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So I’d been a bulldog to get this meeting. At least he seemed to appreciate it.
“Please. Have a seat.” He gestured toward one of the chairs in front of his desk before resuming his position behind it.
“I’m not here to waste time,” I started as a wry smile turned my lips up. “My grandfather would be disappointed. He believed in nurturing relationships with a little finesse before diving into business.”
“I’m sure he’d be pleased with your tenacity.”
I pulled a folder from my tote. “I have an offer for the property on West 47th. It’s generous—”
He held up both hands as I set the folder on his desk. “Miss Cunningham, a property like that doesn’t appear every day. Do you have any idea how long we searched to find that one?”
“I’m sure it was quite difficult, but if you’ll look in the folder, I’ve also presented a comparable property that’s available. The park is tainted now. If you proceed with your project, it will be one nightmare after another—”
“Are you going to make sure of that?” He lifted a brow, the congeniality gone from his features.
“I’m just one person. You give me too much power if you believe that.”
“Miss Cunningham, I’m aware of your organization. I’m also well aware of who your family is. You very much have the power to do anything you want.”
“I want to buy the park. I want to help those people who live there. I’ve given you a solution. It’s as simple as that.” I truly wasn’t out to interfere in this man’s business. If he’d just listen to me, he’d see that I’d given him a better option.
“I’ve already developed plans for the site. And I’m sorry to displace those people, but they’ll have to find somewhere else to go.”
I drummed my fingers on my knee. “Use the plans on that site.” I pointed to the folder.
“I’ve invested time and resources in the site I already have.”
The folder remained unopened.
“And all you have to do is sell that property to me and use all that time you’ve invested on the one I’ve brought forth.”
We stared at one another.
My stomach wound so tight I thought I’d be sick. The people who called that park home were depending on me, even if they didn’t know it. And maybe they didn’t want shelter or a chance to reset their lives.
But what if they did?
“I appreciate the offer, Miss Cunningham, but I’ll have to decline.”
Disappointment swirled. I’d failed. I couldn’t fail.
“You didn’t even look at it.”
“I don’t need to.”
I stood abruptly. “The offer is good for seventy-two hours. You should at least look at the contents of that folder.”
I flew from the office, humiliated that I hadn’t been able to pull it off. And I didn’t have a plan B. How was I going to help those people?
Because Mr. Foster couldn’t be moved. I had enough experience with people to realize that.
Once I was outside, I sagged against the building. That blasted phone made some sort of noise that wasn’t an incoming call. That much I knew.
Penelope.
Of course she’d wasted no time communicating with my new phone. She’d been thrilled when I’d called to tell her I had one. There was a message from her on the screen.
How did it go?
