“I know. I’ll try to get you back on myself when I can.”
“Wait. What did you use your favors on?”
“Huh?”
“Colter, what did you use your favors on?”
“Rezoning,” he replied. “We needed some commercial space.”
“Commercial space,” she repeated, nodding.
“For a company that wants its offices here. My uncle’s company, technically.”
“Your uncle’s–” She stopped. “India’s uncle?”
“No, just mine. He’s my dad’s brother. India and I have the same mom.”
“And you just gave up my spot for this?”
“Yes, but it’s not just because he’s my uncle. It’s a massive company, and they’re moving their headquarters here. It’s the possibility of six thousand jobs over the next five years. Maybe more.”
“And you couldn’t get that through without using those favors?”
“I could have, but it would’ve taken–”
“Months?” she interjected.
“Years,” he said. “And we would’ve lost it by then.”
She nodded and said, “You mean thatyouwould have lost it by then.Youwouldn’t have gotten your uncle what he needed.Youwouldn’t have gotten credit for all those jobs. It’s all aboutyou, Colter. It’s not about the city or the jobs or anything else. It’s just about you and what you want to make yourself look good because you want more.”
“Hey, I came here in person to tell you. I could’ve just had someone on my staff send an email.”
“You want credit forthat, too?” she asked.
“Well, fuck, Maisie. I’m doing the best I can here.”
“You said favors.”
“What?”
“You said favors. Plural.”
“I had to use another one to get India’s thing.”
“India’s thing?”
“Yes. And she doesn’t know, but the parking garage she wants, she wasn’t going to get the permits for. Long story. I got Jameson to agree to issue them.”
“Parking garage?” Maisie said quietly to herself.
“Yeah. Anyway, I’m sorry. I came here in person to tell you that, and–”
“You can go,” Maisie interrupted. “I have lunch plans anyway. I need to go, too.”
“Fine,” he replied. “I’ll still try to–”
“It’s fine. Don’t bother. I can’t trust you or take you at your word, Colter, so whatever you try, I can’t believe it will actually work.”
