Zoey sighed, rubbing her temples as she stared at the latest email from the property owner. The price of the building she was on the verge of buying had shot up significantly. What are the odds they'd raise it right before I was about to sign? she thought, frustration bubbling up.
Groaning, she dialed the number of the land agent she'd been negotiating with. "Damn it," she muttered when the call didn't go through.
"What's the matter?" Harriet's voice came from behind, startling her.
Zoey jumped, clutching her chest. "Holyâ! Harriet, don't sneak up on me like that." She took a deep breath, her face pale with surprise.
Harriet raised an eyebrow as she approached. "What's got you so jumpy?"
Zoey sighed, putting her phone down in exasperation. "It's just... the building I was about to buy. They doubled the price without any warning, right when I was set to sign the contract." She laughed bitterly, running a hand through her hair.
Harriet tilted her head, wrapping her arms around Zoey's waist as she leaned over to look at the laptop screen. "A hundred-square-meter building for six million Swiss francs? That's outrageous."
"The original agreement was for half that price," Zoey said, biting her thumb in frustration. Harriet glanced at her, then checked something on the screen.
"This is what you meant by a 'priority,' right? The family business project?" Harriet asked, examining the building's images.
"Yes," Zoey nodded. "It's in a prime Zurich location, but with its condition? Six million isn't reasonable. The place is practically abandoned."
Harriet thought for a moment, then pulled out her phone and dialed Vera. She set the call to speaker. "Harriet? Well, this is a pleasant surprise," Vera answered with a curious tone.
"Hey, need a bit of legal advice," Harriet said, winking at Zoey and gesturing for her to stay quiet.
"How can I help?" Vera replied, clearly intrigued.
"So," Harriet began, "say I was about to buy a commercial building in Zurich. There's a written agreement with the contractor for a set price, but just before signing, they decide to double it. Are there any legal grounds to contest this?"
Vera sighed on the other end. "Doubling the price last minute? Typical. Yes, you do have grounds. You can file a claim under detrimental reliance."
"Going to court would take a while, right?" Harriet asked, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"Yes, court cases can be lengthy, especially with commercial properties. If it's a complex issue, it could drag on for years," Vera explained.
"Thanks, Vera. I might drop by your firm to discuss it further," Harriet said, ending the call.
Turning to Zoey, she asked, "So, want to take this to court?"
Zoey shrugged. "That's time and money, Harriet," she said, scratching her head in frustration. "I had the initial amount ready to go. I was literally about to sign, and then this happened."
Harriet chuckled, leaning in to kiss the tip of Zoey's nose. "Don't worry. We'll figure something out together. Just don't let it stress you too much," she said, gently massaging Zoey's shoulders.
Zoey relaxed under Harriet's touch, managing a small smile. "Thanks, Harriet. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Harriet tilted her head and walked over to Vera's desk, smiling as she placed the envelope down in front of her.
"I told you I'd come visit," she said, watching as Vera scoffed and shook her head in amusement.
"Yeah, indeed you visit me with some sort of case," Vera remarked, picking up the envelope while Harriet settled comfortably into the chair across from her. "So, this is for your little girlfriend?" she added, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I need to find a way to handle this," Harriet replied, crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair. "But don't take it to court," she added firmly.
Vera paused, confusion evident on her face. "Wait, what? I thought this was for Zoeyâ"
"It is for Zoey, but if we take legal action, it'll take years..." Harriet sighed. "Zoey's been working so hard for that building. If the trial drags on, I don't want her to suffer through it when she should be enjoying the fruits of her labor."
Vera chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "So, you want to risk something else for Zoey?"
Harriet cleared her throat. "Just help me dig deeper into that agency. I can handle the rest."
Vera sighed, rubbing her temple. "I can help you with the whole process, but what's in it for me?" she asked, leaning forward and clasping her hands together.
Harriet let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "And here I thought you offered free help."
"Na-uh. Can't do that, you're a Pierceâand my wife's sister, so no free favors for you," Vera replied, laughing. "But seriously, can you help me in return?"
Harriet bit her lip, furrowing her brows. "What do you need? Just don't include any spying on Nyx again; I might end up getting punched by that crazy bitch, you know," she said in mock surrender.
Vera laughed, sighing. "Not that. I can handle your sister. But Vien... can you find out what she's planning? I'm not too comfortable with her lurking around. I know she's just participating in the BioSynthix Medical Group as one of the practitioners and will return to New York, but I can't shake this feeling." She shrugged, looking genuinely concerned.
"I can handle dealing with your twin," Harriet said, shrugging it off.
Vera looked intently at Harriet. "I know you can, but with Zoey around, just take some precautions too," she reminded her gently.
"Of course. I couldn't afford to lose another person dear to me," Harriet replied, sighing with a heavy heart.
Vera nodded, a smile breaking through her worry. "Glad to see you're getting better at this."
"It's all thanks to Zoey," Harriet said, smiling wholeheartedly. "If it weren't for her, I don't know where I'd be right now," she added with a laugh.
Vera shook her head, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Well, at least you have a reason now to keep doing better things. That's what's truly important," she said.
Harriet nodded in agreement. "Right." She turned to face Vera, a more serious expression settling on her face. "Since Markus is out of the picture with that restraining order after the... you-know-what, can I ask for a favor?"
Vera tilted her head, raising her brows in curiosity. "What is it?"
"Can you investigate this?" Harriet pulled a picture from her wallet and handed it to Vera. "It's Zoey's sister," she explained. "I just need to know what she's planning or if anything seems off."
"Ellie Foster?" Vera mumbled, glancing at the picture. "The name sounds familiar. Where have I heard that before?" She tapped her finger on her chin, deep in thought. "Ah, I can't place it, but anyway, I'll check this out with my connections," she said, reassuring Harriet.
"Thanks, Vera. That's all I need for now," Harriet said as she stood up. "I appreciate your help. I'll be taking my leave."
"Ah, so much effort for the sake of love," Vera remarked with a chuckle as she began to dive into the request Harriet had made, her mind already buzzing with thoughts of how to help.