“How?” I asked in disbelief.
Belle smiled. “Turns out that auction houses don’t want to deal in artwork that even smells like it’s been stolen.”
“But they’re going to trash me on social media,” I said, chest clenching.
“Nope,” Belle said, “because my company also owns Romance Creative, and our production company is now in negotiations to film a trashy reality TV show about a broke former trust fund kid who is now a middle-aged man and his obnoxious art-dealing daughter as they navigate the Manhattan dating scene. Everyone loves to watch a train wreck. Dana half pitched that to some advertisers at a meeting for another show, and they’re lining up. We’re signing contracts next week. Since reality TV shows are so cheap to make, with the advertising promised, we’re already in the black. Now all you have to do is deliver the votes.”
I felt like I was about to be dumped out of a spaceship onto a hostile planet when I walked back into the meeting room.
Belle took her spot at the front of the room beside Dana Holbrook.
“Good evening, everyone! As mentioned last week, this is the last time I will be president of the HOA. We are selecting new board members, as is specified in the development contract. The new board must be residents of the tower and not have a criminal record. The first position is the treasurer position. Beck Svensson. Please make a brief statement.”
I walked to the front and faced the room.
Greg’s face was triumphant.
I am so dead.
“I am the chief financial officer of Quantum Cyber, a Fortune 500 company,” I said to the somewhat small crowd. “And apparently, I have fallen quite far in life.” That earned me a laugh. “However, I am happy to contribute to my new home.”
My sisters all politely clapped. My brothers were drinking heavily, probably to numb the same sense of impending doom I was feeling.
“Thank you, Beck. Is there anyone else who would like to nominate themselves, or is there anyone else who would like to be nominated? No? Then let’s vote on the treasurer.”
“Aye,” the crowd said dutifully.
“Congratulations, Beck.” Belle waved me up, and I took the spot of one of Belle’s fellow investors.
Keep calm.
“Next position, secretary. Walker Svensson, you have been nominated.”
Walker stood up. “I am the chief operations officer for Quantum Cyber, and I actually am not as well qualified for this job as Ms. Hyacinth, our friend and neighbor, is, so anyone who was planning on voting for me, please vote for her.”
He sat down then stood back up. “And I nominate Hyacinth for secretary.”
Out in the crowd, Greg’s face had gone stone-cold.
Hyacinth, cane in hand, made her way to the front of the room.
“I was a secretary for a local bigwig lawyer back in the day,” she said. “You should have seen us getting it on in the after-hours!Mad Menlooked tame by comparison. Man, the sixties were the days!”
“Thank you, Hyacinth. All in favor?”
We said “aye” when Belle said Hyacinth’s name, and everyone except for Greg said “nay” when Walker’s name was called.
Belle smirked.
Hyacinth sat down next to me.
“I have alcohol in my purse,” she whispered to me. “These meetings are dryer than a witch’s tit.”
“And for the final position,” Belle said, “president of the HOA.”
“I nominate Tess,” I said loudly.
You’re dead meat, Greg mouthed.
