Chapter 1
GAbrIEL
“Are we really fucking doing this again?” My boss’s jaw clenched. His face was red, steam practically billowing out of his ears. I used to think that was an exaggeration when it happened in cartoons.
Nope, it was real.
I leaned back in my chair and took a slow sip of coffee. This wasn’t the first time I’d pissed him off, and I knew damn well it wouldn’t be the last.
From the minute I sent my email, I knew it was only a matter of time until he showed up at my office, zeroing in like a bull with a red flag.
I slowly set the mug on my desk and clasped my hands together before I gave him my attention. “What are you referring to?”
“You know exactly what I’m referring to,” Ron Nelson snapped, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him.
“Oh, sure, come on in,” I muttered. “Make yourself comfortable.”
“What was that?” Each word was sharply enunciated and infused with venom.
My sarcastic comments wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I quickly pivoted. If I was going to get him to agree with me—which never happened, but I had to try—I needed him in a better mood than this.
“It’s a good proposal, and you know it,” I started.
Nelson Group, the real estate and development firm I worked at, was submitting a proposal to the city of Milwaukee on how to redevelop a vacant warehouse along the river.
The city purchased the land years ago, and the common council was now seeking ideas for the space.
Residents had shown up at recent council meetings to speak during public comment about how they wanted something different for the space. Something that was community-focused and would bring people together.
That was exactly the type of work I’d come to Nelson Group to do—only to get turned down again and again.
I went to school for real estate and got my master’s in regional and urban planning with a focus on sustainability.
I joined Nelson Group four years ago right after graduation, ready to make a positive impact.
The company was based in Milwaukee and had offices in nearly every major city and projects across the country.
I wanted to work on projects that made a difference in the community, namely Milwaukee, where I’d lived my whole life.
I loved the city and all it had to offer—and I wanted to use development to help show that off while also ensuring everyone had access to housing, fresh food, and other basic necessities regardless of where they lived.
The years since I started working here had flown by, and I often found myself wondering if I’d wasted that time, because all I had to show for it was mounting frustration and unfulfillment.
I was now twenty-eight and had barely scratched the surface of what I’d hoped to achieve.
I’d never been one to give up, but the light at the end of the tunnel of getting my career to where I wanted was growing dimmer and dimmer.
“It’s different from what we typically work on,” I continued, ignoring Ron’s displeased eyeroll. “It’ll capture the common council’s attention, and I think residents would be in favor of it, too.”
I wanted to submit a proposal that would turn the old warehouse into a modern food hall.
It would bring people together while also allowing new businesses to set up without committing to a brick-and-mortar location.
There could be space for multiple restaurants to set up and tables so people could sit and eat.
The warehouse was in a prime location that would attract people visiting Milwaukee, as well as those who worked downtown and needed a spot for lunch.
“No.” He shook his head firmly. “It’s not a good proposal, because it won’t make money, Gabriel. That’s the whole reason we’re fucking here. It’s not what we talked about, and it’s not what the board of directors agreed on. I’m not looking for some feel good project.”
“It’s so much more than that. And this would make money if you just—”
“Damn it, Gabriel.” He slapped his palm hard against my desk, the sound reverberating in my office. “You’re never going to make it in this field or rise in the company if that’s the attitude you have.”
I wondered if he heard himself. How I wouldn’t make it because I cared about people, the environment, and what the community wanted. There were days when I wondered how he had made it this far, even though I saw it firsthand.
Ron Nelson only saw the world through dollar signs—how much money he could make and how much money his employees could make him.
That’s how he saw me.
I was good at making deals and closing them.
“You work for me.” He crossed his arms over his chest, standing tall and towering over me as I stayed seated.
He loved reminding me of that. As if I could ever fucking forget how stuck I was.
“I know that,” I gritted through my teeth, “but you’ve said I could submit one of my proposals. I thought this was finally my chance.”
“You’ll have your chance, but this isn’t it. This is a good opportunity for us, and I’m not going to let you mess it up. Write another proposal—the one I and the board approved last week.”
For yet another luxury apartment complex.
Nelson Group was known for mixed-use development featuring luxury apartments and condos in addition to commercial space.
While the company didn’t control the rent for businesses, it often inadvertently priced out a good portion of local businesses.
It was exactly the type of concern I wanted to address, and yet, I was part of making it happen.
I thought I’d be able to fix things from the inside, and after working here for a few months, I’d start to make a difference on a large scale.
How fucking naive of me. It’d been four years of the same bullshit. Of constantly getting shut down. And the worst part? I couldn’t leave.
“It’s a mistake,” I said.
“That’s not your call to make.” He inhaled deeply, straightening his posture and gathering a semblance of composure. “I’ll entertain your ideas when things slow down, but for now, get that proposal done.”
My jaw clenched, because I’d heard that excuse over and over again.
“I’ll—” I bit down on my tongue to keep from saying what I really wanted to. I’d been holding my tongue for years with him, so I had plenty of practice. “Yeah, I’ll get it done.”
“Good.” He nodded. “You’re my closer, Gabriel. Stay focused on this, and we’ll secure yet another multi-million dollar deal.”
“Right.” I exhaled deeply. “I’ll have it on your desk tomorrow morning. I’m leaving for—” I was about to tell him about my upcoming trip when his phone rang.
“Good lord. Your mother is calling,” he said under his breath. “Proposal tomorrow morning.” He pointed at me, his eyes—so similar to mine—flicked from me to his ringing phone. “Yes, Blaire?” He sounded so damn annoyed. I truly didn’t know who he hated talking to more—me or my mother.
He turned around, leaving my office and walking down the hallway.
I knew my mother would be calling me in a few hours to complain about their conversation.
It’s how they worked. I had no idea why they’d gotten married, and I truly didn’t understand why they decided to start a family.
I completely understood why they’d gotten divorced, but clearly, they hadn’t cut off contact from one another.
I tipped my head back, closing my eyes. I inhaled deeply for four seconds, held my breath for seven, and exhaled slowly for eight. Working for my father was not for the weak—he made that clear.
I was fucking exhausted. Exhausted with work. Exhausted with my parents. Exhausted of being a fucking disappointment.
But most of all I was frustrated that I couldn’t stand up to my father once and for all.
It was hard for me to remember exactly when our relationship shifted. It hadn’t always been like this…right?
We didn’t have a typical father-son relationship when I was growing up. He didn’t come to my sports games, and we didn’t spend much time together. When we spent time together, it was him taking me to work. In hindsight, my father had always viewed me as a potential employee rather than his son.
I remembered a time when I wanted to be like him. I remembered when I wanted to work with him and follow in his footsteps. When I was younger, I was proud of my father and the company he’d built from the ground up—before I knew the lengths he’d go to for success.
But I hadn’t felt proud of him in a long time.
Even worse, I couldn’t remember the last time I felt proud of myself.
My father and I got along best when I first started college and told him I wanted to get into development.
That didn’t last long, though, because quickly into my first year of undergrad, I realized I wanted to focus on sustainability and community development.
Our relationship had been deteriorating ever since, so much so that I was surprised he offered me a job at Nelson Group.
My father had said the right things when he was pitching me the job, making me feel like I’d have a say in the projects we were working on and that this would be a collaboration.
I gave him the benefit of the doubt—and that was a big fucking mistake.
Because now I was trapped, and that might have been his plan all along.
I had a folder of potential ideas that I’d pitched to my father, only to get shut down over and over. I wanted to prove him wrong, but more importantly, I wanted to show myself that I could do it. Maybe then it’d be easier to escape his grasp, even if that meant being on my own.
That’s exactly what I intended to do with my weekend trip.
About a month ago, I’d gotten an unexpected email from my grandfather Hal, who lived in Golden Falls, a small town in northern Wisconsin. It was about a four-hour drive from Milwaukee.
My father grew up in Golden Falls but left when he turned eighteen. He never went back, not even for a visit. As a result, I’d never been there, and that brought its own anxieties.
I’d seen my grandfather here and there over the years when I was growing up, but it had been longer than I wanted to admit since the last time I saw him.
As much as I wanted to be excited that my grandfather reached out, I just…
didn’t feel that connection. I barely knew the man, and he barely knew me.
Or at least, he barely knew the adult version of me.
I vaguely remembered Hal and my grandmother Vera visiting Milwaukee when I was young, whether that was for my birthday, holidays, or my sports games. One thing I did remember clearly, though, was they always had a camera on them to take photos.
The visits eventually became less frequent and stopped when I was a teenager. I remembered instances of Hal and Vera showing up at my parents’ house, and my father telling them to leave. Of them asking to see me and him saying no.
I harbored my own guilt and emotions that had been nagging me over the last couple of years. Emotions I’d tried to avoid. Until now. In a few short days, I would step foot in Golden Falls for the first time in my life.
Contrary to what my father thought, I tried not to get emotionally invested in my various projects. I tried to keep it strictly business. That’s exactly what my visit to Golden Falls would be. Nothing more.
I pulled up last month’s email from Hal, reading it for what felt like the millionth time.
From: Hal Nelson
To: Gabriel Nelson , Lily Richards
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2:30 p.m.
Subject: Building proposal from Hal Nelson
Dear Lily and Gabe,
As you both know, I’m nearing my mid-seventies and am seeking to pass down some of my responsibilities, namely my tasks as a property owner and landlord. I still plan to continue operating my hardware store.
I currently own the one building, which has commercial space on the first floor and apartments on the second. Lily is very familiar with this building as she rents one of the apartments and is one of the business tenants. Gabe, I encourage you to visit Lily’s café when you’re in town.
I’d like to speak with you both about the future of the building, because I’m unsure about next steps. I care deeply about both of you and about this town. I have a feeling this building has the potential to bring people together, and I’d like to see what ideas you may have as I prepare to sell.
I’d like to meet with you both in early December. This will only work if we meet in Golden Falls. Likely in my hardware store, although I’m open to other locations in town.
Please let me know some upcoming days and times that will work with your schedules, and I will handle the rest.
I’m looking forward to it and hope you are, too. See you both soon.
- Hal Nelson
The replies on the email thread were limited.
Shortly after getting the email, I let Hal know my availability.
I had no idea what this building was or why he was looping me in, but I was intrigued.
For some reason, it felt like something I couldn’t pass up.
Lily replied with when she was available, and then Hal set up a date and time for us to meet.
Just as they’d done the past month, my fingers itched to look her up.
I started to type her name into the search bar, my pinky hovering over the enter key.
Right as I was about to give in, I caught sight of the time.
If I didn’t leave now, I was going to be late for dinner with my best friend Liam. I shook my head and shut my laptop.
I had no idea who Lily Richards was, but I’d find out soon enough.