Sienna led the way to the door with keys in hand. I followed behind her in my leather hoodie, Timbs, and chains. I already knew what it was about to look like when I walked into a room full of men who only wore suits.
The door opened. We stepped inside, and heads turned immediately.
The foyer was filled with men in suits with salt-and-pepper hair, wearing watches that cost five and six figures and smiles that didn’t reach their eyes. They looked me up and down like I was beneath them.
Alderman Langford appeared from the living room with a drink in his hand. “Sweetheart,” he said to Sienna first, kissing her cheek. Then he looked at me. “Reek,” Langford greeted as he extended his hand.
I shook it. “Alderman.”
His eyes flicked over my chains and my boots, then back to my face. “Glad you could make it.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
Sienna stepped a little closer to me. Langford’s smile tightened for half a second, then he turned toward the room.
“Gentlemen,” he called, lifting his voice just enough. “This is Tariq Horton. He’s part of the team involved in the development project we’ve been discussing.”
One of the men nodded. “The community concerns are still very loud about those condos.”
“They are,” Langford agreed. Then he looked at me, like he was tossing me the ball on purpose. “Reek, tell them what you told me about the ground-level plan.”
I felt the eyes on me again. They were judging me, like I was just another hoodlum.
“The biggest mistake people make is building something expensive and pretending it’s for everybody. That’s where the resentment comes from. If you want the neighborhood to stop looking at it like an invasion, you give them something they can use on day one. That’s why the community spaces are important. Not as a headline. As a function.”
One of the men leaned in. “Explain.”
“The lobby and common areas can’t feel like a country club. They need to reflect where the building sits. That’s why we’retalking local art, local programming, and real partnerships. If the first impression says ‘this isn’t for you,’ you already lost.” Langford’s colleagues exchanged looks as I continued. “And you can’t wait until construction is finished to start that work. You start now with sponsorships, events, and hiring commitments. So, when people ask, ‘How does this benefit us?’ the answer isn’t ‘eventually.’ It’s ‘right now.’”
Langford nodded slowly, like he was pleased.
Another man asked, “And the risk?”
“The risk is always there,” I replied. “But you lower it with visibility, structure, and accountability. You keep the contractors vetted, partner with the community, and don’t make promises you can’t prove.”
Langford lifted his glass, looking around at his colleagues. “This is exactly why they have my support.”
I caught Sienna watching me. Her eyes were bright, proud, and a little smug, like she’d known I was going to handle it.
Langford’s colleagues started asking different questions after that. They were less condescending and much more interested now.
After a few drinks, dinner finally started. Langford hosted this dinner to lock in political support and fundraising commitments for his next election push. We ate, drank, and talked about the city, elections, and donations.
After dinner, Langford stood and waved everybody down toward the basement.
The basement was ridiculous. It was the ultimate man cave. It was designed with big screens, leather couches and lounge chairs, a full bar, pool table, and sports memorabilia that lookedauthentic, instead of like cheap replicas. On the other side of the basement was a cigar room. It was ventilated with a glass door and enough seating to fit twenty people without anybody being on top of each other. A walk-in humidor was filled with expensive cigars.
We poured more drinks, picked cigars, and settled in. Even Sienna grabbed one.
After a while, I excused myself.
“I need the bathroom,” I told Sienna, and she pointed down the hall. “Second door on the left.”
I nodded and stepped out of the cigar room.
The moment the glass door closed behind me, the noise got muffled. The rest of the basement was empty and quiet. I headed toward the hall, then stopped because I heard whispering.
I moved to the side, into the shadow near the wall, and listened.
