Chapter 20 – Lena

I wasn’t sure what exactly was going on. 

Half an hour ago, I received a call to get to the historical society as soon as I could. The lady on the phone had practically yelled at me. I’d just gotten home, but Enzo drove me back here in his truck. When I walked in, it had looked like the entire town was waiting for me. 

The entire angry town. 

They looked a bit more sympathetic toward me than they had earlier in the day, but there was still an undercurrent of angst. And suddenly, I knew what this was about. 

What followed was twenty minutes of the town trying to convince me to tell them what the Hillsons were offering me to open my new business venture in Hidden Cove. The town council claimed they could match anything their rivals gave me. But I knew that wasn’t true. 

I stood up to quiet the rabble, and voices faded to a soft murmur. “I’m sorry you all had to find out this way, and I know you feel betrayed, but I’m afraid I don’t have a choice. Hidden Cove isn’t only offering tax breaks and incentives. If they were, I’d have come here to give Superiore Bay the same chance. The Hillsons are willing to become silent partners, investing in my plans. I can’t pass up an opportunity like that.” 

Trevor Ashford, Conner and Carter’s youngest uncle, who was known to be on the outs with his family, stood to face me. “Have you signed the contract yet?”

I shook my head. “But it’s only a matter of time. I must think of my family.”

“What about the town?” I didn’t see who spoke next. 

My eyes searched the crowd, taking in the familiar faces. “I love this town. You all know I do. It’s in my blood. I grew up here, my family has lived here for generations. We helped build Superiore Bay, but we can’t always let rivalries derail our futures.” 

“Is that the only rivalry you’re willing to let go of?” It was Carter, the same Carter who hadn’t been answering my calls. “Superiore Bay and Hidden Cove?” 

“For now, it’s the one offering me a truce.” 

Carter stood. “Maybe whoever took that picture did you a favor.”

How could he say that? Whoever took that picture caused this entire mess. To my surprise, Enzo, sitting next to Carter for some strange reason I couldn’t fathom, nodded along with his words. Something was definitely up with the two of them. 

There was no way I was going to get through to this crowd. With a weary sigh, I sat, and the rumbling cranked up again. 

Sierra Gonzalez, the head of the council, tried to regain control, but even she failed. It wasn’t until the door at the back of the room opened everyone quieted. Conner walked through, stopping in his tracks as he took in the meeting.

He looked blindsided, just as I had. Had Sierra called him too? 

I tried to say something with my eyes, but he turned away, looking like he might try to escape out the door again. Only, Jake Ashford walked in, shutting the doors and cutting off any hope Conner had of getting out of this. 

Conner turned on his heel, his confidence never wavering as he walked farther into the room with every eye on him. “What’s going on?” 

Sierra pulled a folding chair to the front and pointed to it. “Conner Ashford, sit down.” 

His steps slowed. “Am I on trial?”

She didn’t smile at his attempted joke. “Yes.” 

“Off with his head,” someone yelled. I looked around, finding Max Ashford, sitting next to his father, a smile stretching his young face.

A few people snickered at that. Conner shot his cousin a glare. 

I settled my eyes on Carter and Enzo, who were both grinning as they whispered to each other. My eyes narrowed before turning back to Conner. 

Sierra circled his chair, her long arms crossed over her chest. Dark curls settled around her shoulders. She was young for a councilwoman, much less someone who led the council. Only Harrison Ashford held more power in this town as the mayor. 

“Did I miss the show?” My grandmother slid into the empty chair next to me. 

“What’s going on, Gram?” 

She only shrugged, a sneaky grin on her face. 

I thought back over this entire awful day. The stares. The harsh words. Everything that was now directed at Conner. I sucked in a breath when I realized what was happening. In my anger, I’d revealed Conner was the reason I had to look elsewhere for my business. It wasn’t even really his fault, more like his father’s, but he’d be blamed for it. 

Covering my face with my hands, I let out a body-rattling sigh. A presence bumped legs as he pushed his way down the aisle to my right. I lowered my hands to find Duke staring at me. “Hey, boy,” I whispered. “I think I got your dad in trouble.”

“Conner Ashford,” Sierra started. “What do you have to say for yourself?” 

“Um …” Confusion clouded his voice. “I don’t know.”

She scoffed. “You don’t know? Okay, I’ll ask you some questions.”

“Whatever you feel the need to do.”

“What town do we live in?” 

His brow furrowed. “Superiore Bay.”

She nodded. “And what town do we want to see grow and expand? What town would we like to see allow its business owners to thrive?”

“Superiore Bay,” someone yelled. 

Sierra pointed to them. “Exactly. We can’t do that when two of our most prominent families are feuding.”

“This can’t be happening,” I muttered. 

Gram patted my knee. “Everything will work out the way it’s meant to, Mija.”

I wasn’t sure what she meant by that exactly, but she threw a look at Carter and Enzo over her shoulder that stirred my suspicion. 

Duke rested his head in my lap, and I curled my fingers into his fur, drawing strength from him before shooting to my feet. “Stop this please.” 

Sierra cast me a withering look. “This is none of your concern, Lena.”

“Of course it is. It’s completely my concern.”

“No,” someone else yelled. “It’s the town’s concern.”

I turned to face the crowd. “This is why you’ve all come here today? To bully one of your own?” Duke let out a low growl as if he agreed that this was ridiculous. 

Sierra eyed the dog warily. 

Someone pushed himself off the back wall and strode forward. When he got closer, I recognized Harrison Ashford. The crowd that was two seconds from becoming a mob quieted in the presence of the popular mayor. 

Harrison stopped near Conner, looking down at him. He didn’t turn to us as he said, “Lena is right.” Finally, he looked back. “But so are we.” His eyes settled on me. “Lena, I hope you understand it’s only fear behind all of this. We believe in what you’re trying to do and think it will be a great success in driving tourism. We cannot allow you to give that advantage to Hidden Cove or the Hillson family.” 

Conner’s eyes met mine, as if finally realizing what my meeting in that diner was actually about. I could have been wrong, but I thought I saw guilt in his eyes. For the first time, he realized this was all his family’s fault. 

“Force them to give her the land,” Barrett Ashford, Conner’s older uncle said. “It’s time the Ashford-Contreras feud ended.”

If only it were that easy. My parents weren’t here, and neither was Conner’s father. We couldn’t put an end to anything while they continued to hate each other. 

I shook my head. “Even if they sold me the land, I still don’t have the capital I need. The Hillsons offered me a way that doesn’t involve me putting my family’s entire legacy at stake.” I glanced at Enzo. “I won’t risk our future.” 

Harrison pursed his lips, looking from Conner to me. “You said nothing is official with Colin Hillson, correct?”

I nodded. Nothing had been signed yet. 

I ignored the rest of the crowd, zeroing in on Harrison, who was obviously deep in thought. I was sure I wouldn’t like whatever he was considering. 

Harrison nodded, as if he’d come to a conclusion. “There’s only one way to solve this.” 

I wasn’t the only one hanging on his every word. Conner stared at him like his gaze could burn holes right through his cousin. 

I could almost guess the words that were about to come from his lips. His satisfied smile said it all. 

“Conner will invest.” 

A round of laughter, coming mostly from Ashfords, wound through the crowd. Max, Emery, their older brother, Grant. Harrison’s siblings. Both of Conner’s uncles. The only family member present not laughing was Carter. Instead, he looked way too pleased with himself. 

Harrison waited for his family to stop laughing. “I wasn’t joking. This is the only solution. Selena needs an investor. Conner has money to invest and not enough sense to offer it himself. Tying the families together will put a lid on this impossible feud.” His stern gaze met mine. “And better yet, this is what’s good for the town.”

I caught the meaning behind his words as my stomach sank to the bottom of the bay. If I said no, I was putting myself over the town, and that wasn’t done in Superiore Bay. Bile rose in my throat at the thought of working with Conner, of letting him have a piece of what I’d been dreaming of for years. 

Did achieving my goal have to mean giving up a part of my pride? 

And was it worth it?

The answer to the second question was easy. Yes. Pride had no place in business, in dreams. It would only hold me back. 

I didn’t hear what was said after, and only minutes later, the crowd dispersed, leaving me staring at Conner with Duke between us. 

I wasn’t sure how this had just happened, but I hoped it didn’t ruin everything. 

Neither of us moved. I barely breathed as our eyes connected and we both realized there was no getting out of this. Not in this town.