Page 88 of Enzo

“What did you think of the depot?”

“I liked it. I liked how you'd restored it. I especially liked the clock.”

“Hmmmm. That old thing.”

“You did a great job. I saw the photos. Not only did you restore the clock, but you created a wonderful place for the community.”

I’m glad she appreciates it.

“Thank you. That's the vision I had in mind. It was slightly controversial at the time.”

She licks her fingers. “Why?”

I try to remember. I've worked on so many projects since then. The old depot renovation was the biggest one, and I learned so much from it, but I also learned to trust my gut.

“It was controversial,” I tell her, “because the commercial proposal was to gut it and turn it into luxury apartments, offices and high-end retail. I didn't want any of that. I fought against it and championed its transformation into a mixed-use public space instead—something with pedestrian walkways, landscaped courtyards, restored industrial architecture and small cultural spaces.”

“That's exactly what it is now.” Molly wipes her fingers on a napkin, and picks up her bottle of water.

“The first time I visited, there was nothing but crumbling walls, boarded windows and weeds growing between the rusting tracks outside.”

“I saw that, in the old photos,” she says, nodding in agreement.

“I didn't see any of that. I saw what it could become; a place of beauty, serving a function for the community.”

“And that's exactly what you've created.”

I shrug. “Anyone could have done it.”

“Not anyone.” She shakes her head, lifts her small bottle of water to her lips and takes a sip. “You seem to have a hard time acknowledging your achievements.”

I freeze. It’s eerie how she’s able to read me so well. It’s something I'm not used to. I'm also not used to a woman being remotely interested in my restoration projects. Yet Molly seems enthralled.

“It was successful,” I tell her. “The final development wasn't luxury apartments, offices and high-end retail. It was a place the community could use. Cafés and restaurants alongside independent shops, galleries and community spaces.”

“Don't forget the clock.”

“And the clock. Luca Valizar likes the clock.”

Her eyes widen. “He's seen it?”

“Apparently, he's visited the depot many times.”

“He’s an interesting character,” Molly muses.

“He is. At some point, once things die down, I guess we'll be working on that project together.”

Molly doesn't answer. She takes another sip of water from her bottle instead.

But I find it remarkable that not so long ago, we barely knew one another, and now she's back in my life again. And this time we're sitting in a penthouse, eating pizza together.

Chapter 24

ENZO

I'm trying to work but Molly’s in the bathroom and her excited squeals are hard to shut out.

I was up early this morning. Couldn't sleep. I wasn't sure how much of that was to do with Molly being in the room next door to me.