A Touch of Confidence Read Free

an urgent phone call last night, and he could hardly refuse to help Big Jack out in a crisis.
    Not for the first time, he wondered if he’d made the wrong decision all those years ago. If he’d studied something other than teaching — a business degree maybe, or economics — he’d have no problem now looking after Wilson Property Management for a few days. He’d also have no problem fulfilling a dream he’d had for a few years now — buying a property for himself. A house he could live in comfortably.
    On his current salary, that was a dream he could never hope to realize.
    “Look, Miss Jones, I apologize. I had no idea about the oral contract between you and my grandfather. He said nothing about it and left no notes about your meeting. The fact remains that this shop is now leased, the contract signed and I doubt I can break it.”
    Her face darkened with ire.
    “But I would be more than happy to check the files back at the office and see what else we have available.” More than happy — so long as he worked out how to use the damn software. “I’m sure if we take a minute to calm down and look at our options, we’ll find something that would suit your needs just as well, if not better, than this shop.”
    She shook her head with a disbelieving smile. “Do you think it’s that simple? You’ll check your books, come up with something else, and we’ll all be happy?”
    “I don’t see why it can’t be.”
    “Because there aren’t a whole lot of properties in this area.” The smile vanished. “When one becomes available, it’s snapped up like that.” She clicked her fingers. “I would expect you to know this.”
    He should know it. But other than being all too aware of the rising price of residential housing in Sydney, Jack knew nothing about the property market — especially not the commercial market. He wasn’t a property manager. While he knew the ins and outs of the high school English and History syllabi, shop rentals remained a mystery to him. The only reason he had time now to help Big Jack was because school was closed for the spring holiday.
    Maybe, just maybe, it was time to leave teaching. Time to get into a profession that would at least allow him to earn enough to buy his own home. A home he could raise a family in if he ever settled down. He could join his pop at Wilson Property Management and slowly learn the business until he was confident enough to take over the reins when Big Jack retired.
    It was an idea he hated all the way through to his bones. The thought of leaving teaching, leaving his students, made his stomach twist.
    “I can’t pretend to remember every property on our books, Miss Jones. There are just too many of them. As I said, I would be more than happy to check our files — ”
    “Don’t patronize me. I don’t want another property. I want this lease signed so I can open my new store, right here.”
    “I’m trying to find a way to get you a new store.”
    “By urging me to take another shop? I don’t think so. Why not start by getting your grandfather on the phone and sorting out this mess with him? Perhaps your other tenant would be happy to settle on another property. This one is already spoken for.”
    Jack shook his head. “Much as I’d like to get my grandfather involved in this, I cannot contact him now.”
    She arched a brow. “Oh? And why is that?” She gave him a scathing look.
    “Because my grandfather had a heart attack yesterday. No matter how pressing your need to rent the shop may be, I assume you’ll allow him the time to recover before dropping this bomb on him?”

Chapter Two
    Claire stepped back with a gasp. “Oh, my God.” Her shoulders drooped and her hand covered her mouth. “Is he okay?”
    “No, Miss Jones.” For some reason, Jack couldn’t contain his sarcasm. “He had a heart attack. Of course he’s not okay.”
    “I-I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” The look in her eyes changed from furious to distressed, and it was