She Saved a Freezing Stranger in Her Bakery—Not Knowing He Owned Half the City
Chapter 5
Mara marched outside.
“You knew.”
Adrian turned.
“Knew what?”
“The building was sold.”
His expression changed.
“What happened?”
“My landlord sold the property.”
“To whom?”
“I don’t know.”
Adrian looked at the building.
Then at her.
“What does the letter say?”
“That I have sixty days.”
“Why?”
“The buyer wants to redevelop the block.”
Adrian became very still.
Mara noticed.
“You know something.”
“I may.”
“Adrian.”
He looked toward the bakery.
“This building is part of a portfolio.”
“What portfolio?”
“Mine.”
Mara stared at him.
The wind moved between them.
“Yours?”
He nodded.
“You own this building?”
“Yes.”
Mara laughed once.
Not because anything was funny.
“You own my bakery?”
“Technically.”
“Technically?”
“I own the company that owns it.”
She stared at him.
“You own half this street, don’t you?”
He didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Mara stepped back.
“You lied to me.”
“I didn’t lie.”
“You let me think you were some injured businessman.”
“I never said that.”
“You let me give you soup.”
“I appreciated the soup.”
“You ate my cinnamon rolls.”
“Also appreciated.”
Mara folded her arms.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because when I met you, I was trying to survive the night.”
That stopped her.
His voice was quieter now.
“I didn’t know who had betrayed me. I didn’t know which of my employees were involved. I didn’t know whether the people looking for me were trying to protect me or finish what someone started.”
Mara studied him.
“What happened?”
Adrian looked away.
“Someone inside my company sold information about me.”
“To whom?”
“I’m trying to find out.”
“And the building?”
“The redevelopment was approved before the attack.”
“So you’re tearing down the bakery?”
“No.”
He looked directly at her.
“I didn’t know you were here.”
Mara blinked.
“What?”
“When I bought the portfolio, I never visited every property.”
“So what happens now?”
Adrian pulled out his phone.
“Nothing.”
He made a call.
“Stop the redevelopment plan for the Bennett Street properties.”
Mara watched him.
A voice answered.
Adrian continued.
“Immediately.”
He ended the call.
Mara shook her head.
“You can’t just do that.”
“I can.”
“That’s exactly the problem.”
Adrian smiled faintly.
“Probably.”
She should have walked away.
Instead, she asked:
“Who attacked you?”
Adrian’s smile disappeared.
“I don’t know yet.”
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
The voice on the other end was urgent.
Adrian’s face hardened.
“What?”
A pause.
“You’re sure?”
Another pause.
“Don’t touch anything.”
He hung up.
Mara waited.
“What happened?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Someone broke into my office last night.”
“What did they take?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why does that matter?”
His eyes met hers.
“Because they left something behind.”
“What?”
“A photograph.”
“Of what?”
Adrian hesitated.
“Your bakery.”
