Lucy’s mouth actually dropped open. She had to consciously close it.
‘He owns that?’
‘Yep. Apparently, all that land was in the Perry-Warnes family for generations until his father sold off a big chunk. Oliver bought back a large piece last year. The price isn’t on public record, but Tim says it’s rumoured to have broken records.’
‘I remember that sale.’ She frowned. ‘I don’t remember seeing his name, though.’
‘You wouldn’t have. He keeps his name out of things whenever he can. Prefers a low public profile when it comes to his business.’
‘He’s not doing a very good job of that here,’ Lucy muttered, studying the plans. ‘This is big-time property development.’
‘Yep. And he’s going to lose a lot of money if his MacLeod’s Cove project doesn’t proceed. I mean, a lot.’
‘So… what’s the connection between the Old Colonial Hotel and this waterfront development?’ She pointed at the screen. ‘Why does he lose all of this if the hotel doesn’t go ahead? I don’t get it. Why does he have to make one a success to leverage the other?’
‘Because he needs to tick boxes. Council boxes. He might own the land, but the council controls what happens on it — and the marina rights, access roads, public easements, heritage overlays, you name it. Unlike his usual stuff, he can’t just muscle through. He has to comply with everything.’
‘And?’ she prompted.
‘Patience, sister. I’m getting there.’
She stifled a sigh. Patience had never been her strong suit. ‘I don’t want all the regulations, just the ones connecting the Old Colonial to his big project.’
Dan grimaced as he checked his notes. ‘Most of the consents are straightforward — zoning, heritage, building. Tim says nothing too controversial.’
‘Should Tim have told you all of this?’
‘Probably not, but he always was pretty flaky. Anyway, the only sticking point is that the council wants a proven track record of successful community consultation. Proper, documented engagement. And Oliver doesn’t have that track record, because his projects are usually so high-end and city-based that consultation hasn’t been a condition in the past.’ He looked up, his expression smug. ‘And that, my dear sister, is where this project —’ he jerked his thumb towards the hotel, ‘— comes in. Specifically where you come in. If your Oliver Perry-Warnes —’
‘He’s not mine!’ Lucy snapped.
‘If Perry-Warnes,’ Dan continued smoothly, ‘fails to demonstrate a successful consultation process on the MacLeod’s Cove project, his waterfront proposals will be rejected. And the land will instantly devalue. He could lose millions.’
‘Blimey.’ Lucy exhaled slowly. ‘That explains why he spent time with me.’ She pressed her lips together, trying to flatten the bitterness. ‘Using me to get his consultation across the line.’
‘Yes. And he’s on a clock. Your… creative delay tactics are costing him. And you know what that means?’
‘A lot of things, I should imagine.’
‘One in particular that worries me. This situation is enough to make any man ruthless. But Oliver? Winning is everything to him. I don’t like the idea of my sister being on the wrong side of a ruthless man.’
Nor did Lucy. She frowned, tapping her knuckles against her mouth.
‘I need to know what Augustini’s found out about his personal background,’ she said at last. ‘That’ll help me figure out how to handle him. I hope.’
She rose. ‘Thanks, Dan, really. At least now I understand exactly what he wants.’
‘He wants a neat, profitable, tick-box project here so he can unlock the big one in Wellington.’
‘Only problem is, his “neat project” means demolishing the Old Colonial, which is at odds with our vision for the village.’ She blinked and looked up at him. ‘Either he wins or I do. There’s no middle ground, is there?’
Dan shook his head. ‘Doesn’t look like it. Compromise would be… tricky.’
‘Hm.’ For a fractional moment she let herself imagine backing down, imagining a future where she stood aside and let Oliver bulldoze the hotel. Her mind rejected it before the idea had fully formed. Remembering how he’d lied — by omission, but still a lie — settled it.
‘No,’ she said quietly. ‘I have to win.’
‘I’m not sure how you’re going to manage that. You’re dealing with a consummate professional.’
