Falling For You (Honey Leaf Lodge #1)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Owen

I stared out the window of my hotel room, but I wasn’t taking any of it in today. The view of Buttercup Lake that once felt calming was now lost on me. I knew what I had to do.

Wait.

I had already made the offer to Vern late last night.

The wheels were in motion, but now I just had to wait for it all to play out.

Seeing the town rally last night and this morning to support Violet’s family made me even prouder of the woman I’d fallen so hard for.

I’d contacted the local news station anonymously last night. Seeing them show up this morning felt like a silent victory, and watching Violet take control was even better.

I may leave Buttercup Lake without Violet, but at least she led me back to who I was, and for that, I would be forever grateful.

“Owen, you’ve completely destroyed this deal!” Martin’s voice barked through the speakerphone. His tone was sharp and filled with fury.

I practically pictured his face, red with anger, and it felt a little gratifying.

Martin was the oldest and most powerful investor on the boardanddidn’t take kindly to setbacks.

But this was more than a setback.

The deal was dead.

“You’ve single-handedly jeopardized everything we’ve worked for by breaking the NDA. Do you have any idea what this could cost us?” he seethed. “And the local news picked it up? Come on. All because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut.”

I couldn’t help but smile. It was a good thing we weren’t on a video call. This entire ordeal happened so quicklythatthey didn’t even know how to throw one together, and I could hide my true feelings.

But the truth was that I didn’t care anymore.

For the first time in my adult life, I felt a strange relief rest over me. A weight I’d been carrying for years had finally lifted, and I never even knew it was there.

“I understand, Martin,” I said calmly.

I leaned back in my chair, stretching my legs.

I knew I was walking a tightrope, but all I had to do was picture Violet standing in front of the crowd—her friends, family, and neighbors rallying behind her—fighting to save the town and her family’s lodge.

She had done it.

And I couldn’t help it. The thought made me smile.

I also noticed she’d been posting daily since we talked last week, and her blog was slowly climbing in viewership and ranking.

Against all odds, she had accomplished the impossible. Her strength and determination inspired many people to stand up for what they believed in.

And even me.

“You understand?” another voice chimed in. This one was far harsher and colder. Tom, another of the major investors, nearly growled himself into a roar. “Do you understand how much money you’ve cost us? You’re lucky we haven’t slapped a lawsuit on you yet. You broke the nondisclosure agreement, Owen. You gave them information that sabotaged our entire deal. Vern’s reconsidering because of you! You’re finished if you don’t talk him into signing.”

The words should have stung. I’d spent my entire career building relationships with these men, creating and sharing wealth with them.

I should have felt the icy grip of fear creep into my chest the way it had whenever I worried a deal had gone wrong.

But not this time.

The possibility of losing everything I had built loomed large—but it didn’t matter.

I'd had enough.

They couldn’t take everything. I had too much.

The thought made me smile.

Besides, knowing that Buttercup Lakeand the people I’d come to care about would keep what was theirs was enough.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. This wasn’t about money anymore. It hadn’t been for a while.

“Do you find this funny?” Martin asked.

“A little. If you remember, my money was spent this last year. Not yours,” I reminded them.

“Time is money.” Tom sighed.

“I realize I violated the NDA,” I said in ameasured tone. “And I’m prepared to face the consequences. But I stand by what I did. Vern wasn’t comfortable with the sale. He felt pressured, and I only gave him the information he needed to make an informed decision.”

“You spoke with Vern?” Martin’s anger would have shattered glass if he were near. “I just thought you told the girl.”

“She’s a woman.”

“Some small-town BS,” Martin interrupted.

“That’s total BS, Owen,” Tom spat. “You knew exactly what you were doing. You deliberately gave Violet’s family an advantage and cut us off at the pass with Vern.”

My smile widened slightly at the mention of Violet’s name.

I had come to Buttercup Lake for business, expecting it to be just another job, but I hadn’t anticipated how the people would get under my skin.

Especially her.

Violet wasn’t just some small-town girl. She was afierce, loyal, and determined woman making her way.

Watching her rally the town and seeing how much she loved this place had done something to me. It had made me realize that the world didn’t have to be all about money and deals.

I’d spent nearly two decades missing out on something I wanted so fiercely it hurt.

But I’d lost it. I’d lost her before I’d ever had her.

“You’re right,” I said, my voice steady. “I did give her family an advantage. I offered to cover the difference between what you were willing to pay and what Vern would have accepted from Violet’s family. It was the right thing to do.”

The line went silent for a moment.

I could practically hear the board members teeming on the other end. They weren’t used to being challenged like this, and certainly not by someone they considered one of their own. I had been part of their world for years—cutthroat deals, profit margins, and loyalty to nothing but the bottom line. I had made a name for myself by playing that game. But now, it all seemed hollow. My life seemed empty.

“You’ve lost your mind,” Martin finally said, his voice low with fury. “You don’t just settle the difference out of your own pocket! We had a contract in place. You’ve made us look like fools. Vern was ready to sign until you got involved. You sabotaged this entire project. And for what? Some small-town romance?”

My smile faded slightly at the mention of romance.

This wasn’t just about me and Violet.

“You just don’t get it and probably never will.” I tapped my finger on the hotel desk in front of me.

This was about something more important than the board would ever understand.

They saw only the financial loss, the missed opportunity for a more significant return on investment. But what they didn’t see—what they could never see—was the value of community, of preserving something real, something irreplaceable.

“I’m not the one who made you look like fools,” I said, my voice growing firmer. “You underestimated this town. You thought you could come in, throw some money around, and buy up everything that matters to these people. But you don’t know them. You don’t know what this place means to them. That’s why you lost.”

Tom’s laugh was cold and harsh. “You really think this is over, don’t you? You think you’ve won because you convinced Vern to back out of the deal? You think you’ve saved your precious little town? You’re na?ve, Owen. We’re not walking away from this. We’ll ruin you, and then we’ll take that land, anyway.”

My jaw tightened. I knew they weren’t bluffing. These men had powerandresources that could crush anyone who stood in their way. They had built empiresandwouldn’t hesitate to tear someone down to protect their investments.

But I wasn’t afraid.

Not anymore.

“You can try,” I said, my voice quiet but resolute. “But you won’t win. Not here. Not in Buttercup Lake. I did you a favor before you lost money.”

“A favor?” Martin scoffed.

“Trust me. If we built here, they would have destroyed us somehow. It would have been a slow death, so be grateful that I saved you from losing hundreds of millions.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. I felt their frustration boiling over, but something else was beneath it. Uncertainty.

They weren’t used to losing. They weren’t used to someone standing up to them. But I felt I was on the right side for the first time in a long time.

“This isn’t over,” Martin said, his voice like ice. “We’ll sue you for breach of contract. We’ll come after you for every cent you’ve got, Owen. You’ll regret crossing us.”

“I’m sure I will,” I said, leaning back in my chair again. “But I’ll live with it. Can you say the same?”

“Your life is ruined. It’s over in this business, and it’s finished in every other professional way,” Tom snarled.

I chuckled, which only infuriated them more. “I’ve got enough money to take care of my family and then some. My life isn’t ruined. In fact, it’s just beginning.”

Before they could respond, I ended the call.

The silence in the room was deafening, but for the first time in days, I felt a sense of peace. The storm had passed, and while consequences were waiting on the horizon, they didn’t matter. Not anymore.

I turned to the window, watching as the town came to life below me.

Small groups walked along the streets, some carrying signs from the morning while others undoubtedly chatted about their plans for the day.

But one thing was certain.

Buttercup Lake felt alive, vibrant, and free.

And so did I.

My phone buzzed on the table, and I glanced down at a text from Vern.

Vern: I’ve decided. I’m selling the land to Violet’s family. They’re making a fair offer, and with your help, I think we can finalize everything by the end of the week. Thanks for helping me see things clearly and for offering to make up the difference. I didn’t tell them that part of the deal at your request.

I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight lift off my shoulders.

It was done.

Vern had decided, and Violet’s family would finally get the land they deserved. They would keep their lodge.

Keep their home.

It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was the best I could have hoped for.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I stood and crossed the hotel room to open it.

The moment the door swung open, I saw Violet standing there with her arms crossed over her chest and an unreadable expression.

But just as gorgeous as ever.

“Hey,” I said softly, leaning on the door. “What brings you here?”

“We need to talk.”

I stepped aside, letting her in. She walked past me and into the room.

Her eyes briefly scanned the space before settling on me again.

She spun around and stared at me. “What do you think you’re doing?”