Page 118 of Yours, Forever

"It doesn't matter where we come from—" Cameron interrupted— "since now we have interests in the town."

"All the money donated has come from my personal funds." My gaze turned hard when staring back at him and his companion. "It's not a direct involvement of the conglomerate's bank accounts, and that makes a difference."

Alfonso's nostrils flared. "We are doing our own due diligence. If you're to inherit the majority shares, you have to be someone who can take us to the future. To growth. You're only trustworthy if you can prove that all across your investments."

"Go through the proper channels, then. I'll show you the business plans and projections. You won't get that from checking the town's public records. Lucky for me, all I have to show is my profitability, and that I have in spades."

They had to know that. They had wanted to intimidate me. Get me out of Laguna Island. Get ahead of me. But it hadn't worked, because all my documentation was in place, and I had invested wisely. I had people on my side. I was prepared.

"Hernán," Daniel said, "would you like to join us in the town's committee? It will require an exclusivity deal. You can't have a conflict of interest when working with the town."

Hernán didn't even glance in Cameron and Alfonso's direction. "It would be an honor. My loyalty is with Laguna Island."

"If that'll be all," I said. "Daniel, I believe you can answer any questions Alfonso and Cameron have?"

Daniel's mouth slanted in an angle full of satisfaction. "Leave it to me."

"I'll go out with you, Hernán."

When we said goodbye at reception, the old man shook my hand.

"I'm going to give you a chance, Maximiliano. As long as you have the best interests of the town at heart, I am willing to seek compromises."

"I'm glad. I would rather have it that way."

Hernán left the building, and I turned to Janet.

I smiled at her. "I think we're good. Things may finally be under control."

"Then go say hi to your wife." The phone at her desk rang. "Say hi from me, okay?"

"I'll send you flowers soon, Janet. Thank you for being on my side."

She winked as she answered the phone. "Laguna Island Town Hall, Janet speaking. How may I help you?"

I gave her a salute on my way out, but I didn't make it to the door.

"Max!" She called from behind me. "Go to the café right now. Your father is there and he locked himself in with Eva."

A cold sword cut me at her words, the blade gleefully severing my guts. Dread fueled the speed at which I drove to rEvalution. My mind blank, I got out of my car, haphazardly parked in front of the shop. I fished for my keys and unlocked the front door, just as my dad grabbed Eva by the arm. I saw red, the heat of my anger cauterizing my veins at the sight.

I yelled words rooted in the deepest part of my belly, and entered the café fully ready for a fight.

Chapter 33

Eva

Max: I'm back. Daniel texted to say my dad's people are in his office with Hernán. Wait for me at rEvalution, I'll come to help you close

Eva: I'll wait for you

I put my phone away with a smile on my face. That night was the last time rEvalution closed early; Lily and Meg felt confident enough to take shifts by themselves now and, starting the following week, the café would enter its new phase.

The evening was calm, with only two students still typing away into their computers, and a young couple chatting through a date. I began preparing for closing, cleaning and restocking and putting things away. Within half an hour, I was alone.

I sighed. Only a little time until I saw Max again, and he told me about the trip, what brought him back earlier than expected, and what would happen next.

We could chat under the bed covers and plan the next little while; the business challenges with his dad and the reno of our home. We could plan the next couple of years, maybe even more.