Landlady: A New Adult Romance (Northbridge Nights Book 1) (25 page)

“I'm here to talk about Asher,” Charles said.

“What about him? Did something happen?”

“No, he's fine. It's about his job. I'm sure you know he got
fired.”

“
You
fired him,” I corrected, trying to stay calm.

“Do you know why?” Charles asked.

I nodded. “Because of me, right? But I can promise you, Mr. Morgan,
Asher will give you 1000% if you give him another shot. He was
just... worried about me. Because I broke my leg. But everything's
good now. He's ready to go back.”

“I don't think he can ever give the firm 1000% as long as he's with
you,” Charles said.

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“It means you're a distraction, Sierra. One I'm willing to pay off
if it means you'll stay the hell away from my son.”

“Pay off? Mr. Morgan, I'm not some whore you can just get rid of
with a fat check.”

“A hundred grand. I'll pay you $100,000 to move out of this house
and break up with Asher.”

I pulled myself up and stood eye-to-eye with Charles Morgan. I could
already feel a rash prickling up my arm and my lip developed a tic.
“As hard as it might be for you to believe, I'm in love with your
son. Frankly, offering to pay me off is insulting, and I thought you
were a better man than that. Asher worships you like some sort of
god, and this is how you treat him?”

“$250,000. Final offer. I know your parents need the money.”

“Don't drag my parents into this,” I snapped. “Now please, just
leave.”

First Vicky, then this? Enough was enough. Who did they think they
were, waltzing into my home and saying these things to me?

“Your parents' farm is about to foreclose, and you'd rather take
your chances on some stranger you just met than save your own family
from bankruptcy?”

I had no idea things were that bad on the farm. Why didn't they tell
me? Was it true? No, Charles was just saying anything he could to
force me into taking his disgusting deal.

“How do you know any of this?” I asked.

“I'm a lawyer, Sierra, with extensive connections. I can find out
almost anything about anyone. For instance, I know you have over
thirty grand in student loans. You're buried in debt, your credit is
shot and I'm offering you a way out.”

“You're only offering this now because you think I'm a threat. I'm
not after him for his money if that's what you're worried about.”

“You may not be after Asher's money, but
who's to say you aren't after mine? After all, when I'm dead, Asher
stands to inherit the firm and
millions
of dollars in assets. Do you think
I'd even take the tiniest chance on the future of my company? The one
I built from scratch, with my blood and sweat and tears? If you think
for a second—”

“I can't believe you think so little of me,” I mutter. “And
obviously, there's nothing I can say to change your opinion. So I
think we're done here.”

Charles turned to leave. “The offer still stands. Think about it,
Sierra. Here's my card.”

I ignored the rectangular slip of paper and then shut the door.

How did the perfect day transform into my worst nightmare?

I slowly made my way back to the couch. Max and Bowser were chasing
each other around, paying me no attention. I thought about calling
Cally, but she was probably busy at work. I couldn't possibly keep
all these emotions bottled up. And I needed to clear my head.

So I called my dad and asked for a ride and a listening ear.

Dad showed up an hour and a half later. “What's the matter,
sweetheart? Did something happen? Are you okay?”

A lot of things had happened, actually.

“Is it true that the farm is on its last legs?” I asked, praying
he'd say no.

“Who told you that?” Dad asked, his
forehead furrowed.

I suddenly noticed his thinning hair and
leathery cheeks. He looked so brittle and
old.
Had him and Mom been putting up a false front for my benefit? Were
they really struggling in secret?
“It
doesn't matter. I just need to know the truth. Is it?”

Dad helped me down the steps and into the truck. “C'mon, we need to
talk.”

Dad drove for a long while before he cleared his throat and said,
“It's true, Sierra. We're in a lot of debt. We'll probably be shut
down within the next three months. Before winter, for sure.”

I bit back tears, hating that Charles had been right. “Why didn't
you tell me?”

“I didn't want you to feel guilty or worried, honey. You're doing
well for yourself in the city. Getting your education. You found a
man.”

“I thought you hated the city...And I still deserved to know,” I
said, biting my lip furiously. “How can I help?”

“There's not much you can do, sweetheart. We just can't compete
with the larger corporations. Newfeld made us an offer. We might
sell.”

“How much?”

“$30,000.”

“You've got to be joking,” I gasped. “The farm's easily worth
$300,000!”

“We owe a lot of people money Sierra,” Dad looked straight ahead,
unable to meet my gaze.

“Let me help. I'll sell Grandma's house. We could get at least get
$600,000 for it.”

“No. Grandma left that house for you,” Dad said. “You need it,
for your future.” I could tell that saying that tormented him.

“Not as much as you and Mom. Please, Dad, don't take that insulting
lowball offer.”

“We were planning on signing the papers next month.”

“Where would you go? What would you do? The farm is everything to
you,” I said.

“We could work on someone else's farm. Plenty of them around. We'll
be fine.”

“No, you won't. You'll never be happy. Mom will be miserable. Don't
sign the papers. I'll sell Grandma's house, and we'll share the
profit.”

“I could never ask that of you.” Dad pulled into a vacant parking
lot and sighed.

“You're not asking. I'm
insisting.
”

“Where would you live?”

“On the farm of course,” I said. “I'll come back and help.
However I can.”

“What about your degree? Your schoolwork?”

I rested a hand on Dad's shoulder. “School will still be there when
I'm ready to come back. I can take a term or two off to help you
guys.”

“You'd really do that?” Dad asked, his lips trembling.

“I know I haven't been the greatest daughter these past few years.
I was just so stubborn and eager to make something of myself. To make
you guys proud. I had no idea I was leaving you and Mom to struggle.”

“Your mother will be so happy. She'll be so happy,” Dad cried. He
leaned over and wrapped his arms around me. “Thank you, Sierra.
You're saving our lives.”

“It's the least I can do,” I murmured into Dad's neck.

A small nagging voice in my head cried, “What about Asher?” I
chose to ignore it.

Until Dad brought it up.

“Your boyfriend...He won't mind?”

“He—There's no other choice. I'm sure he'll understand,” I
said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

“He can visit anytime, of course. The couch will always be there
for him.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I'm going to tell Lil. She'll be so thrilled. So thrilled. You
know she hasn't been sleeping well for months because of all our
money problems. Now we'll finally be able to breathe again.”

“I love you, Dad,” I murmured.

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

After Dad dropped me back off at the house, I let out a long sigh. I
really didn't want to face Asher, But I was an adult. And I needed to
make some adult decisions, ASAP.

CHAPTER 24

ASHER

“YOU'RE GOING TO WHAT?” I asked, dropping my briefcase on the
couch.

“My parents will have to sell the farm unless I put in the money
and effort to keep it afloat. I have no choice, Asher. They need me.”

“What about me? What about us?”

“You can visit anytime,” Sierra said. She tried to put on a
smile, but it seemed insincere.

“It'd be okay if it was short-term, Sierra, but I can't possibly
drive two hours there and back to see you every day.”

“You were okay with it before you got into my pants,” Sierra said
pointedly.

“I didn't visit you because I wanted to get into your pants,” I
snapped. “Don't you know how I feel about you? I did it because I
love you.”

Sierra scoffed. “Yeah... love. Did you realize you loved me before
or after you slept over at Vicky's house?”

My jaw dropped. “How—”

“She came here to drop off your wallet,” Sierra said. “You
forgot it when you stayed over. Apparently, you also forgot to
mention that little detail to me. Vicky seemed to think it was an
unforgettable night, though.”

“Sierra, I can explain.”

“You better,” Sierra said, trying to keep her emotions in check.
I glanced at her arm and realized she'd broken out in hives. Angry
red welts covered the entire length of her forearm, and I hated
myself for causing her so much stress. Her chest was rising and
falling fast and she could hardly stay standing.

“I bumped into Vicky at the vet. She had a
flat so I drove her to this party. Stayed for dinner because I was
hungry. Then she got really drunk, so I had to drive her home. I was
being a responsible friend,” I said, hoping it sounded innocent
enough. I mean, it
was
innocent... but it'd be harder to explain why I slept over.

Not missing a beat, Sierra said, “That's fine. But why did you
sleep over and then not tell me about it?”

I felt my face grow hot. “I was exhausted. I'd gotten fired, then I
ran over a dog. On top of that, I was soaking wet from the storm. I
didn't want to drive all the way home just to drive back again in a
few hours. So I slept on her couch.” It was all truth, but for some
reason, I still felt guilty. And I knew why. I felt guilty because I
didn't tell her about any of it right away. And of course because of
what had happened the next morning at Vicky's house.

“Vicky said you saw her naked. She said you two even had sex on
this couch a couple months ago,” Sierra continued. She was crying
now; big blustery tears coursing down her cheeks. Her pain gutted me,
and I wanted to hug her and kiss her until she was all right again.
But at the moment, she had her arms folded over her chest, and she
was backed against the wall.

Defensive.

And very, very angry.

She had every right to be.

So how the hell could I make things right?

I clenched my hands into fists and bit my lip. “She tried to seduce
me. I didn't play along. I left, and now she's trying to drive a
wedge between us.”

“Did you see her naked?”

Sierra wouldn't let that go.

So I nodded. “She stole my car keys. When I went to get them back,
she'd stripped down.”

“Then what?”

“I told her that I didn't want to play her stupid games. And called
her a slut. She gave me my keys after that.”

Sierra seemed to soften a little.

“I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I meant to, but I just got
carried away. Then there was all that shit with my dad. Nothing
happened between me and Vicky, I swear.”

“I just... I don't want you to keep secrets from me,” Sierra
finally said. “I want us to have an open, honest relationship.”

I took a step closer towards Sierra. She didn't shy away so I pulled
her into my arms. “That's what I want too. So much. I want
everything you want.”

“No more secrets then?” Sierra asked.

“No more secrets,” I murmured into her hair.

“In that case, I need to tell you something else,” Sierra said.

I kissed her forehead. “What is it?”

“Your dad came by earlier. After Vicky left.”

I let out a sharp sigh. “Don't listen to a goddamn thing he says.”

“He told me that the farm was failing. And he was right. I asked my
dad, and he confirmed it.”

“Why did my dad tell you that?” I asked. Dad rarely paid house
visits unless he was up to something.

“He offered me $250,000 to leave you. Said I wasn't good enough for
you,” Sierra sighed. A long pause. “That money would change me
and my parents' lives forever.”

Dad offered her a quarter-million dollars? Did he really hate her
that much?

“Tell me you said no,” I said, teeth clenched.

“Of course, I said no.” Sierra hugged me tighter. “That's why I
need to sell the house.”

“I can loan your parents money. Not a lot, but enough to keep them
going for a few months.”

“They'd never take a penny from you,” Sierra said. “But thank
you for offering.”

“There must be another way. You shouldn't have to sell this house.
Not to mention, where the hell are we going to live?”

“I'm moving back to the farm for a bit. Maybe a few months. Just
until they can manage on their own again,” Sierra said. “You
understand, right? I mean I haven't been the greatest daughter in the
world. It's the least I can do.”

“What about your job?” I asked, “And school? And me?”

“I'll take a break from school and quit my job. The hours were
shitty anyway, and there were no benefits.”

“You said you were planning to go back to work next week,” I
pointed out.

“Until your dad dropped this bomb on me. It was an eye-opener. I
know what I need to do now.”

“Sierra, can't Jordan help out on the farm? I need you here. With
me. I wouldn’t be able to stand having you move back there. Your
leg's not healed. You'll barely be any help, and you'll be miserable
and bored.” I squeezed Sierra harder, but she pushed against me.

“I still have to try. I don't even know how to reach Jordan. I have
to do what I can with my situation. It'll only be temporary, Ash.
Until things get better.”