From Hate to Date by Mika Lane

Author:Mika Lane [Lane, Mika]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Headlands Publishing
Published: 2023-11-01T16:00:00+00:00

26

LIVVY

On the subway downtown, I read everything Jewel gave me as fast as I can. Aside from the developer’s actual violations, the rest of the materials are boring city and county regulations, and the penalties for not following them. Just as my eyes are about to give out from all the fine print, a picture comes into view, beautiful and clear, that this is just another greedy developer ready to cut corners when it serves their purposes. I don’t mean to gloat, but Jewel is a genius, and I, at the moment, am on top of the world. The path before me, while not perfectly clear and spelled out, is at least not as blurry as it has been for the past few days, and that’s a massive load off my shoulders. Fingers crossed, things will turn around and even start going my way again.

It's funny, you don’t realize how heavily some things weigh on you until they’re finally shrugged off.

I go through the metal detectors at City Hall and ask someone to point me toward Bartlett’s office. I could take the elevator to the third floor but instead choose the stairs. I have some nervous energy to settle and besides, want to experience the grandeur that is City Hall’s fancy staircase. I approach his office, room thirty-one, but just before I do, see him walking some men out into the hallway. They are talking and laughing, and he’s patting them on the back like they’re old buddies.

“Don’t worry, guys. I’ll take care of both places. I’m on good terms with them, and I’m sure they’ll listen to me.”

A tall man in a dark suit says something I can’t catch, but Bartlett clearly does. He drops his head back and laughs like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard, and as the men turn down the hall, one hollers back. “You’re gonna love the private plane, Bart. Just wait and see.”

He claps his hands together like a happy little kid, and ducks back into his office.

Are those men… who I think they are?

I think quickly.

I walk into Bart’s office and stop before the receptionist’s desk. “Oh, hello. I’m supposed to be in the meeting with Bart and the developers. I haven’t missed it, have I?”

The receptionist looks at me with a kind smile. “You did. The meeting just broke. But I think Bart’s in his office if you want to talk to him—”

I raise my hands like a stop sign. “No, no. Please don’t bother him. Let me catch up with the guys. They’re probably gonna kill me for being late, but the traffic was so bad—”

I bolt out the door and to a bench at the far end of the hallway. My heart’s pounding so hard I can’t hear.

Think, Livvy, think.

Did I just see what I thought I saw? Was that Bartlett sucking up to the very developers looking to ruin my life?

Has he been in their pocket all along? Is that why he’s seemed so strange lately?

Fuck all. I need to listen to my instincts better.

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