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“I hope you’re right.” I looked over at the clock on the wall, wondering how fast I could get things moving.
“You’re done with me, then,” Maggie said, laughing and smiling a little. “You’ve got the look again.”
“I’ll call you a taxi if you need it.”
“I’m in perfect driving condition, thank you.” Maggie hugged me again. “Thank you for calling me and talking to me. I’m rooting for you.”
“Thank you, Maggie.”
I saw her to the door and she waved at me before rounding the corner. I waved back and then darted out in the opposite direction, to Brian’s office. I barged in without knocking.
Brian looked up and frowned at me. “Hey, Carter. What’s up?”
I marched right over to him and grabbed him by his tie. “Assistant, I need you to call the realtor listing Megyn’s house and put an offer down for it.”
Brian flicked a glance down at his tie and then back up at me. “I have no idea what this is about, but I get the gist of it. I’ll find the listing and get the guy up here.”
The guy turned out to be a girl, a mid-50s woman in a stylish blazer, reminiscent of a librarian with her hair pulled back in a severe bun and thick glasses balanced on the bridge of her nose. She took one look at me and frowned like I was a particularly naughty child who wouldn’t stop talking back among the shelves.
“I’m not sure what interest a man such as yourself could have in that particular house,” she said. “I would be glad to show you more suitable options, if you’re looking to move.”
“I’m not looking to do anything but purchase this one house,” I said. I folded my hands, watching her, very aware of Brian’s presence at my shoulder. “I’d like to get straight to business and make my offer. $150.”
She laughed. “While it might really be only worth $150—”
“That’s thousand, ma’am. $150,000.”
She stared at me and then took off her glasses, cleaning the lenses before putting them back on. “Maybe I didn’t hear you right.”
“That’s $150k,” I said. “You heard me correctly.”
“That is an exuberant amount to pay for that house, Mr. Bryant.”
“The majority will go to the owner, won’t it?”
Sudden clarity entered her eyes. “Is that what you’re doing? Wait a minute. That segment on the news—”
I leaned over the table and stared into the librarian’s eyes. “Yes. That’s the same Megyn who owns this house. I want to buy her house and turn it into something amazing.”
“Are you sure you’ll have any money left over?” she asked, blinking her wide eyes.
Brian let out a quick, short, unamused laugh. “Trust me, he wanted to offer more.”
I ignored the comment. “There’s nothing illegal about me overpaying, is there?”
“No, not at all. In fact, a less reputable realtor would make sure you did. Though he wouldn’t work you up to nearly such a high number…”
“Then, I’ll take the house,” I said firmly. “Do you have the time? Let’s get the paperwork done right here.”
I wasn’t going to let this go. The agent knew that, and so she opened up her briefcase to lay out her papers, and I signed every single one she put in front of me.
CHAPTER28
MEGYN
Ieventually had to go back to work. June’s hospitality would only last for so long. I brought Suzie’s finished apron with me.
However, as soon as I walked through the doors, I knew I wasn’t going to have a snowball’s chance in hell at getting her alone so I could give it to her.