1Love Redesigned (Lakefront Billionaires, #1)(26)

LILY

Or was it blackmail?



SECOND BEST

…



Julian’s name on my phone has my lips curling.

JOSEFINA

To think I spent twenty-seven hours in labor for this kind of disrespect.



RAFA

This is why I’m the favorite son.



Rafa dropping a joke? Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket today.

LILY

Debatable since Julian bought your mom a house.



RAFA

Only because he beat me to it after saying we could split the cost.



LILY

You’re telling me Julian was caught being shady as shit again? Consider me shocked.



MAMI

LILIANA!



All of us grew up without much money, so to go from struggling to pay the mortgage some months to paying it off with a single check has me reeling.

It’s still hard to wrap my head around the fact that Rafa and Julian are billionaires. While I have enough money to buy whatever my family and I want without feeling guilty, I’ll never achieve their level of success.

I pick up my phone and think of a reply.

ME

Josefina is right. Julian and I are teaming up.



JOSEFINA

Yay!



MAMI

Power couple!



I let my mom’s last text slide because I don’t think she understands the label. She said the same thing about my sister and me when we redecorated her flower shop together a few years ago.

LILY

Am I the only one who’s scared at the idea of those two putting down the sharp objects and working together?



RAFA

Nope.



My phone vibrates with a private text from Julian.

SECOND BEST

The house is ours if you want it.



My mouth drops open. It hasn’t even been two weeks since we agreed to the plan.

ME

For how much?



SECOND BEST

1.2 million



SECOND BEST

We need to decide now because there’s another offer.



ME

Who?



SECOND BEST

Some asshole from Chicago. He is willing to pay more, but I have a good relationship with the seller.



ME

Exploiting others for personal gain? Nice.



SECOND BEST

…



ME

Just curious. Do I know the other buyer?



SECOND BEST

Declan Kane.



My fingers fly across the screen.

ME

WHAT?



SECOND BEST

You know him?



ME

I know OF him. His family is the biggest name in the entertainment industry.



SECOND BEST

Well, the only thing he is entertaining tonight is a bruised ego.



My cheeks hurt from how long I’ve been smiling.

Snap out of it. This is Julian!

I throw my phone to the opposite side of the bed.

Reserved Julian I can handle. Even competitive Julian can be frustratingly funny at times, although I wouldn’t tell him that solely because his ego doesn’t need any more boosting.

But a joking Julian? I’m not sure I would stand a chance against this kind of behavior. Last thing I need is to stir up old feelings just because he makes me genuinely smile for the first time in months with a few quips.

God help you if your standards for men have fallen that low.

My phone vibrates with another text from Julian. Because I suffer from an inquisitive mind and a lack of self-restraint, I reach for it and read his latest message.

SECOND BEST

Do we have a deal?



ME

Yes.



My heart races as the three dots appear and disappear four different times before the next text comes through.

SECOND BEST

House is ours. I’ll text you the details about scheduling a walk-through once I deal with all the paperwork.



ME

Shouldn’t I be there for that?



SECOND BEST

Do you have a lawyer on retainer who can review all the contracts before tomorrow?



We both know the obvious answer.

ME

On second thought, I’ll sit this one out.



SECOND BEST

I’ll have Sam send you a standard company agreement that will honor your percentage after we sell the house.



I press my phone against my chest and stare at my childhood dream board. Although my design style has changed over the years and I no longer have an obsession with floral prints, my passion for historic homes has never wavered.

Lots of properties in Lake Wisteria have caught my attention, but the Founders’ houses stole my heart the first day my dad drove me past them. There is something about the stunning views, isolated properties, and view of the lake and nearby Historic District that calls to me.

It feels like I’ve spent years waiting for an opportunity like this, and I plan on taking advantage of everything Julian and his company have to offer once I sign on the dotted line.