Chapter 2

2: 2

The plan came together in my head at once.

I leaned back in my chair and started again, slow and easy:

"Six hundred thousand. That could work."

Wade and Rhonda had barely managed a smile before I went on:

"But that old place you live in on Fairmile Road has to be sold to me too. Both units together for six hundred thousand, and I'll sign the contract right now."

Wade's smile froze on his face. He shot to his feet.

"No way! That's where our family lives! You want us all out on the street?"

"Exactly! Two units for six hundred grand—you fobbing off a beggar?"

Rhonda chimed in loudly.

I lifted my eyes and gave her a glance. "Then what do you two think is fair for both?"

A greedy glint flashed in her eyes, and she threw up two fingers.

"Two million! Two million for both, and we'll sign and transfer them over right now!"

I laughed to myself, coldly.

The floating messages had already told me. The Fairmile Road unit was worth fifty thousand tops, and this Fairview place wasn't even worth ten, and they could open and close their mouths and shout two million. Like they thought money blew in on the wind for me.

I didn't waste breath on her. I just pulled the door open and stepped aside to clear the way.

"Can't afford it. Off you go. I won't see you out."

Rhonda panicked instantly and grabbed my arm.

"Wait, wait, wait, let's talk this through. A million and a half! A million and a half's fine, that's rock bottom!"

I shook my head, no room in my voice for bargaining.

"One point two million. Both units. Not a cent more."

She still wanted to argue, but my cousin tugged at her arm.

I'd seen it clearly a moment ago. He'd slipped out onto the balcony to take a call, voice pressed low, but a few words still drifted in. "Just a few more days." "The money's coming any minute now."

He was more anxious than any of them.

If this cash didn't land, his online loans were about to blow up.

The three of them huddled out in the stairwell to talk it over. I wasn't in any hurry. I poured myself a cup of warm water and drank it slowly.

Sure enough, in under five minutes the three of them were back, faces pinched like it physically hurt.

Rhonda spoke through her teeth.

"Fine! One point two million it is!"

"But you have to agree to one condition."

I tipped my chin up.

"Say it first. I'll decide whether I agree."

My cousin pushed Aiden out from behind him and put on his best doting-father face.

"Aiden's always wanted to go see the penguins in Antarctica. We're planning to take the whole family end of the month. You have to cover the cost of the trip—a hundred thousand."

End of the month.

Something clicked in me.

The floating messages said the demolition notice came down exactly a month from now. Ship this whole crew off overseas at month's end, and there'd be nobody around to cause a scene during the title transfer and the demolition.

By the time they'd had their fill and came home, the papers would be signed and the compensation money would already be in the account. No point making a fuss then.

I put on a reluctant face, hesitated a few seconds, then nodded.

"Fine. I'll book the flights and the tour package for you. Anything under a hundred thousand, I've got it."

The whole family broke into smiles on the spot and pulled out the contract, wanting me to sign right away.

I put my hand down flat on it.

"Not so fast. The transfer's fine, but it waits until you've cleared the Fairmile Road place out completely and handed me every last key. Then we go do the paperwork."

I paused, then added on purpose:

"Of course, you're welcome to move out slowly. Only, with this cash in hand, I might spot another place I like one of these days and decide I don't want to buy anymore. Don't blame me for backing out then."

That did it. Wade jumped up at once, thumping his chest to swear it.

"No need to wait! We'll start moving today! We can have it cleared out by tomorrow!"

"Fine. Once it's cleared out, take a video and show me."

The three of them were so terrified I'd change my mind that they didn't even finish their water. They rushed off in a mad hurry, and Aiden was still clutching my figurine in his fist, forgetting to put it down.

I watched their flustered backs disappear, tapping my fingertips on the two property listings on the coffee table.

Now that I had another two million on hand, the plan to snap up the run-down units in the Fairview complex couldn't stop here.

There was more buying to do.