Chapter 2

Christian

I read through the development plans before I check the tenant list still nineteen more to get rid of. I tap my pen on the table. The building manager had better get a move on, or I will fire him soon.

Where is Veronica with my fucking coffee?

My door swings open. This is definitely not Veronica.

The woman strides through the door with her black hair swinging from side to side. I take in her skin-tight black jeans and her very ample breasts that seem to jiggle as she stomps into my office. I look behind her for a moment, waiting for Veronica to announce this woman.

Oh, yes. Coffee run.

The woman walks up to my desk before she helps herself to the chair in front of my desk.

I sit there, waiting for her to speak.

“Mr Hayes, my name is Jasmine Calder. I live in one of your buildings. I believe there has been some sort of mix-up. There was an eviction notice put on my door this morning.”

My eyes narrow in on her. There is only one building focused on evictions right now. Sexy or not, this is a multi-million-pound project.

“You need to take it up with the building manager. Ms Calder.”

“It’s Mrs Calder,” she says with a wince. “I would speak to the building manager if I could, which is why I’m here this morning.”

Damn. It’s a shame she is married.

“I don’t have time for this, Mrs Calder.”

“You have a responsibility towards your tenants, Mr Hayes.”

I lean back into my leather chair and watch her cheeks turn pink angrily.

“What does your eviction notice say?”

“That I have 30 days to leave the apartment because of non-payment. There has been some mix-up with the bank.”

“Let me see the notice.”

She swings her purse around and pulls out the paper before handing them to me.

I look at the notice, and it’s a shame, but she is in the building I’m working on.

I hand them back to her.

“Sorry, there is nothing I can do. You and your family will need to move out before the notice expires. I will make sure you get your deposit back.”

“You’re not even willing to look into this?” She asks as she snatches the paper I’m holding across the desk.

Where the fuck is Veronica? She usually deals with this shit.

“It’s a valid notice. Look, I’m very busy, and I don’t have time for this. Go speak to your building manager.”

“Mr Hayes, I don’t give a flying fuck regarding how busy you are. I know what I’m dealing with, but you are about to find out who you’re dealing with.”

I sit there for a moment in shock. I have never been spoken to like this in all my life. I’m sure people bitch about me behind my back, but this is unacceptable.

“I will not dignify that with a response.”

“You already have, asshole.”

I stand up now, furious.

“I think you should leave this instance, Mrs Calder.” I spit back at her.

“I’m leaving. Do you want me to take the stick with me?”

I frown at her.

“What stick?”

“The massive one jammed up your asshole. It’s causing you to malfunction. Clogging up any last vestige of humanity you might have left inside you.”

We both glare at one another. Her lips are curved upwards in a smirk, and her wide dark eyes spit fire towards me.

I calmly call for security, but keep my eyes on her.

“Hello? Get into my office right away. There seems to be a rabid bitch in my office.”

I almost smile when I hear her gasp.

The idiot on the phone asks if he needs to call animal control first.

“No, you idiot. You don’t need to call animal control. Get your ass up here now.”

“I’m leaving. But it would help if you had let them call animal control to this building. There are plenty of bitches inside this building upstairs and downstairs.” She says as she looks me up and down as if I’m the biggest scumbag in London.

Before I can reply, she is already twirling around and marching out of my office. I look at her ass. Of course, it has to be fucking perfectly fuckable.

I run my hand through my hair in frustration. A few seconds later, Veronica comes in with my coffee and two security guards, who are looking at Veronica.

“Everyone, get the fuck out of my office.”

The security staff dart out. Veronica pauses before putting my coffee on the desk as she leaves.

I sigh and fall back into my chair, swinging my chair around towards the windows. I need to make sure that crazy bitch has left. Sure enough, I see her marching across the streets.

I have to look at the bright side. Eighteen tenants left to go.

Later that night, I relax with my whiskey as I scroll through the TV channels. I pause when I see my building on the news. People surround the presenter. Behind her, I see Mrs Calder holding up a sign saying ‘Down with Hayes Properties.’

I turn the volume up.

“...and as Mrs Calder and the residents have confirmed, Hayes Properties have been trying to strong-arm these people to leave their homes due to a regeneration programme in this area. This isn’t the first time this has happened in the city. We could not get a hold of Christian Hayes for comment this evening. For more on this story, tune in with the ZNK network tomorrow. I’m Patricia Goodman saying good night.”

I switch the TV off. How the fuck had this woman gathered up a national TV network and all the residents in five days?

I fling my drink off the wall, missing the TV by inches. The glass shatters and the whiskey runs down the wall. I reach for my phone.

If it’s a war she wants, it’s a war she will get.