, and altogether annoying.
“I sometimes forget what a spitfire you are,” he says. “Not one of your finer qualities, but adorable nonetheless.”
And there it is. Right on cue. I have to physically restrain myself from punching him in the nose. It's really, really hard though.
“I think you should go, Brian,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Just listen to me for a minute, Paige,” he says. “The development of Sapphire Avenue is going to happen. I'm just trying to help you maximize your opportunity.”
“Gee, what a guy.”
“If you don't sell the land here, and the development goes ahead without you,” Goodrich says like he's explaining something to a child, “your property is only going to be worth half of what I can help you get right now. Maybe even a quarter. If you sell now, you'll get top dollar, Paige. I'll make sure you come out of it smelling like a rose and with a ton of cash in your pocket.”
A wry grin touches my lips. “You know what I like better than the idea of a pocket full of cash, Brian?”
“What?”
“Having my little bookstore stuck in between two of your high-end, name brand stores,” I say. “I'd be willing to bet it would irritate the crap out of your snooty, hoity-toity developer friends.”
“Paige –”
“I've told you a million times already, Brian,” I snap. “I'm not selling my property. Not ever.”
“You're making a huge mistake,” he says, his voice turning cold. “Your shop is going to go belly up and you're going to be begging me to get you pennies on the dollar for it when you could have had a pile of cash.”
“Even if I do go bankrupt,” I seethe, “I still wouldn't give you the satisfaction of selling my shop to you. Maybe I'll just put up a lemonade stand. Or better yet, I'll leave it as an empty lot just to piss you off”
He sighs and shakes his head. “You're being incredibly stubborn and short-sighted about –”
“Get out of my shop, Brian,” I say. “Now.”
He gives me a long look before turning and heading out onto the street. I watch through the front windows as he puts on his best politician's smile and starts talking animatedly to the developer. No doubt assuring him that he can get me on board with the program.
“Asshole,” I mutter to myself and return to the backroom to continue my inventory.
Chapter Four
Liam