He nudged my shoulder, showing me the list. Beside that unit number, was my name, typed in bold letters.
“Wh-what? How?”
“Mad Dog told us, and we removed it from inventory. We’ll discuss pricing closer to the time.”
“But—”
Maddox interrupted me. “We’ll help you with a mortgage, Reid. You can sell the condo, which will more than meet your deposit requirement. Whatever financing you need, any of us—in fact, all of us—will co-sign for you. You will have a mortgage and you will own a place in Ridge Towers. This is our bonus to you for everything you have done and we know you will do in the future.”
My mouth opened, but no words came out. To my horror, the room swam in front of me, and I struggled to contain my feelings, quickly ducking my head. I was about to break down and cry in front of my bosses. I couldn’t allow that to happen, yet even as I tried to stop it, a tear splashed on my knee. Followed by another. I couldn’t contain the swell of emotions. They were too vast and deep.
Aiden’s big arm came around my shoulder. “It’s okay, kid. We make a lot of grown men cry. It’s sort of what we do.”
I barked out a laugh and lifted my head. I was shocked to see all three men grinning at me, their eyes damp. In that moment, they weren’t my bosses. They were my friends. My brothers. They had given me the gift of a fresh start. A place to call my own—something I longed for but could never put into words.
Jumping to my feet, I lunged first for Bentley, hugging him hard. He chuckled and gave me a brief slap on the back. Maddox was ready for me, letting me pounce on him, laughing as he hugged me in return. I turned to Aiden, the man who had risked a lot to give me a second chance.
He opened his massive arms. “Come to Papa, kid.” His hug almost broke my ribs, but it was worth it.
All of what they did for me made everything worth it.
Because of them, I had a new path and a future. Something to offer.
I couldn’t wait to tell Becca.
Reid
Becca and I wandered through the condo. I was still in shock over the extravagant gesture. When I’d told Becca, her eyes had grown round, and she’d flung her arms around my neck, excited and pleased for me. I insisted she come with me to see the place that evening.
Sliding the key into the lock and stepping into what was now my home was surreal. It was a great layout with a kitchen to the left and a good-sized living/dining area on the right. To one side was a small space—what Maddox referred to as the plus. It would be an excellent area for my desk and equipment. The bedroom and bathroom were generous in size. Compared to where I lived currently, it was a palace.
Becca laughed at my excitement over the air conditioning. I had none and the windows were old with no screens, so at times, with the sweltering summers in Toronto, I often had to escape to the cool interior of the office to sleep there. It would be amazing to have a place that was cool during the heat of the summer.
To me, it all appeared perfect, although both Becca and Van nodded knowingly as they looked around.
I’d sat with Maddox in the afternoon to run through numbers. He showed me how, if I used the money I had saved now, the investment would pay off more than the meager interest I earned each month. He helped me set a budget for the renovations, almost as excited as I was about the project.
Van made notes, returning to the kitchen where Becca was looking into the cupboards. “Well, it’s an awesome place, but the guys are right. Some upgrades and it would be even better.”
Becca agreed with him. “The kitchen and bath.”
“Yep. I suggest the floors too. Some paint and a little trim work would make the place feel modern and updated.”
“It all looks fine to me. But if you think it needs it, then we’ll go ahead.”
Van laughed, crossing his arms and leaning on the counter. He was almost as big as Aiden, taking up a vast amount of space. His hands were callused, and usually, there was paint or dust on his jeans. However, his dark navy eyes were kind, his voice low, and he was knowledgeable and approachable. I helped him a lot with various programs, and I knew Bentley relied on him and trusted his judgment.
“The place will be empty by the weekend. We can pull out whatever we decide to reno and get started. You can pick what you want in the way of cupboards, floors, counters, fixtures. Bentley told me to make it a priority.”
“I have no idea what I want.”
He chuckled. “Liv can help you with that. You can tell her your budget, what your preferences are, and she’ll go from there.”
I looked at Becca, helpless. “Maybe you can come with me?”
“Oh, I’d love to!”
“I could call Liv. She lives not far from here. If she’s home, she could come over and have a look.”
“That would be awesome.”
He pulled out his phone, walking out of the kitchen.
I shook my head. “This is too much.”
Becca hugged my arm. “It will be great.”
“I prefer things simple.”
“I know.”
I stepped toward her, sliding my hand over hers. “But make it the way you want it, Becca. I want you here with me a lot, so make sure you like it.”
She lifted up on her toes and kissed me. “Okay.”
Liv snapped closed her laptop. She had come over after Van called her. Professional and quiet, she had walked around, talked to Van, made notes, and asked me some questions.
“Okay, here’re my thoughts. You don’t want a major overhaul or walls moved.”
“No.”
“And you want simple.”
“Yes.”
“We’ll do the same flooring throughout except the bath. One of the engineered wood floors. Wide planks. Easy to clean and maintain. In the kitchen, new cupboards, counters, and backsplash. The already-upgraded appliances look good. We’ll do clean lines. Modern. In the bathroom, we’ll update the fixtures and put in a cool multi-head shower. You said your favorite colors are blue and gray, so I’ll keep that in mind. We’ll go with a nice earthy tone with some pops of color. I have your budget, so I’ll work it through with Van and have ideas to you in a couple of days.”
“Wow. Okay.”
“Bentley’s instructions,” she informed me with a wink. Then she smiled, the action transforming her face. She was pretty, but her smile was killer. She had soft tawny-colored hair which she wore in a long braid and had luminous, golden-colored eyes. She was expressive, always using her hands, and her voice was soft but direct.
She was the same in the office. Pleasant and helpful, always willing to go the extra mile—and another person Bentley relied on. Like Van, she carried traces of her work with her. Paint flecks in her hair or telltale signs of colored marker on her hands from her designs. They were an interesting duo. Professional and friendly, yet Van watched her closely, and I also noticed how often she deferred to him, as if seeking his approval.
“Becca is going to help me pick stuff.”
“All right.”
“I want to choose the furnishings gradually, myself.” I wanted to do that with Becca. Have her with me trying out sofas and chairs. Testing out beds.
That was going to be my first purchase.