“Of course, let’s head on back to my office. We can talk there.”
He simply nodded and motioned for me to take the lead. As we walked by Candace, I forced myself to smile. “Candace, I’m going to visit with Tom for a bit in my office.”
She gave me a look. “Good morning, Mr. Brooks. How are you?”
With a brief nod, he replied, “Good morning, Candace. I’m doing well.”
Once we got to my office, I shut the door and sat down in my chair. Tom remained standing.
“Won’t you sit down?” I asked, hating that my voice sounded shaky.
“No, I think I’d rather stand.”
I nodded. “Okay, well, would you also like to start?”
“I’m sure the rumors you heard were about me selling the building.”
Wow, okay. So we’re getting right to the point. All right.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, they were. Kyle told me, but I said he had to be mistaken.”
Tom was an older man in his late sixties. He had gray hair and slightly hunched shoulders, his once-fit body showing signs of aging. He fiddled with the hat he held in his hands. “Well, you see, Greer, it’s not a mistake. I was approached by someone who offered me more than what the building is worth.”
I swallowed hard and stood. “Okay, well…I’m sure I can match it, if you’re willing to give me a bit more time. I thought I would need one more year, but I think I could be able to get the loan in possibly six months.”
He shook his head. “You don’t understand—he offered me a substantial amount of money. I would be stupid if I didn’t take it.”
An absolute feeling of dread washed over me again. This time I had to hold onto the desk to keep my knees from buckling under me. “How much more is he offering over the agreed-upon price we set?”
“He’s offering to pay me one-hundred thousand over the price we talked about. With that kind of money, I can pay off Maddie’s mortgage on her shop, pay off my house, and still have some money left over.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “But…but we had an agreement, Tom. You told me I could buy this building. That it was mine. I can’t come up with five-hundred-thousand dollars now. That’s a hundred-and-fifty thousand more than what we agreed on. And you promised you would take into account what I’ve already paid in rent.”
He closed his eyes briefly and then opened them. Staring down at the floor, he spoke in a voice so low, I had to struggle to hear him. “I don’t want to go against our deal, Greer, but I honestly don’t see how you could come up with the money to match his offer. And I can’t turn that kind of money down.”
I clenched my jaw until it ached, trying not to cry. My dream of Turning Pages was slipping out from under me. Sure, I could move to another space, but here I was right on Main Street. I was in the perfect location. This was my bookstore. The place where I went every day after school. I practically spent more time here than I did at home.
“You could find another spot, I’m sure of it,” Tom said. “Maybe even a bigger building. Make it exactly how you want it.”
I slowly shook my head as I forced myself to speak. “But I love this building. This building is Turning Pages. I don’t want to find another building, Tom. I want the one you promised I could buy.”
He cleared his throat before standing taller. The look in his eyes was suddenly void of all emotion. “It’s not personal, Greer. This is business.”
“So, you want some stranger to move in, possibly tear this building down, and put up God knows what, all because you can make more money off of it? What about the history of this place? How can you not care at all? What about your word, Tom? We agreed I could lease the building until I was able to get the loan. I didn’t even pressure you into putting it in writing because I trusted you!”
“I do care, but I also care about my family’s future. I’m sorry, but I need to think of them above your feelings.”
It felt like I’d been slapped in the face. I took an abrupt step back, glaring at him. “My feelings? My feelings! This isn’t about my feelings, Tom. This is about an agreement we had. A promise that you made me five years ago. I’m not asking you to give it to me, for Christ’s sake. I’m willing to buy it fair and square, and now you’re going to pull it out from under me? And you think it’s about my feelings?” I frantically shook my head. “No, this is about your greed.”