Page 10 of Confusing Cade
I shot my gaze at her. “I know who she is.”
Frances gripped the edge of the glass table, but her expression was unreadable. “Good. Then our request probably shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.”
“The Promenade isn’t Gino’s project.”
Newt shrugged. “Itwashis land.”
“Which he failed to develop,” I replied.
They all knew this. Once, Gino Moretti was one of the most formidable and successful commercial real estate developers in the state. It didn’t matter what came at him, he always managed to find a way to make money. A recession? No problem. Hurricanes? Nothing to worry about. Unfriendly leadership at the state house? Handled.
Then, his wife died of lymphoma, and he started drinking too much.
At first, we watched from afar. Dad had always been Gino’s rival, but that didn’t mean he wanted him destroyed. Vanquishing someone in business was about making money and only money.
But soon, Gino started slipping. Contracts weren’t paid, investors were left jilted, and city leadership asked questions.
We had no choice.
“The Promenade is more than Gino Moretti had ever envisioned,” I said to the commissioners. “And when it opens, that part of West Palm Beach is finally going to get the respect it deserves.”
Frances and Newt exchanged another look before Frances said, “A lot of people still respect the Morettis. The family dida lot to help build Palm Beach County during the fifties and sixties, and Gino capitalized on that. I don’t think we’d have as much luxury real estate in this part of the state if it wasn’t for him.”
She was right. The family still had a good name despite whatever Gino had done to destroy it.
What would he think of his daughter and her FanZone account?
“We think it’s a great idea to have Isabella take part in the opening ceremony.” Newt’s rimless glasses slipped down his bulbous nose, and he shoved them upward. “Perhaps you’d even be kind enough to have her make some of the final decisions about decor or... or landscaping.”
I scoffed. “This is all... quite unusual.”
“We know,” Frances said. “But you know how controversial the last few years have been. So many...out-of-townersmoving here. The community has really changed—”
“And voters made it clear they want to see more local influence in the projects springing up all over the county,” I supplied, able to regurgitate what had become a big part of the conventional political wisdom in Palm Beach County.We want this to stay our community; the new people don’t know the history...“Isn’t my name enough?”
Frances cocked her head. She didn’t have to say anything; her raised eyebrows and tight lips said it all.
“The more the merrier, huh?” I muttered.
“That’s right,” Frances said. She glanced at the others.
“What if I say no?” I asked. “It’s my project, after all, and it’s on private land.”
“That’s true,” Newt said. “But you’ve currently got a bid in to help us build the new jail, and there are several other competitors.” He paused, then shifted in his chair. “Doingsomething like this would certainly make your application stronger.”
I narrowed my eyes toward him, unable to hide my disgust. A bribe? Is that what this was?Maybe I should move my headquarters to Miami...
“It’s a good public-relations move,” Frances added. “A lot of people will think it’s compassionate of you to do this in Gino Moretti’s memory.”
I considered this a beat. Yes, she had a point. Few people knew the full extent of his problems, and most people had accepted the story on the news—that Gino was driving one night, took the sharp turn on Sloane’s Curve too fast, and slammed into a brick wall. They didn’t know what I did.
And I wasn’t ready to tell them.
“Fine,” I said, ready to end this meeting and get rid of these insufferable people. “I’ll allow her to be part of the announcement. But that’s it. Nothing more than that.”
“You don’t sound too thrilled,” Frances replied.
“Yes,” Newt added. “You sound annoyed.”
