“I went to meet with Colton and he had a feeling that some other properties that had burned down in the state were linked. There’s been a couple in Myrtle Beach and a few properties at the North Carolina border that have gone down in smoke due to electrical issues.”
“And how are they connected to the mansion?”
“We’re not sure. What we do know is that Cinder Block Enhancements just purchased a mansion a couple of blocks down from ours that burned down and that the homes that have burned down in the state this year have all been due to faulty electrical issues that burned the houses completely to the ground.”
“Like yours.”
“Yep. And the homes at the North Carolina border have just been proven to sit on a massive natural gold field below the town’s surface,” he said.
“So, this company is burning down properties in wealthy places to snag the real estate investment game?” I asked.
“That’s the theory. My friend says he’s got someone on the inside of this shady company and thinks his friend can prove just that, actually.”
“Oh my gosh. Everett, are you serious?”
“Very. Another thing that makes me nervous is that when my friend went back for his second trip to the city, this man who is part of this company mentioned our family by name. He specifically asked about the Wilder family with regard to the real estate game in South Carolina.”
“You think he’s targeting you guys,” I said.
“Oh, yeah. Especially my father.”
“Why would someone want to target you guys?”
“My knee-jerk reaction is to take us out of the competition. But, if someone is looking to take us to court in order to sue us for something, if they were successful they’d be looking at a payout of billions.”
I choked on my sweet tea and began to cough.
“What did you say?” I asked hoarsely.
“If a successful enough sabotage were staged and someone tried to take us to court, theoretically they could sue us into the ground. And between my paren
t’s real estate business and the business I have with my brothers, they could potentially see a payout of four billion.”
“Dollars?”
“Yes. Dollars,” he said, chuckling.
I started reaching for food and putting it onto my plate. Anything to keep from staring dumbfoundedly at Everett. He followed my lead and began stacking his plate high with food and I did everything in my power to keep my eyes off him. Holy shit. I knew the Wilder family was loaded. It was obvious from the Vegas trip. But billionaires? All of them?
That made me nervous. Not his money, but all of the stipulations and assumptions that came with it. They were the top of the class in the country. The wealthiest of the wealthy. They were what wealthy people aspired to be one day. They were it. What if Everett thought I somehow married him for his money? I couldn't even remember the wedding to begin with! Oh my gosh. What if I somehow tricked him into marrying me? What if the uncontested divorce didn’t go as planned and I had to take some of his money? Holy shit, would he take me to court? Would he sue me into the ground? Would he assume I was a gold-digger or something?
“Your mind is shouting at me, Andrea. Say something.”
I whipped my gaze up to his face and cleared my throat.
“I’m really sorry all of that’s happening,” I said.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
I watched him take a bite of my pasta before he hummed his appreciation.
“Very good,” he murmured.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“So, talk to me. What’s on your mind?” he asked as he swallowed.
“Just… work.”