“Funny.” She waved a hand. “The mayor approved The Holden project this morning. The press and the zoning officials are all in the boardroom…Didn’t Mr. Hudson call you?”
“Maybe I missed it…”
“Well, don’t miss out on the cake and champagne,” she said. “I had it flown in from Napa Valley.”
“Noted. Thank you.”
I walked down the hall and rounded the corner, just in time to catch photogs snapping pictures inside the boardroom as Dante shook hands with the mayor.
Smiling, I pushed my way through the chairs to get a closer look.
I was feet away when I spotted the mockup of The Holden standing at the center of the room.
Stopping in utter confusion, I did a slow double take.
This proposal looked nothing like the one Dante had shown me earlier.
Gone were the open parks and tree-lined walkways, along with the community center and the affordable residential wings. The public rooftop gardens with custom statues and beautiful benches were paved over in exchange for a private pool and row of cabanas.
The Holden now reflected another cold and soulless glass tower wrapped in black steel and private entrances—another billionaire monument that looked exactly like every other Hudson property in Manhattan.
What the hell?
My stomach dropped as the guests sipped from champagne flutes and devoured Empire State cupcakes. I circled the model again and again, as if one of my spins would magically transform it into what it used to be.
By the time the last executive left the room, Dante was loosening his tie by the window and flashing a smile he didn’t deserve.
“Good afternoon, Chloe.” He looked over at me. “Did you enjoy the cake?”
“You honestly think I want to talk about cake right now?” I scoffed, pointing at the mockup. “What happened to the community center and affordable condos wing?”
“Those things didn’t make it to the final drafting stage.”
“Since when?”
“Since three days ago,” he said.
“I was with you three days ago.” I looked up. “We’ve been together all freakin’ weekend.”
“And?”
“Don’t you think you should’ve told me about this?” I asked. “Like, out of us becoming close?”
“No. Which is why I didn’t. I prefer this version, and since it’s my money, I don’t have to ask permission from anyone.”
“So, our relationship means nothing to you?”
“I wasn’t aware we had a relationship…”
“Seriously?” I swallowed. “Then what the hell are we?”
“Two people who ended up in each other’s orbits due to extremely comical circumstances,” he said. “We also have sex and spend time together.”
“That’s literally the definition of a relationship, Dante.”
“Maybe in your dictionary.”
“I don’t appreciate you changing the mockup without telling me, and I would appreciate you putting it back before any of the residents who’ve been cheering you on see it.”
