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The room fell silent, all ears on us. I searched for words but found none that could bridge the gap between us—between the man who saw potential in progress and the woman who saw potential in people.
“Mila,” I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper. The name felt like a revelation spoken aloud.
Her eyes widened in recognition before narrowing again. “You remember me.”
“I do,” I admitted. “But you’re not just… How are you here? Leading this?”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Because this is my life, Mr. Portman. These streets, these people—you’re threatening to tear down everything we know.”
The connection between us—a current that had drawn me to her twice now—felt like a live wire in my hands. She was so much more than I had imagined; she embodied everything I had left behind on my climb to success.
“I…” I faltered my rehearsed lines dissolving into the charged air between us. “I didn’t realize you were part of this community.”
Mila’s gaze softened for just a moment before hardening once more. “There’s a lot you don’t realize about what’s at stake.”
Chapter Fourteen
Mila
The community center buzzed with voices, a hum of concern and defiance that pulsed through the air. Standing at the front, I clutched my notes, a litany of reasons why Cassius Portman’s development project would tear the heart out of our neighborhood. My eyes met his, every inch the billionaire mogul, but today he was an interloper in my world.
“You all know why we’re here,” I began, voice carrying over the crowd. “Mr. Portman’s company wants to build on this block. But what they see as progress will displace families, erase our history, and destroy the very fabric of our community.”
Cassius stood, suit impeccable, a stark contrast to the peeling paint and worn chairs. “Is this what you think?” His tone was smooth, like aged whiskey, but I tasted only bitterness.
“Yes,” I shot back.
A murmur swept through the room. Cassius held my gaze, unfazed by the challenge.
“Profit seems to be your priority, Mr. Portman,” I continued. “You stand there in your designer suit, ready to bulldoze over our lives for a few extra dollars in your already overflowing pockets.”
He leaned forward slightly, hands braced on the table separating us. “Mila, you misunderstand my intentions.” His voice rose just enough to be heard over the restless crowd. “This project will bring new life to an area that’s been neglected for too long.”
I scoffed at his polished words. “A panacea? Is that what you call forcing people out of their homes? What about the kids who need this place?”
He stepped closer and I could see a fire behind his eyes that matched my own. “This neighborhood needs change,” he insisted. “My plan includes affordable housing units, job opportunities… It’s a chance for growth.”
“Your kind of growth?” My voice spiked with incredulity. “Tall buildings and fancy shops don’t make a community!”
“And stagnation doesn’t make it thrive!” Cassius countered sharply.
Our voices climbed over each other, fervent and unyielding; his conviction clashed with my passion like flint against steel.
“This center is more than just bricks and mortar!” I cried out.
“And progress isn’t an enemy!” he retorted.
I squared my shoulders, feeling the warmth of Melody and Josie flanking me. I glanced at them briefly, drawing a silent strength from their determined faces.
“Look around you, Mr. Portman,” I said, gesturing to the room full of worried faces. “These are the lives you’re playing with. Not just lines on a blueprint.”
Cassius stood there, an island of composure amid the rising tide of opposition. But his polished facade didn’t fool anyone; not me, not my friends, not the community we were fighting for.
“You paint me as a villain,” Cassius began, his eyes flicking between us. “But is it villainous to want better for a place I once called home?”
The crowd stirred, his words a ripple in still water. But I held firm, Josie and Melody at my side like battlements against his corporate rhetoric.
“Your home doesn’t need glass towers to be better,” I shot back. “It needs heart and soul—something you can’t build with concrete and steel.”
