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“She just asked the council to reject our design,” Tom says.
“And by this afternoon, most people will have moved on. If Voss releases a statement, we turn forty people with signs into a public fight between a major hotel chain and a historic family business.”
“We can’t let them say whatever they want.”
“We don’t need to. The impact reports, revised plans, and our answers to the council’s concerns are already public. If a reporter contacts us, PR can send the documents and answer any questions.”
Daniel folds his arms. “So no statement?”
“No.”
“You’re not worried this could affect the vote?”
“The hotel will be approved.”
Tom frowns. “You sound very sure.”
“I am. I’ve spoken to several people at City Hall, and they all say the same thing. We have the votes.”
Daniel studies me. “You’re certain?”
“Completely.”
I reach for the trackpad and click replay. Rachel appears on the screen again.
“They’ve listened since local businesses raised concerns, and I give them credit for that,” she says. I pause it. Rachel freezes on the screen with her lips pressed together.
“She hated admitting that,” I say.
The room goes quiet.
Tom turns toward me. “What?”
“She presses her lips together when she says something she doesn’t want to admit.”
“How the hell do you know that?”
“I pay attention.”
Tom raises an eyebrow. “Do you study everyone’s mouth so closely?”
Daniel looks from the screen to me. His stare holds. At the gym, I told him about a woman. I see the moment he realizes Rachel is that woman.
Daniel closes his eyes. “You fucking idiot.”
Tom looks from Daniel to me. “What did I miss?”
Daniel only shakes his head, leaving Tom to stare at me.
I should’ve kept my mouth shut. I could lie, but there’s no point. If I get my way, they’ll find out eventually.
“Rachel and I are seeing each other.”
That’s apparently all the permission Daniel needs to stop keeping my secrets.
“He slept with her,” he tells Tom. “She called him satisfactory, then stopped answering his calls.”
Tom laughs.
