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***
The scent of fresh ink on the blueprints and the low hum of the city’s heartbeat through my office window filled the space around me. Stuart, always on cue, laid out the architectural models across the mahogany table, miniature high-rises glinting under the sleek lighting.
“These will change the skyline,” I mused, tracing a finger over the scaled-down towers.
Stuart nodded. “They’re more than buildings, Cass. They’re a statement.”
I pictured the clean lines and glass facades, symbols of progress and prosperity. “They’ll bring jobs, homes… life to an area that’s been left behind.”
Stuart paused, “Sure they will. But you know there’s been some… resistance.”
I scoffed lightly, shifting my gaze to meet his. “People fear change, Stuart. They’ll come around once they see the benefits.”
“The community center—”
“—will be compensated.” I cut him off before sentiment could seep into the conversation. “It’s for the greater good.”
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. We both knew that sentimentality didn’t build empires.
I returned my attention to the model cityscape before me, allowing myself to be drawn into a world of steel and certainty. Here, unlike with fleeting moments and masked encounters, I was in control.
***
The news of the organized resistance came as a slight inconvenience, but nothing I couldn’t handle with a little charm and a few well-placed words. As I adjusted my cufflinks, I considered the community meeting ahead. A faceless crowd of protesters was all I expected, nothing more than a minor hurdle in my grand scheme.
“I’ll just attend the meeting myself,” I announced to Stuart. “A personal touch should smooth things over.”
Stuart raised an eyebrow, his skepticism barely veiled. “You think they’ll just roll over because Cassius Portman graces them with his presence?”
I flashed a dismissive smile. “Of course. They’re just looking for someone to hear them out, and make them feel valued. A little acknowledgment goes a long way.”
I envisioned the meeting unfolding: I’d step into the modest community center, all eyes on me, their local savior. They’d listen as I outlined my vision for their better future, swayed by promises and placated by token compromises.
Business as usual.
As my car glided through the city streets, the derelict buildings and tired faces lining the sidewalk gradually transformed into vibrant storefronts and smiling pedestrians in my mind’s eye. My project wasn’t just about profit; it was about progress—something they surely couldn’t understand from their vantage point.
I rehearsed my speech mentally, polishing each phrase for maximum impact. “Ladies and gentlemen,” I practiced under my breath, “I’m here not only as a developer but as someone who believes in the potential of this community…”
A flutter of anticipation stirred within me as the community center came into view. I expected resistance but felt equipped to dismantle it with ease. After all, wasn’t that what I did best? Turn opposition into opportunity?
Stepping out of the car, I straightened my jacket and approached the entrance with purposeful strides. Inside, the hum of voices swelled—a symphony of local concerns that I was certain would soon fall silent at my command.
I walked into the community center with a practiced ease, the kind that comes from years of command and negotiations. My suit was crisp, my smile ready; I was a man prepared to quell a storm with a few well-chosen words.
“Good evening,” I began, my voice carrying over the murmurs. “I appreciate the opportunity to discuss our plans and how they can benefit everyone.”
A woman turned from her conversation, her stance firm, her eyes holding mine with an intensity that seemed to challenge my very presence.
It was her—the same captivating eyes from the ball.
The maid from the hotel.
Mila.
My mouth went dry as realization burrowed in my skull. The maid from the hotel, the enigma from the masquerade, and now this fierce protector of bricks and mortar—how could she be all these things?
She stepped forward. “Mr. Portman, is it? Your opportunity sounds a lot like displacement to us.”
