Under a Will

Under a Will

oninioghenerunor · Completed · 45.5k Words

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Introduction

Under a will

A city lawyer with a plan. A small town handyman with a grudge. And a bookstore that isn’t big enough for both of them.

​Elena Vance lives her life by the numbers. As a high powered attorney, she deals in facts, logic, and iron clad contracts. So, when she inherits her eccentric aunt’s crumbling bookstore in a tiny Maine town, she has a simple exit strategy: fix the accounts, sell the building, and get back to her real life.

​But Aunt Margaret’s will has one final, frustrating clause.

​To claim her inheritance, Elena must co-manage The Inkwell for one year with Caleb Miller, the grumpy, flannel wearing handyman who thinks Elena is a heartless intruder. Even worse? The shop is fifty thousand dollars in debt, and the only way to save it is to pull off the town's massive Centennial Ball in just three months.
​Between a leaky roof, a "screaming" water heater, and a shared apartment that’s way too small, Elena and Caleb are at war. But as they work together to save the shop, the friction between them starts to feel less like anger and more like heat.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 The gravel crunched under my expensive shoes as I stood in front of "The Inkwell."

The bookstore looked like it was falling apart.

The teal paint was peeling, and the sign hung by a single rusty nail. ​

I wasn't happy to be here.

I was a high-powered lawyer from the city.

I liked clean offices and fast elevators.

But my Aunt Margaret had died and left me this mess. ​

According to her will, I inherited the shop, but I also inherited a $50,000 debt.

To get my full inheritance, I had to stay here for one year and make the shop successful again. The worst part?, I had to share the job with a man named Caleb.

​I tried to open the door, but it swung open before I could touch it, a man stood there., he was big, with broad shoulders and messy dark hair.

He wore a flannel shirt and had sawdust on his arms.

He didn't look happy to see me. ​"You're late," he said. His voice was deep and grumpy.

​"I’m Elena Vance," I said, trying to sound professional. "I’m the owner."

​"I know who you are," he replied. "I’m Caleb.

I’ve been fixing this place while you were busy in the city. You haven't answered the phone in weeks.

" ​I walked inside, the shop smelled like old books and vanilla. For a second, I felt sad. I missed my aunt. But then I saw a bucket on the floor catching water from a leaky ceiling. Drip. Drip. Drip. ​"The roof is leaking," I said. ​"Great observation," Caleb muttered. "I thought you were supposed to be smart." ​I turned to face him, "Look, Caleb. I have a plan, I’m going to fix the books, modernize the shop, and pay off the debt.

Then I’m going back to my real life." ​

Caleb laughed, but he didn't look amused. "Modernize? This isn't just a business, Elena. It's the heart of this town. And the will says you can't change anything without my permission. I’m the 'Protector' of the shop." ​He stepped closer. He smelled like wood and peppermint.

"I lived upstairs for five years. I knew Margaret better than you did, She didn’t leave you this place to sell it. She left it to you because she thought you were unhappy."

​"I am not unhappy," I snapped. ​

But looking around, I felt overwhelmed. The shelves were messy. The debt was huge. And now I had to live in the apartment upstairs with this man who clearly didn't like me. ​

"Your bags are upstairs," Caleb said. "The guest room is ready. But fair warning: the water heater is broken. If you want a hot shower, you have to turn the handle halfway and wait. If you turn it too far, the pipes scream."

​"The pipes scream?" I asked, feeling a headache starting.

​"Like a ghost," he said. He picked up his tools and walked toward the back. "Welcome home, Elena. Try not to break anything." ​He left me alone in the quiet, dusty shop.

I sat down on a shaky stool and sighed. ​Fifty thousand dollars in debt. One year in a small town. And one very grumpy handyman. ​Outside, the rain started to fall. I was stuck.

I couldn’t go back to Boston unless, I solved the issues of the bookstore, and that handyman didn't seem like he had plans to make it easier for me.

I wondered if Aunt Margaret was punishing me for not spending time with her before she passed away,I wondered if this day could get any worse .

What were you thinking, Aunt Margaret?" I whispered.

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