Holy. Fuck.
I was so excited that I squealed, "Thank You."
Cala laughed and shook our hands. "You're welcome."
Cala said goodbye and left Kane and me alone. I instantly hugged him and he laughed and hugged me back. "You're happy?"
"Very!"
Kane chuckled then hissed, "Crap, I forgot to pay Cala. Give me a minute."
He jogged out of the apartment after Cala, and because I wanted to see the stunning hallway outside once more, I followed him. I stopped in the doorway when I heard voices conversing.
"It worked like a charm. She picked this apartment just like you said she would, sir."
What?
Kane snorted, "Well done, you did a good job today."
"Anything for my boss."
Again, what?
I stepped out into the hallway.
"Kane."
His eyes locked on mine as he took a step backwards from Cala. "Aideen."
I narrowed my eyes. "What does Cala mean by ‘it worked'?"
He blinked. "God, you're so gorgeous, baby-"
"Don't," I cut him off. "Don't dodge the question, answer it."
He closed his mouth.
I flicked my eyes to Cala. "What did you mean by ‘it worked'?"
Cala's eyes were wild and they flicked back and forth between Kane and myself. I took at step towards her and Kane broke his innocent act.
"Run, Cala!" he shouted. "Save yourself!"
I then witnessed a fully-grown woman sprint away from me in six-inch heels like a fucking boss. I didn't move or even shout after her, I was too impressed to distract her.
Kane was a different story though.
"What did you do?"
He nervously scratched his neck. "A really sweet and thoughtful thing."
I deadpanned, "I seriously doubt that."
He exhaled. "I sort of... sabotaged the viewings today."
I stared at him.
"That's bullshit. How could you sabotage the apartment viewin's? You were standin' next to me in all of them."
He looked anywhere but at my face.
"I may have paid some people to be loud, the realtors to dirty up some apartments and have some kids I know from the club pretend to be druggies who wanted to get you high."
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Please tell me you're jokin'."
Kane shrugged his large shoulders. "I wanted you to have an amazing home, this was the only way I could do that without openly saying, ‘here, enjoy this rent free apartment.'"
I reared back and stared at him.
"What the fuck do you mean rent free? And what did Cala mean by callin' you boss?"
He gnawed on his lower lip. "I own the building, Aideen."
"You what?"
"Upton Realtors... this building and the five others situated throughout Dublin-I own them."
I stared blankly at him.
"I don't believe you."
Kane tilted his head to the side. "Yes, you do."
I didn't... did I?
Ugh.
"You're fuckin' with me head."
"I don't mean to."
"Are you tellin' me the truth?" I asked. "Be honest."
Kane nodded his head. "I'm telling you the truth, I swear."
I was quiet for a few moments trying to take in this new information.
"Who knows about all your... properties?"
"My brothers know, but I don't like my business being common knowledge so they didn't tell their girlfriends. They didn't need to know."
"I can't believe this."
Kane frowned. "I'm sorry I tricked you. I was afraid you would think an apartment was payment for being pregnant with my child."
"What?" I asked, dumbfounded.
"I don't know," Kane sighed. "I was just afraid of explaining this to you and then giving you an apartment would seem like charity."
"So you decided giving me an apartment by trickin' me would be the better option?"
Kane ran both of his hands through his hair. "It was stupid, I know... but to be fair, you wouldn't have found out if you didn't overhear Cala."
Cala.
"So you're her boss, right?"
He shrugged and nodded.
"Did you sleep with her?"
I had no clue why I was even asking the question.
Kane blinked. "What?"
"Did you sleep with Cala?"
Kane raised his eyebrows. "Yes, but it was a long time ago-"
"Oh, my God!"
I turned and walked towards the elevators of Kane's apartment building.
"Aideen," Kane snapped from behind me. "Hold the fuck on!"
I gasped when Kane shot around me and blocked my way.
"Move!"
"No!" Kane snapped back at me. "She happened before I even knew you. It was one time. Why the hell are you pissed off over Cala?"
I realised the answer just as Kane asked the question.
I was jealous.
I was jealous that Cala had slept with Kane.
Fuck.
"I'm not," I replied and tried to move around him.
Kane wouldn't let me by. "Try answering me with an honest answer this time."
I shoved at his chest. "Move, Kane."
"Make me."
I screeched in annoyance, "I'll scream and have someone call the guards."
Kane smirked down at me. "Scream all you want, there are no tenants in this building."
I stared at him. "What?"
"Technically speaking, you're the only person who lives in this building."
What the fuck?
"I don't live here."
Kane smiled at me. "The signed lease in my back pocket says differently."
Oh, my- motherfucker!
"It's invalid. I didn't know-"
"You signed a contracted lease for twelve months, babydoll. I have it in black and white."
I was being hustled.
"Kane... you can't force me to live here."
"Sure I can."
I placed my face in my hands. "This can't be real."
"Sure it is," Kane chuckled. "You get a brand new, fully furnished apartment for free. You don't have to worry about noisy neighbours, or for your safety because I have security working twenty-four-seven in the lobby of all my complexes. Also, your utility bills are covered by your very generous, landlord. He is a really nice guy and quite the looker, or so I've been told."
I hated him.
"I want to hurt you so much right now," I whispered. "I can't believe you have done this-it's crazy."
"The only crazy thing here would be if you fought me on this."
"How can I not?" I asked. "You're givin' me a home, and takin' away all me financial worries. You expect me to just be happy?"
"As a matter of fact, babydoll, I do."
I shook my head. "It's too much."
"It's not enough," Kane countered. "Please just let me treat you like the queen you are to me. I don't think you understand just how important you are to me."
"Me, or the baby?"
He closed the space between us. "Both of you. You're my family, and I take care of my family."
I couldn't think.
"I don't know what to say," I cried.
Kane leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine. "Say you won't be a trouble tenant for me. I'm a no bullshit kind of landlord."
I huffed, "You leased the wrong girl in that case, buddy."
He laughed and put his arms around me.
"I'm sorry for lying to you."
I put my arms tightly around him. "You should be. I feel so mindfucked right now I don't know what to do with meself. Me brain is a fart right now."
Kane laughed as he placed a hand against my lower back and rubbed it around in lazy circles.
"Do you feel a little better though? Knowing your whole paycheque can go towards food, the baby, and yourself?"
My mind was a mess.
"I'm overwhelmed. I've never not had bills to pay or extra cash lyin' around for impulsive buys. I'm in unknown territory here."
Kane kissed my head. "Keela adjusted to Alec having money, you will adjust to me having it, too."
I frowned. "Keela put her foot down with Alec though. She didn't want to spend money she didn't earn."
"You have earned this, babydoll," Kane assured me. "Putting up with me on a daily basis means you deserve all this and more."
I thought about it for a second then said, "That's true."
Kane guffawed, "You're as modest as ever."
I snorted and hugged him tighter.
"Thank you," I murmured.
I could hear the smile in his voice as he said, "You're more than welcome, babydoll."
I couldn't believe that I had a brand new apartment, but what I simply couldn't wrapped my head around was that Kane own said apartment. He owned an entire building full of them, five of them.
"I can't believe you've been runnin' a business without any of us catchin' on. I'm annoyed actually. I pride meself in findin' stuff out, but I had no clue."
Kane chuckled and pulled back from our hug.
"It happened by accident, actually. I came across Upton Realtors for sale and three buildings they owned for a steal of a price. I bought them a few years ago, then this building last year and remodeled them. I have a hundred tenants, you'll make one hundred and one. I have plenty of apartments left to fill, too."
I arched an eyebrow. "It's all legal, right?"
Kane laughed, "Yeah, it's all legal. I own everything fair and square."