Davin

I LEFT my princess sleeping soundly in the bed the next morning.

I’d woken up bright and early, and I was grateful she was still asleep since I had a task I had to finish before she opened those beautiful clear eyes.

I walked down the hallway to my office, putting my shirt on and buttoning it up as I walked. Jasper spotted me as I made my way to the office, and he joined me, keeping up with my pace and not commenting on my outfit as he delivered the morning’s messages.

That’s what I liked about Jasper. He was trustworthy, and he never made what wasn’t his business a problem. It was the reason he’d become my right-hand man, and I had no intention of changing his status in the coming years.

“Any news on the house?” I asked him as I buttoned the top of my shirt and opened the door for my office.

“There have been a few offers, the realtor says,” Jasper informed me. “She’s expecting your call this morning.”

“Have you told her price isn’t an issue for me?” I questioned as I strode to my desk, sitting down on my leather office chair. “I’m willing to pay as much as she wants. But I’m going to own that place. I’m not taking a no for an answer.”

“I have told her that,” Jasper nodded, shooting me an apologetic look. “Apparently, there is another buyer who is just as determined as you are to get the property.”

“We’ll just have to see about that,” I muttered under my breath. “Thanks, Jasper.”

He nodded, taking note of my tone and leaving. He closed the office door behind him just as I picked up the phone, dialling the number of the realtor responsible for the sale of the Cabot Estate.

I wasn’t very sentimental, but even I knew how much that house and the land it sat on meant to Isa. And I wasn’t about to let it go, especially when it was being sold to pay off her father’s debts. I would be the new owner of Cabot Estate – not just because I had something to prove to both of our fathers, but because I wanted to show Isa I truly owned each and every aspect of her life. She was mine now, as well as everything that belonged to her. All fucking mine.

“Hello?” The voice on the other side of the line was chirpy and cheerful, and I mentally prepared myself for the conversation with the much too bubbly realtor who was really a predator in disguise.

Marlena Hodge didn’t care who got the house in the end. All she gave a shit about was making a quick buck that she could take to the bank.

“Hello, Mrs Hodge,” I replied primly. “I’m calling about the Cabot Estate. My assistant Jasper tells me he’s made an offer in my name for the property.”

“He has indeed,” the woman nearly purred with happiness, obviously eager to deliver the news. “Unfortunately, your offer has been matched, and then upped to seven and a half million.”

Good news for Marlena, bad news for me.

“I will raise my offer,” I said without even hesitating. “Eight million for the Estate.”

“I’m… I’m not going to be able to accept that,” she squeaked apprehensively.

Why is she being difficult? This is money in her hand.

“Why?” I barked. “I can have the money wired to you today. It’s not going to be a problem.”

“I am well aware of that, Mr Windsor,” she went on, her voice betraying just how nervous she was. “Unfortunately, we have another buyer for the property, and he’s willing to match any price you make, and up it by two- hundred-thousand.”

“What?” I asked, feeling incredulous. “How is that possible? The Estate isn’t worth more than six million. You’re already ripping me off here. Why would anyone be willing to pay that much?”

A standing offer with a guarantee to outbid the competition? That’s not even practical. Only a fool would do that…

“You are forgetting about the custom-made Italian marble tile in the grand bathroom,” the woman went on. “And of course, we can’t forget the glass fixtures straight from the island of Murano near Venice in Italy-”

“I don’t give a shit about the fixtures,” I responded as coolly as I could, but I was getting impatient. “And we both know the house isn’t worth more than six mil. So, Marlena, darling, please let me know when we can sign the papers.”

“We can’t,” she breathed out after a short pause. “The other buyer… he will match any offer you make.”

“Then just don’t fucking tell him,” I spat out. “Here’s the final offer, Marlena. Ten million. You’re robbing me fucking blind, but I’ll ignore that if you give me the house. I’ll draw up the papers, so the extra two mil go into your account.”

I could practically see her eyes widening at that even though she was on the other side of the phone.

“Um…” Her greed seemed to be overpowering her initial hesitation.

That’s what I thought. She isn’t confident enough to believe the other buyer will actually match an offer this absurd. I win.

“Think of that, Marlena,” I went on, my voice dripping with sugary sweetness. “You have two sons in high school, don’t you?”

“And a daughter,” she whispered.

“You could pay for their education,” I said, trying to tempt her with my offer. “You could pay off your house… Hell, you could buy a new house. A vacation home. You’d be taken care of, Marlena. So what do you say? Do we have a deal?”

“I…” Gone was her chirpiness, now replaced with raw nerves.

“What’s stopping you?” I said gently. “Your sense of what’s right and what’s wrong?”

She was stubbornly quiet.

“Do something for yourself for once,” I suggested. “And for your family. Think about how grateful they’ll be. Your daughter, how old is she?”

“Eighteen,” she managed to get out.

“Eighteen,” I repeated. “Does she have a boyfriend?”

“Yes,” Marlena answered. “A high school sweetheart. They’re already talking about getting married.”

“You could pay for her dream wedding,” I told her gently. “Give her everything she wants. So say yes, Marlena. This is the chance of a lifetime.”

A long pause followed, then finally she whispered, “Okay, Mr. Windsor. We have a deal.”

Of course we do. I don’t lose. She knows that…

“Perfect,” I said, back to my professional voice. “I’ll have the papers sent over and sign them on my end. I’d like the property to be available to me in a few days. Can you do that, Marlena?”

“Of course, Mr Windsor,” she said, her voice shaking lightly. “Thank you so much… you have no idea what you’ve done for me.”

“Don’t mention it,” I ground out.

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