“Sign here, please.”
I looked at Kane, who was smiling at me then I looked down, held my breath and signed my name on the dotted line. I did it quickly in case Cala changed her mind.
“Congratulations, Miss Collins. This apartment is leased in your name. Here are the keys, you can move in right away. I will inform the utility companies that you’re the addressee. All mains are turned on already—heating, water, electricity. Everything.”
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.”