Chapter 10 The Walls Start Closing In.

Michael's POV

I sat behind my desk, fingers tapping lightly on the polished wood as I held the phone to my ear.

"Make it convincing," I said coolly. "Remind her of the quit notice. Tell her renovations are starting soon, bring the crew along. I want her to feel the pressure."

The voice on the other end chuckled. "Understood, Mr. Gray. You want it done today?"

I smirked. "The sooner, the better."

I ended the call and leaned back in my chair, eyes glinting with something dark and satisfied. If she wasn't ready to say yes, then maybe the walls around her needed to start closing in.

****

Riley's POV

I curled on my couch, a blanket wrapped around my legs, trying to make sense of everything. The eviction notice still sat on my coffee table, mocking me with every passing second. I hadn't even touched breakfast, my stomach was a knot of anxiety and exhaustion.

Then,

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The loud knock on my door jolted me out of my daze. I stood up slowly, brows furrowed as the knocks came again, harder this time.

"Coming!" I called out, padding barefoot to the door.

When I opened it, a man in a white polo stood there with a clipboard in hand, flanked by three others in work vests. Behind them, I spotted toolboxes, tape measures, and a rolled-up floor plan.

"Miss Jordan?" the man asked.

"Yes?" I blinked at him.

"I'm Mr. Lorne, your new landlord. We're here to start inspection and measurements for renovations. Shouldn't take more than an hour."

My throat tightened. "What renovations?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

He smiled politely. "Oh, you haven't been informed? The building's been sold. Full internal upgrades starting this month. You would need to vacate soon so we could begin."

My heart dropped. "Vacate?"

Before I could even process it, the workers had already stepped inside, stretching tape measures across my walls, discussing outlets, even tearing small patches off the wallpaper.

"But... I didn't even...no one told me..." The words tumbled out of my mouth, but my voice was drowned out by the scraping sound of a tape measure being pulled across my living room.

"I'm just following orders, ma'am," Mr. Lorne said with a shrug.

I stood frozen in the doorway, watching strangers dismantle pieces of what was still my home, for now. My eyes burned, but I forced back the tears. I wouldn't cry in front of them.

****

The moment the so-called landlord and his crew stepped out, silence swallowed my apartment like a fog. I shut the door quietly, leaned my back against it, and slowly slid to the floor.

My mind spun with questions. Renovations? A new landlord? The timing was too perfect to be a coincidence.

Could Michael be behind this?

I had no proof. But everything about the timing reeked of manipulation. He had shown up unannounced, dropped an offer like a bombshell, and now my home was suddenly under construction?

Still, part of me could not even blame him. Not entirely.

Use him, a voice inside me whispered. Your boyfriend betrayed you with your boss. You lost your job. Your pride was already bruised. Why not turn this in your favor?

I stared at the eviction notice again. Then my eyes darted to the card Michael had left on my table. Sleek, matte black with silver embossing.

My fingers hesitated, hovering over my phone.

Was I really doing this?

My pride screamed no.

But my reality said yes.

I took a breath and dialed the number. It rang once. Twice. No answer.

My heart dropped, my fingers tightening around the phone as irrational panic kicked in.

What if I missed my window, and he had already moved on?

Just as I was about to lower the phone, it buzzed in my hand.

Michael Gray calling...

I cleared my throat and answered. "Hello?"

His voice came through smooth, unreadable. "Riley."

"I was calling to ask if... if your offer still stands," I said quickly, not trusting my courage to stick around for small talk.

There was a pause, just long enough to twist my nerves.

"Yes. It does," he said simply.

"I would like to meet you and go over the contract."

"Gray Enterprises. Tomorrow morning, nine o'clock." And without another word, the line went dead.

I blinked. He did not even say goodbye.

I tossed the phone onto the couch with an exasperated huff. "Arrogant much?"

Still, I could not help the small smile tugging at my lips. The game was officially on.