Camden stands with his back straight as a board, his hands crossed over his chest in an almost defensive position. I stop, wondering what I should do. If I take a few steps closer, I might be able to hear their conversation, but I don’t know if it’s something he’d want me to join in on or not.
Someone bumps into me, pushing me slightly closer to them, allowing me to now overhear bits of their conversation.
“I don’t see a reason for any of this.” Camden seethes, the venom in his voice making me pause. I’ve never heard him that angry, even if his anger has been aimed at me before.
“That’s a silly comment, considering you’re the one who gave me the idea in the first place,” Jason responds. “Without you, none of this would be possible.”
“I don’t understand.”
“If you hadn’t bought the Sutten gallery and invited us all, I wouldn’t have been introduced to the lucrative real estate market in Sutten Mountain.”
“My space was actually up for sale when I purchased it,” Camden hisses.
“Mine was, too, once I gave the right price and talked to the right people. Why are you acting this way, Hunter? That country broad giving you such good sex she’s got you not thinking clearly?”
“You’re a goddamn disgrace,” Camden spits.
I’m so stunned by the conversation that I can’t move, my mind trying to piece together what they could possibly be talking about.
“Jason, tell me the price, and I’ll buy it from you.”
I can only see a sliver of Jason’s face, but I see a smile form. “I’d have to like you to do that, and I haven’t forgotten how you embarrassed me. I’d much rather raise the rent for the existing tenants higher and higher until they can’t afford it any longer. Then they’ll have no choice but to leave, and I can bring in people we know to rent the spaces. We’ll take over that shithole town that tourists seem to love, and it’ll all be because you started it.”
I can’t stand back any longer. I walk until my fingers are wrapping around Camden’s bicep, pulling on him until I’m forcing him to look at me. “What’s going on?” I ask, my eyes desperately searching his face to figure out what’s happening.
Jason gives me a sinister smile. It makes my skin crawl. I hate that Camden knows people like him. One look at the man and it’s evident that he’s a terrible person. “Look who it is, the little bitch who wasn’t taught manners.”
“Watch your fucking mouth,” Camden snaps, his voice booming. It’s so loud it catches the attention of others around us.
I don’t even care what Jason called me; I’m still trying to process what he’d said before.
“Camden?” I ask, my voice trembling, even though I hate it. “What’s going on?”
“I think he wanted to hide it from you, but I can cut to the chase and tell you I’m your new landlord.”
My heart sinks. It hurts even worse when Camden’s eyes don’t meet mine. Instead, his jaw clenches as he stares down at his shoes. I want him to look up, to look at me and explain what’s happening.
He does neither.
Instead, I’m left with the sneering Jason, his beady eyes gleefully staring at me like his entire night has been made by sharing this information.
“I’m confused,” I stammer, trying to have my mind play catch-up. None of this makes sense. Why would he be my landlord? Why would he have anything to do with Sutten?
“I’m buying your business location, along with the others on the block. They’ll all be mine once everything goes through. And then, you’ll pay me or get out to make room for people who can actually afford it.”
I feel sick. The world seems to get fuzzy around me as I think through what he’s just said.
“Why?” I squeak, my voice sounding meek and timid. I hate everything about it.
He looks over at Camden, and I do the same thing, finding his eyes finally on me. All I can see is regret in them. It hurts my heart because I don’t even fully understand why he’s looking at me like that.
Jason lets out a low laugh. It sends goose bumps down my skin because it’s weird and creepy, and I’m uncomfortable even being in his presence.
“Because Camden showed me how booming the market is in your tiny town. People flock to it, and I didn’t even visit during your busy season. Imagine the profits we could make from specific stores during the ski season. It isn’t personal.” He looks over at Camden, who refuses to look away from me. “Or maybe it is. Either way, you’ll find a way to pay me big, or I’ll replace your store with someone who will.”