Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Absolute fury zipped through Everett at his rudeness. Offer or not, he was going to find a different agent. Requesting someone else was added to his mental list of things to do.
“Did you hear me? An offer came in, and it’s two hundred thousand over the planned asking price. You should jump on it now.” Allen frowned at Everett briefly before he pulled out that fake smile again. “You’ll need to stop the estate sale company, though, because they want everything in the house as well.”
“Everything?”
“Every last thing, including all those books in the office.”
“That’s not going to happen. Everything in that room is coming to me.”
His fake smile stayed pasted on his face. “Two hundred thousand over asking price, and you’re already listing this place far above what it should have been.”
“Yes, and a lot of the antiques in this house are worth thousands, so two hundred K isn’t going to cut it.” Something occurred to Everett, and he narrowed his eyes. “How does this person know what’s in that office?”
“I sent him pictures of every room.”
“I distinctly told you that part of the house was off limits until it was emptied. I also asked for no pictures until it was ready.”
Allen made another dismissive sound that grated on Everett’s nerves. “That study is the selling point of this place, so it couldn’t be left out.”
“You know what, Mr. Bellingham? I’m requesting another agent on this sale so you can leave.”
Allen scowled. “I’m the best damn agent they have. Getting an offer before the place is even listed proves that. Besides, I’m the only one available right now.”
“Then the house is no longer for sale. Leave, please.”
Allen’s mouth dropped open but only briefly as he deliberately softened his stance. Everett could practically see the ooze of incoming fake charm leaking onto the floor. “Look, I apologize for including images of the study, but it did the trick. And there are numerous antiques and paintings the buyer loved as well. He requested nothing be removed, and I know if we go back with a counteroffer, he’ll bite. Guy’s rich as Midas.”
“I’m not interested in offering a counter. There are many things in this house I’ll be keeping, and as of right now, I’m considering keeping the house as well.”
“You’re making a huge mistake.”
“Nevertheless, it’s my mistake to make. Again, I’ll ask that you leave. You’re fired.”
Allen opened his mouth to argue, but Dax took a step toward him, and that seemed to fluster him because his mouth slammed shut. He gave Everett a furious look as he shuffled back out the door. Everett didn’t even wait for him to get down the walkway—he just calmly shut the door behind him.
“What an ass,” he told Dax as he walked to the living room. “I had very strict rules about the house not being photographed for the public until it was empty. He was just supposed to be taking pictures of some of the other rooms for his own use. I’ll have to see if he has all my grandfather’s private collections all over his website. He infuriates me, and I should have let him go the first time I met him because he makes my skin crawl.”
Dax leaned against the door jamb. “Are you seriously considering keeping this house? It’s a beautiful one.”
“I do love it. Just couldn’t justify living here by myself because it’s so big. My grandfather left me enough money to keep it up and hire a staff, though. And I suppose I could move my work here.” He looked around what was his second favorite room in the house with its big, cozy furniture and massive television on the other side of the fireplace, which was made of floor to ceiling gray stones. “I do love this room, as well as the kitchen. And I once loved that study.”
“That awful real estate agent was right about the study, even if he was wrong about everything else. It would be a great room to work in.”
“It would if it didn’t give me the creeps. I can’t shake the feeling there’s something wrong in there.” Everett knew he sounded crazy, but again, Dax made him comfortable enough to speak his mind.
“Maybe once everything is packed and you have your own things in there, you’ll feel differently.”
“It’s possible. I truly never thought of moving in here—had just always assumed I’d sell it once he passed.” He was truly considering it, though. Creepy feeling aside, it felt like his home, and he’d had a hard time knowing people were going through it and putting price tags on all the things his grandfather had collected. Had cherished.
He should have realized this was what he needed to do, and now that the realization was settling, he knew the decision not to sell was the right one. So what if he was alone, rattling around in this huge place? It belonged to his family, and as the last surviving member, he should be here. He could maybe fill it with children someday. That was his dream. He’d always wanted a family, so he’d have to make one himself.