Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
ELLIOT
T alk about challenges and big goals.
Fern is trying to create an entirely new town within a small town outside San Jose. What happened to…“I thought you said it’s right outside the city.”
“Brentwood Harbor is outside the city.”
“Of San Jose,” I correct her. “I swore you meant outside San Francisco. This is an ambitious project. You’re including schools, a grocery store…”
I want to ask about the building that’s closer to a city—which again, is not San Francisco. The map in her office has stickers and colorful notes explaining where she wants everything, which is cute but not accurate.
I rub the back of my neck. “Contacting North Bay was the right decision?—”
“But they won’t do it,” she interrupts me. “This is above your capabilities, isn’t it? Are you telling me they’re the only ones who can do it?”
Probably, but I don’t answer because it’ll worry her.
“I’ve done urban planning before. You need the right permits and a big budget if the city won’t pay for any of it. Though, if we reach out to the right people, we might be able to get some financial help. We should split this into several stages. I’d say it should be ready in…”
I look at her, wondering how young she is. People who run foundations are full of dreams, but they’re also jaded. She’s probably fresh out of college. The last person who headed this place must’ve quit in a hurry and wished her luck.
She needs help, and all I say is, “It’s going to take some time to develop this project.”
“But do you think we can start moving people into their forever homes within the next year?”
“It depends on what kind of infrastructure they have in the town and the lot. We could start by constructing houses.” I point at the stickers with the H on them. “Stop here. Start the second stage halfway through the first one and so on. We’ll finish with the grocery store and the strip mall.”
She stares at the map and nods. “The people who’ll be living here will have a rent-to-buy contract with low-controlled rent.
I already have a few families who’ll want to move in as soon as possible.
Do you think we can have twenty houses in the first year?
We can do the next stage a year or two after that? ”
“We’ll see after I tour the place.” I point at the happy face sticker in San Jose that says free housing. “What about the building?”
“It’ll be a shelter.”
She points at a sheet that has some images. “Something like this apartment complex.”
“This looks like a luxury apartment with a shopping center, and you want it for people in need?”
She nods. “These two are the restaurants, the clothing store, and the grocery store. All free for the residents.”
It sounds great, but who’s going to pay for that? She has good intentions, but if she can’t afford to build this… is that why Johnathan said no and kicked her out?
“Do you have the money for this project?”
“Some of it, but as I said earlier, I need a budget before going to the board and starting some fundraisers. That’s where the architect and the engineer come into play.”
I pull out my phone and start making notes. “And the construction company needs to give you an estimate beforehand,” I confirm.
“Yes, I hate when foundations and charities ask for money without a goal.”
Okay, so maybe it’s not like she has big dreams but she’s meticulous.
Maybe she likes to get more than she needs, but why?
I tap my bottom lip, looking at all her work which might pass as a project for a second grader.
This might be what I need to keep my mind occupied, and as a bonus, she needs my help.
I glance at her. “So, the construction company will donate what exactly?”
“I’m hoping they’ll give us the building material at cost.” She shrugs.
“Among other things?”
She nods and smiles. “Anything they throw in helps.”
I check my watch, wondering if I have time to make some calls before the day is over.
“Listen, I know the asshole who owns North Bay. I might be able to pull some favors. If this works out, maybe by the end of next week, we can meet again. We’ll talk about a more realistic scenario with a quote and timelines. ”
She looks at the map. “So, you’re going to help?”
“Yes. Why don’t you give me your number so I can call you if I have any questions?”
She hands me a card. Fern Spearman.
“You’re a Spearman?”
They’re billionaires. Anyone in the business world knows at least one of them. I study her. She wears a casual t-shirt, a pair of pink jeans, and slip-on tennis shoes. She doesn’t look like an heiress of the Spearman family but looks can be deceiving. I know that.
“Will you be charging me extra because my family has money?”
I shake my head. “Not at all. As a matter of fact, I’ll throw in the design of the houses and the building,” I offer.
“Because of my last name?”
“No, to take away the bad taste that North Bay left after your visit. If you have openings, I’d like to volunteer while I’m in town.”
She glances at me. I have worn-out jeans, a long-sleeved Henley shirt that has seen better days, and a backpack. Technically, this is all I own.
“Part of your community service?”
I snort. “Obviously.”
“You don’t need to do it for free. We can afford to pay you. The least I want to do is?—”
“If you let me help, that’ll be payment enough,” I assure her.
She smiles gratefully. “Thank you, Mr. McPhee.”
“Call me Elliot,” I say, instead of saying, Don’t thank me yet, because I just promised a lot of shit that I’m not sure I can commit to .
Yet I can’t keep my mouth shut. “Why don’t you email me all these requirements so I can start working on it? Take some pictures of your”—I point at her map—“of this.”
I grab a pen and scribble down my email address. So much for coming back and laying low. Ha. But I can get this started and disappear soon, right?