The Other Side of Greed by Lily Zante
Chapter Fifty-Two
BRANDON
“Iwould never do anything like that.” Neville glowers at me after I ask him if he had something to do with the fire at the factory.
“I wouldn't put it past you.” I recall him hinting once that burning down the factory would be a last resort should Kyra not leave Greenways.
“You’re the one who suggested burning the place down in the first place,” he throws back.
I snort. “I was joking.”
“That’s rich, coming from you, after the grand plan you were so enthusiastic about.”
A muscle in my jawline twitches. I hate being reminded of that. Kyra hasn't told Fredrich or Simona about what I did, and maybe one day I will summon up the courage to tell them myself.
At least I've told her. That was the most important thing, to tell the woman I love what my bad intentions were.
“I have new plans for Greenways,” I state.
Neville eyes me like a despondent bloodhound, saggy jowls and saggy eyebags. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“You won’t.” I adjust my cuffs as my new PA walks in and leaves me with a wad of paperwork to sign. It's my first day back after a few weeks off. My shoulder is slowly healing, but every now and then a white-hot pain flashes through me. I might have to have skin grafts, or I might choose not to. Having the scars on my shoulder reminds me that I am a ‘new’ me. That I saved someone and valued their life above mine. “No one is moving from Greenways, so we will never get that land.”
“But … but what about eminent—”
“Did you hear me, Neville? No one is moving from there.”
Neville doesn’t need to know of all my plans, but I have decided to invest in Kyra’s business and to help her. The building next door will soon be vacant. I’ve made the owners an offer they can’t refuse, and soon she will have the space she needs. There’s also another warehouse out of the city that I’ve set my sights on. But, again, he doesn’t need to know.
“What about our plans to build the condos?”
“That’s not happening.”
He looks pissed, his face turning as red as a tomato. It hurts him, I’m sure it hurts him real bad, all that money he stands to lose.
“You have a meeting at two,” my PA reminds me, then leaves.
“She seems to be getting on,” Neville remarks, amazing me with the speed of his composure. I expected him to have a hissy fit at my announcement.
“She's going to be a permanent fixture.”
“You couldn't convince Emma to come back?”
“To me? Hell, no. She’s made her mind up. She's going to work for Kyra.”
Neville is about to blow his nose but my words cause him to have something akin to a fit. When he manages to get himself together, he stares at me as if he's seen a ghost. “She's what?”
“She’s going to be Kyra’s PA. It's about time that woman had some help.”
“And how do you feel about her poaching your PA?”
The corners of my lips curl up. “She’s earned it.”
I try to put on my serious face but fail. It’s hard to do anything but smile when I think of Kyra. We’ve spent the past few weeks together, making up for lost time, discovering everything there is to know about one another. Making love in every which way, making love all day.
I am in love with this woman. I can't pinpoint when it happened, but she’s not only stolen my heart, she’s saved me. She's my healer, the keeper of my heart, and because of her, I can finally face my demons.
I am hopeful of a life with her, and maybe even a life with my brother.