CHAPTER TWO

Nysaa returned home in the late afternoon, her steps heavy with the weariness of the day's work. She had spent hours at her job, dealing with the demands and challenges that always seemed to find their way into her life.

The cozy bungalow stood as her sanctuary, a place of solace amidst the chaos of her world. As she entered, Nysaa wasted no time in shedding her hoodie, hanging it on a hook by the door. Her short, dark brown hair tumbled free, and she let out a sigh of relief as she began to unwind.

One of the first things on her agenda was her medication. Nysaa knew the importance of her pills, the small yet crucial lifelines that helped her cope with the trauma of her past. She popped a few of them into her mouth, washing them down with a sip of water. The routine was a reminder of her vulnerabilities, a tether to a past she wished she could forget.

All Nysaa wanted at that moment was some much-needed rest. She lazily settled into the comfortable couch in her living room, her body sinking into the plush cushions. The weight of the day's challenges pressed upon her, and she closed her eyes, seeking a moment of respite from the world.

Just as Nysaa was beginning to drift into a peaceful slumber, a sharp knock at the door shattered the tranquility of her solitude. She let out a long, frustrated groan, annoyance coursing through her veins. The intrusion was the last thing she needed after a taxing day.

With reluctant determination, Nysaa dragged herself to her feet and made her way to the front door. She swung it open, her annoyance evident on her face, ready to give the unwelcome visitor a piece of her sharp tongue.

Her initial annoyance shifted to curiosity when she saw Jacobson standing there with a stack of documents in his hand. She raised a mocking eyebrow, her sharp tongue ready to unleash its biting humor.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Nysaa quipped with a smirk, her sapphire eyes dancing with mischief.

"Did you get lost on your way to the fancy business meeting, Mr. Suit-and-Tie?"

Jacobson's expression remained composed, though a flicker of irritation crossed his features at her sarcastic comment. .

"I assure you, Ms. Everhart, I'm quite capable of finding my way. I'm here on business."

Nysaa leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms as she continued to taunt him. "Business? You don't look like the kind of guy who does much more than shuffle paperwork and attend dull meetings."

Jacobson took a deep breath, maintaining his professionalism.

"Ms. Everhart, I represent a construction team that's working on a nearby development project. We've recently acquired the property adjacent to yours."

Nysaa's smirk faltered as she processed his words. She had heard similar proposals before, and they had all ended the same way—with her stubborn refusal to sell the only thing she had left of her mother's legacy.

"Acquired, you say?" Nysaa replied, her tone laced with skepticism.

"Let me guess, you're here to offer me a hefty sum to part with my beloved bungalow?"

Jacobson nodded, though her mocking tone didn't escape him.

"That's the general idea, yes. We're willing to compensate you generously for the property."

Nysaa's sharp laughter filled the air, a stark contrast to Jacobson's composed demeanor. "Oh, how original! You must be the tenth person this month to come knocking on my door with a fat check, thinking they can buy me out. Well, Mr. Suit-and-Tie, let me make this abundantly clear: the answer is no."

Jacobson's expression remained unwavering, but his patience seemed to wear thin as he reached into his stack of documents. He pulled out a thick envelope and handed it to Nysaa.

"I suggest you take a look at these documents, Ms. Everhart. They prove that your property has already been purchased."

Nysaa's sapphire eyes widened as she took the envelope from him, her hands trembling slightly as she opened it. The contents were a heavy shock to her system. The documents clearly showed that her bungalow, the only thing she had left that connected her to her mother's memory, had indeed been bought.

Her voice quivered with disbelief as she looked up at Jacobson.

"This...this can't be true. I never agreed to sell."

Jacobson's tone remained firm as he responded. "It was purchased through legal means, Ms. Everhart. I suggest you consult with your lawyer if you have any doubts."

Nysaa's temper flared, her sharp tongue igniting like a fiery blaze.

"This is outrageous! You can't just take away my home like this!"

"Tell that to Mr. Sinclair."

Jacobson's retort hit Nysaa like a thunderbolt, and her sapphire eyes widened in shock and anger. The realization that the man behind the purchase of her beloved bungalow was none other than Mace Sinclair, the infamous business mogul, sent a surge of fury through her veins.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Nysaa exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief and indignation. "That gruff, heartless monster is the one who wants to steal my home? He's got some nerve!"

Jacobson watched as Nysaa's emotions boiled over, and he couldn't hide a hint of sympathy for her situation. But his professionalism remained intact as he continued to assert the legality of the property transaction.

"I understand your frustration, Ms. Everhart," Jacobson replied, his tone calm but firm.

"But the purchase of your property was made through proper legal channels. You can't just tear up the documents and pretend it didn't happen."

Nysaa, however, was not one to back down so easily. In a fit of anger, she tore the documents she had received into shreds and tossed them into a nearby bin.

"I'll tear up all the papers in the world if I have to! This house is mine, and I won't let anyone take it away!"

Jacobson's patience wore thin, and he threw a thinly veiled threat at her.

"Ms. Everhart, you're walking a dangerous line here. This matter can be resolved in a civil and legal manner, or it can escalate into something far more unpleasant."

Nysaa's temper flared even hotter at Jacobson's warning, and without thinking, she lunged toward him in an attempt to physically attack him. Her wild actions caught Jacobson off guard, and he stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding her outburst.

Nysaa chased him out of her bungalow, her fiery spirit undeterred by the threats and the chaos that had unfolded. She watched as Jacobson retreated, his face pale with shock, and shouted defiantly,

"Get out of here, you corporate vulture! My home is not for sale!"

As Jacobson hastily made his escape, Nysaa's living room was left in disarray, the torn remnants of the documents scattered on the floor. The battle between the fiery woman and the forces that sought to take her home had just begun, and neither side was prepared to back down.

She was willing to fight tooth and nail to protect the last piece of her mother's memory.

Jacobson returned to Mace Sinclair's office, his composure slightly shaken from the encounter with Nysaa Everhart. He cleared his throat and straightened his suit as he informed Mace of the events that had transpired.

"Mr. Sinclair," Jacobson began,

"I went to deliver the documents to Ms. Everhart, as you instructed, but things didn't go quite as planned. She tore up the documents and attempted to physically attack me. I think she might be...unstable."

Mace's response was predictably gruff and unapologetic. He regarded Jacobson with a steely gaze, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"So, let me get this straight, Jacobson. You couldn't handle a single woman? Are you telling me that a petite, fiery brunette scared you off?"

Jacobson bristled at Mace's condescending tone, but he maintained his professionalism.

"Mr. Sinclair, she was unpredictable and aggressive. I did what I thought was best to de-escalate the situation."

Mace continued to question Jacobson's abilities, his voice laced with mockery.

"And what exactly did you do, Jacobson? Did you hide behind a potted plant or run away like a frightened child?"

Jacobson took a deep breath, refusing to let Mace's taunts get to him.

"I left her property, as the situation was becoming hostile. I didn't want to engage in any physical altercation."

Mace leaned back in his chair, his expression one of disdain.

"Well, Jacobson, it seems you have a lot to learn about handling difficult situations. You better step up your game if you're going to be working for me."

Jacobson gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting, but he nodded in acknowledgment.

"I'll make sure to handle things more effectively in the future, Mr. Sinclair."

As Jacobson left Mace's office, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of resentment toward the wealthy businessman. Mace's unapologetic rudeness and constant belittling had left a bitter taste in Jacobson's mouth, but he knew he had a job to do, regardless of the challenges he faced. The battle between Mace Sinclair and Nysaa Everhart was far from over, and Jacobson was caught in the middle of their fiery clash of wills.

Mace Sinclair was well aware that the bungalow he had recently acquired was legally his. The encounter with Nysaa Everhart had only solidified his determination to take possession of the property, no matter the obstacles in his way. He knew exactly how to ensure that the occupant of his new property would have no choice but to evacuate.

Mace reached for the telecom on his desk and dialed his project executive assistant, Victor's extension. He waited impatiently for the call to connect, his thoughts focused on the next steps to take in this battle for the bungalow.

After a few moments, Victor's voice came through the telecom.

"Yes, Mr. Sinclair?"

Mace didn't waste any time getting to the point. "Victor, I need you to send a notice to the occupant of the property adjacent to Sinclair Heights. Inform her that she has three days to vacate the premises."

Victor nodded, though Mace couldn't see the gesture through the telecom.

"Understood, sir. I'll draft the notice right away and make sure it's delivered promptly."

Mace's lips curled into a wicked, manipulative smile as he added a veiled threat to his instructions.

"And Victor, make sure the notice mentions that failure to comply will result in legal action. I want her to understand that I'm not to be trifled with."

Victor was well aware of Mace's ruthless determination, and he replied with a hint of caution in his voice.

"Of course, Mr. Sinclair. I'll make sure the message is delivered loud and clear."

As the call ended, Mace leaned back in his chair, his eyes glinting with a cold determination. He had taken the first steps in the battle for the bungalow, and he was prepared to do whatever it took to secure the property that he believed was rightfully his. The threat hung in the air like a storm cloud, and Nysaa Everhart was about to face the full force of Mace Sinclair's manipulative power.

Lather that day, Another knock echoed through Nysaa's bungalow, interrupting the chaos that had engulfed her world. She let out an exasperated sigh, reluctantly making her way to the door. She had no idea who could be bothering her now, but she was in no mood for any more unwelcome surprises.

As she swung the door open, her sapphire eyes narrowed with irritation at the sight of a stranger standing before her.

"Who the hell are you?" she spat out, her sharp tongue ever ready to hurl insults.

Victor, Mace's executive assistant, remained composed despite the verbal assault. He had dealt with difficult people before, but Nysaa's fiery personality was a challenge of its own.

"I'm Victor," he replied calmly, his voice steady.

"I have a notice for you."

Nysaa raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "A notice? What's it about, and why should I care?"

Victor handed her the notice, his expression neutral.

"It's regarding the property you're occupying. You have three days to vacate the premises."

Nysaa's temper flared at his words, and she couldn't contain her anger.

"Vacate? You must be out of your damn mind! This is my home, and I'm not going anywhere!"

She balled the notice in her hands, the paper crinkling with her rage, and thrust it back toward Victor.

"Tell your boss he can take this notice and shove it where the sun doesn't shine."

Victor remained unfazed by Nysaa's insults and defiance. He took the crumpled notice back and placed it in his briefcase.

"I understand this is difficult, but I strongly advise you to reconsider. Mr. Sinclair is not someone you want to cross."

Nysaa scoffed at his warning, her bravado unshaken.

"Oh, I'm not afraid of Mr. Sinclair or any other rich, entitled prick. This is my home, and I'll fight tooth and nail to keep it."

With that, she slammed the door in Victor's face, leaving him standing outside with the weight of her defiance hanging in the air. Nysaa was not one to back down from a challenge, and the battle for her bungalow had just begun.

Inside the confines of her living room, Nysaa seethed with anger and determination. She couldn't believe that Mace Sinclair, the billionaire businessman, had the audacity to threaten her home. Her sanctuary, the only piece of her mother's memory she had left, was now under siege.

Her mind raced with thoughts of confrontation. She knew she had to face Mace head-on. How dare he think he could just take what was hers? She wasn't going to take it lightly, and she certainly wasn't going down without a fight.

Nysaa's fiery spirit burned brighter than ever as she plotted her next moves. She was prepared to use every weapon in her arsenal – her sharp tongue, her fearless attitude, and even her determination to protect what mattered most to her. The battle with Mace Sinclair was just beginning, and Nysaa Everhart was ready to show him that she was not to be underestimated.