Page 98 of Scarred Ruin
“Please call me Isabel.”
“Alright. Isabel. You are aware of who Maxsim Aristov is. Correct?”
“If by that you mean he’s considered the head of a crime syndicate then yes. But he also has a daughter currently in remission, which is why this project is so important to him. I don’t judge him and he certainly doesn’t judge me. I’m certain we’ve all done some things we aren’t proud of.”
“Ah, you’re under the impression I’m not fond of him. That’s not it at all. While certain aspects about how the business he inherited from his father may seem somewhat unscrupulous, I’ve known his father for a very long time. Maxsim is just like him. Tough but giving, as noted by the number of charities the family had given money to.”
“Then what are your concerns?”
“The property in question is worth a significant amount of money for more commercially successful projects and there are people who will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. Quite frankly, I was shocked to hear Maxsim held ownership of the piece of property and has for years. I know this because my father is set in his ways, an old man with way too much time and money on his hands. He talks. He has his finger on the pulse of the tightly knit community.”
“I assume Maxsim is aware?”
“Of course he is, which was the reason for the sudden push with zoning. Maxsim will work it out and in turn, that will put pressure on the people assisting the land development group in obtaining the property.”
“You’re warning me there will potentially be a land war in the outskirts of downtown Charleston.”
“Oh, there will be and the battle won’t be handled with fountain pens.”
I knew what she was telling me. “So I should watch my back.”
“You should keep that in the back of your mind. What you’ve heard about crime syndicates in movies or on television isn’t completely true or accurate. Except for the danger surrounding them.”
“Understood. I’m a pretty tough girl and can take care of myself.”
“So I’ve heard. Just keep in mind that might be used against you. Just a word of advice. I’ll send you a few notes that might help you with the final drawing, but I am very impressed.”
“That sounds great.” My mind was hung up on what she’d said. Not only about a potential land war, but about me being able to take care of myself.
“Maxsim is a wonderful man just like his father, Isabel, but what he went through years ago changed him.”
“Are you warning me or giving me an insight?”
“Perhaps a little of both. Maybe I’m simply telling you to go in with your eyes wide open. For a man like Maxsim, it’s all or nothing and something tells me he cares very much about you.”
In truth, I cared very much about him.
Why did I have a very strong feeling she was insinuating something else altogether?
And why did I have a strong suspicion that something had everything to do with my father?
* * *
“That’s the way it is, Isabel.”
Since the gala, Bob had been less than friendly. Up to this point, he’d been professional, even decent, but I had a feeling something must have happened because he was surlier than usual.
He was being brave since John was in the meeting and the other three architects working on the project were on the edge of their seats as if not only ready but eager for a catfight.
I was exhausted from the long hours, herding the team often much more difficult than herding cows.
John was also agitated that every step of the way there’d been a problem. Today, that problem was Bob’s unwillingness to work as a team player. However, he nodded for me to handle the issue.
“Well, that’s not good enough, Bob. We have an obligation to provide the complete sketches I mentioned at the start of the week on Monday morning to members of the trust. That includes addressing the drainage since there’s a well-documented issue on the south slope. You’ve known about that since the beginning. I guess you’re going to need to approve some overtime for your team to get it done this weekend.”
He snorted. “I have plans.”
I smashed my hands on the table as I leaned over. “Then you cancel them.”
