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“Hey, Emily,” he calls, waving me over. “I was wondering when you’d get here.”
“Sorry, I’m a little late,” I say. “I had a lunch date with my mother-in-law.” The words still sound strange coming out of my mouth, but they feel good.
Owen grins. “Hope you had fun.”
“I did,” I say, meaning it. “So, what’s this news you’ve got for me?”
“Come inside. You’ll want to see it for yourself,” he says, pushing off the wall and leading the way into the building.
I follow him, my curiosity piqued. When we reach my apartment, he unlocks the door and gestures for me to go in first. The moment I step inside, I freeze.
The apartment is completely transformed. The tired old carpet has been replaced with sleek hardwood floors, the dingy walls are now painted a soft, inviting cream, and the kitchen is unrecognizable.
It looks like something straight out of a design magazine, with gleaming countertops, modern cabinets, and stainless-steel appliances.
“What happened here?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper as I take it all in. It’s like walking into a completely new space.
Owen’s grin widens. “I’ve been working with your husband. Mr. Bennett gave me firm instructions not to bother you and to deal with him. This is what we’ve done so far.
“Emily, we already have people asking when it will be ready. I predict a bidding war,” he says with a chuckle. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”
For a moment, I just stand there, stunned. Andrew did this? With his money? Without telling me? How dare he make such huge decisions without consulting me?
My shock quickly gives way to a simmering anger, but I force a smile for Owen’s sake as he starts showing me around, explaining all the improvements.
“We had the bathroom redone, too,” he says, leading me down the hallway. “New tiles, new fixtures. It’s practically spa-like now.”
I nod absently, hardly hearing him. My mind is spinning, trying to process how Andrew could make such a big decision behind my back. This is my apartment, my investment.
How could he not think I’d want to be involved?
Owen continues his tour, showing me the upgraded bedrooms and the new lighting fixtures, but I barely pay attention. All I can think about is getting out of here so I can have it out with Andrew.
Bythe time Owen wraps up, I’ve managed to keep my cool, but just barely. “Thank you for showing me everything, Owen. I appreciate it,” I say, my voice tight.
“No problem, Emily. Honestly, I think this place is going to sell in no time. Your husband really did a great job organizing everything.”
I nod, forcing another smile. “I’ll be in touch.”
As soon as I get back into my car, I grip the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turn white. How could Andrew do this? Did he think I wasn’t capable of handling it myself?
My phone rings jerking me out of my thoughts. Lisa’s name pops up on the screen, and I answer, putting her on speaker.
“Hey, what’s up?” she asks.
“I’m too angry to talk right now,” I snap, my voice sharp.
“Whoa, what happened?” she asks.
I take a deep breath, trying to rein in my frustration. “Andrew had the apartment renovated without telling me. Apparently, he’s been working with Owen this whole time, making all these decisions without even consulting me.”
“That’s a big deal,” Lisa says carefully. “But I’m guessing his heart was in the right place.”
“I don’t care where his heart was,” I say, my voice rising. “He had no right to do that. It’s my apartment, my decision. How could he just take over like that?”
“I get why you’re upset,” Lisa says gently. “But maybe give him a chance to explain. It sounds like he was trying to help.”
“I don’t want his help,” I mutter, but even I can hear how childish it sounds. “I can handle my own life.”