Page 32 of Best Laid Plans

"I can promise you that Anson wouldn't know a grovel if it came and bit him in the backside. And even if he did, I don't have enough feelings for him to do anything with it." I picked up my laptop. "Now, can we end the Ya-Ya-Sisterhood session so I can set up for my meeting?"

They all high-fived me before I went into the conference room.

While I went through the presentation for a last check, I heard Anson from the lobby, talking to Nina. His voice was still the sexiest in the world. It had only gotten better with age. Now, there was a hardness to him that hadn't been there. But then we'd all grown up and become tougher. I certainly had.

Rachel, Nina's new EA, who supported all the leaders and also manned the lobby as I used to, led Anson, Bailey, Zara, and a man I hadn't met before into the large conference room.

As it was mid-morning, we had coffee service along with snacks set up on one side of the room.

Zara Seaborn was the first Larue Home employee to walk up to me. She gave me a quick hug. She was Anson's head of planning, and we'd hit it off when I was in Sentinel. A tall, graceful woman, Zara seemed competent, friendly, and straightforward. I liked her.

"I'm so excited to see your proposal," she told me.

"We can't wait to share it," I replied.

Anson nodded at me. "Hello."

"Hi," I said cheerfully. "Welcome to Savannah Lace."

Bailey was dressed as she always was; in a pencil skirt, silk blouse, high-heel pumps, and she was flashing her engagement ring for everyone to see. She was an old-school Southern Missus with one goal, to find a man with money to marry, and live happily ever after.

Women like Bailey didn't get jobs. But Maureen had told me that her father had lost the family money, and I knew Anson wasn't big on entitlement. I'd bet my condo he'd insisted she work, and then gave her a job that probably paid her more than she was worth.

From Savannah Lace, I'd invited Nina, Luna, as well as Stella, who was our head of landscaping, who would have a major role to play in the development of Sentinel Heights.

Nina and I had discussed at length who would be best suited to take over as the lead architect, and we'd decided to bring in a new hire who'd be joining us in a few weeks. Our new hire had experience with luxury enclaves from Palm Springs in California, and was moving to Savannah with her fiancé. Nina and the rest of her leadership team had interviewed her over Zoom, and were very impressed.

Until she started, Luna would fill in as lead architect.

Since Sentinel Heights was my project, I had poured over everything a hundred times. I wanted to show my colleagues that I could do this well, and I wanted to show Anson that he could go fuck himself.

Introductions were made, and I learned that the man from Larue Homes who I hadn't met before was their Vice President of New Development. He had recently been hired.

Diego Perez was as tall as Anson, so give or take six feet two, but unlike Anson, who was stoney-faced, Diego was a charmer. He immediately put all of us at ease.

Bailey was sulking, trying to get Anson's attention, who was being solicitous to her, stabbing my heart with neon green knives.

I took a deep breath, straightened my notes, and began. "Good morning. I'm excited to present the proposal for Sentinel Heights, a development that, we believe, will redefine luxury living in this region."

I clicked through the slides detailing the innovative design elements, sustainable practices, and community-focused amenities we recommended. Each element was backed with meticulously gathered data and striking visualizations. Diego nodded in approval, and Zara's eyes lit up with interest.

"The design integrates seamlessly with Sentinel's natural landscape, enhancing the town's beauty, while providing upscale living spaces," I continued. "The use of green technologies and materials will not only minimize environmental impact, but also appeal to the growing market of eco-conscious buyers."

I glanced at Anson, trying to gauge his reaction, but he wore a mask of stoicism. Bailey sat beside him and was pleased with Anson's lack of response, her smirk growing wider.

"Additionally," I pressed on, "the amenities we've included in the proposal—such as a state-of-the-art fitness center, a community garden, and an infinity pool with breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains—are designed to attract a diverse range of residents from young professionals to retirees seeking luxury and tranquility."

It took me nearly forty-five minutes to go through my slides. We'd decided that everyone would hold their questions until after the presentation.

Finally, I wrapped up, feeling a rush of adrenaline. "In summary, we want to help brand Sentinel Heights as the new standard for luxury living, combining elegance, sustainability, and community spirit. And now, we're open to your questions."

The room was silent for a moment. Anson leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Thank you, Nova," he said, his tone neutral. "How do you plan to ensure these sustainable features remain cost-effective over time?"

I had anticipated this question. "We've conducted an extensive cost-benefit analysis," I replied smoothly, pulling up a backup slide. "The green technologies we recommend have higher upfront costs but offer significant savings in energy and maintenance over the long term. Moreover, they increase property value and consumer appeal."

Diego smiled broadly. "I have to say, this is impressive. The attention to detail and the forward-thinking approach are exactly what we need."

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