Landlord Wars(30)

“You and Mom agreed this was the way out after the investment sank your finances—”

“Without which, you’d have none of this!” He waved his arm at the floor of cubicles and offices behind us.

I glanced at the executives who supported my real estate development company and noted their attention on us. I pulled my father into the office and closed the door.

“The last thing I want is for you and Mom to be destitute, but that isn’t the situation. You lost a fortune, there’s no doubt. But you’re still wealthy, and you will be for the rest of your lives. You made a poor investment choice and lost a jet, a luxury yacht, and a few vacation homes. But you have money in the bank and a mansion in the city. I won’t base my development choices on making you richer.”

My father threw up his hands. “Is this another one of your ‘help the people’ speeches?”

My parents had been on edge ever since my father placed an unfortunate bet on a hedge fund a college buddy of his had pushed. I understood where the stress and lack of empathy came from, but I refused to support it.

My jaw shifted and anger made its way up my chest. “I considered the business proposal for Starlight and decided my company’s time and resources were better spent helping a larger portion of San Franciscans—at a profit for my company, of course. Starlight might have earned back some of the money you and Mom lost, but not close to all of it. And that’s if we managed to keep costs down and find the right buyers. The biggest advantage in moving forward would be to your reputation. The gossip around Starlight would outshine rumors about the losses you incurred.”

My dad stepped forward confrontationally. “It wasn’t only our money.”

Karl Burrows might come across as a happy-go-lucky rich donor, but he could be ruthless. “You talked others into investing,” I said. “But that’s on you, Dad. Don’t pull me into this.”

“It’s on you too! Why do you insist on distancing yourself from your family?”

I let out a strained breath. “I have nothing against our family, and I would like for us to be close. But that doesn’t mean I’ll make the same choices you and Mom have.”

My dad shook his head and put his hands on his hips. “You wouldn’t have a fortune if it weren’t for us.”

I nodded. “This is true. You paid for my education, and friends of the family provided seed money for my early developments. Which made me lucky and more fortunate than most. But I’m in a position now to continue doing what I love while helping others. That’s what drives me.”

My father laughed. “Max, we’ve always given to charity. Why sacrifice your fortune for others? This is nonsense. Do the Starlight project, and make me and your mother proud.”

I closed my eyes briefly. “I had hoped that the choices I’ve made and what I’m doing already make you proud.”

My father hesitated for a moment before he spoke. “Don’t you think some of those things are a waste of time and effort? You could be earning so much more with Starlight. No need to sacrifice the bottom line for people who will land on their feet without companies catering to them.”

This conversation was pointless. My father was wrong. Starlight wasn’t a sure thing, and impoverished people didn’t pull themselves out of poverty by sheer will.

I’d lived an entitled life. But some people, like my dad, saw that as their due. I credited spending so much time with Jack’s family that I never had.

I checked my phone. “I need to be somewhere. Starlight is off the table, but feel free to pitch it to another company.”

I moved to pass him, but my father blocked the way. “You know you’re our only chance at getting Starlight off the ground. Are you really going to do this to your mother?”

I moved around him. “Like you said about those who have far less—you’ll land on your feet.”

My phone vibrated on my way to the parking garage, and I checked the screen.



Jack: Meet us at O’Malley’s in the inner Sunset.





The conversation with my dad about Starlight left a sour taste in my mouth. I rarely saw eye to eye with my parents, but I cared about them and wanted them to be happy. I just wished their happiness didn’t hinge on my doing their bidding. Hanging out with Jack would be a welcome distraction, and I was glad to see him getting out again.



Max: Be there in 20.





It wasn’t until I made it to O’Malley’s that a sinking suspicion replaced thoughts of Starlight and my parents. Jack had said “us” in his text message.

I scanned the room and caught sight of a familiar dark-haired woman with baggy slacks and white sneakers standing at the bar. Sophia was here, and suddenly my pulse kicked up a notch.

She was more interesting than I’d imagined, and I’d been fighting imagining her since the day she moved in with Jack. That near kiss in the kitchen last night had been less of an impulse and more a result of the attraction that had been building since we met.

Sophia stood near the bar, squeezed between a man in a dark button-down and a barstool. She was attempting to gain the attention of the bartender while seemingly fielding the man’s questions.

The urge to walk over and shove the guy away from Sophia was as intense as it was disturbing. Fighting for a woman’s attention had never been a consideration. Not until I met her.