Page 14

Okay, it’s pretty clear she’s not going to make this easy for me.
“I could be here for a friendly visit,” I suggest.
“Except we’re not friends and I don’t know you. Plus you were pretty awful to me the first time we met.”
“I thought we were past that. You hold grudges, don’t you, Miss Cameron?”
“Yep,” she says, popping the “p” in the word. “And you need to tell me why you’re here.”
I sigh softly. I might as well be direct in my approach. Grandfather always says there’s no point beating around the bush. You just need to conquer it like everything else.
“Okay, so I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I recently took over as the manager of our company’s branch in Edenton. And I was hoping to speak to you about an acquisition the company’s hoping to undertake. The land this café is on happens to be a part of the land we’re hoping to acquire.”
She takes all that in, her brows tugging together. Finally, she seems to piece it all together because her eyes widen. And then she proceeds to surprise me even further when she starts to laugh. I stand there patiently, waiting for her to get over her fit of laughter. I also pretend not to notice how her eyes get brighter when she smiles. It makes her look even more genuine. Beautiful.
“I’m not sure I said anything to provoke that kind of a response. What’s so funny?” I ask when her laughter subsides.
“You are, Mr. Harrington,” she says, wiping at the corner of her eyes. Her voice goes all serious and she makes sure to look me dead in the eye as she says, “There’s no way in hell I’m selling this shop to Harrington Holdings. So whatever it is you want to do or say will ultimately be useless. I’m not giving up this shop.”
My eyes narrow. I’ve always liked a challenge, and if she thinks I’m going to back down from this, then she’s sorely mistaken.
CHAPTER 5
Emilia
For some reason, people tend to underestimate me. Anika once told me it’s because they take one look at me with my blonde hair, blue eyes, and innocent face and decide that I’m this cute, sunshine-y girl next door.
I’m the opposite of that, though. For the first twenty years of my existence, the word “sunshine” couldn’t have been used to describe any part of my life. I’ve gone through shit, and I’ve only just started appreciating the finer things in life. My coffee shop is a part of that journey. It’s mine.
And I’ll be damned if some guy with millions in his bank account, with his custom-designed suit and sharp jawline, is going to walk in here and demand I leave my shop. That’s not going to happen. No fucking way.
Sterling Harrington’s brows furrow, a hint of irritation flashing in his pretty green eyes. And I hate that I’m noticing how pretty his eyes are right now, but they’re so distracting. How anyone can talk to him without getting lost in them is beyond me.
But I’d like to think I’m made of strong stuff.
“I’m here to have a reasonable conversation with you, Miss Cameron. I’m sure if we could just talk about it and negotiate,we’d find a common middle ground that’s favorable to everyone involved,” he says.
“Not interested,” I reply smoothly.
A muscle ticks in his jaw and for some reason a part of me wants to push him. Make him lose control. He’s like a six-foot-tall tightly wound ball of tension.Show me what you’re really made of, Harrington. Game on.
“Why aren’t you interested?” he asks tightly.
“Because selling my café isn’t an option. Especially not to the company responsible for the decline in my business.”
“Decline in your business?” he asks with a scoff.
I cross my arms, meeting his gaze head on. “Yes. Ever since Harrington Holdings opened that new shopping mall nearby, my customer base has dwindled. Small businesses like mine are struggling to keep up.”
He straightens, a defensive edge to his posture.
“The mall has provided numerous opportunities for the community. If your business is suffering, perhaps it’s due to other factors.”
My jaw nearly flies open. Oh my God, the nerve of this man.
“Other factors? This café has been a staple in Edenton for years. My customers value the personal touch, the community feel, things a corporate mall can’t offer.”
His expression hardens. “Be that as it may, the reality is that businesses must adapt to survive. From what I can see, your establishment could use several improvements. The décor is dated, your marketing efforts are minimal, and your menu lacks innovation.”