Chapter 17
Marina’s phone buzzed, and she pulled herself from the file she’d been staring at for over an hour. Whatever Black Pinnacle’s previous lawyer had done, it had become a gordian knot meant to confuse and befuddle. She was both, and she wasn’t even the target. “Yes?”
“There’s an Adriana on the phone for you. She’s a journalist.” Cari’s tone was bright and noncommittal.
“I’ll take it, thanks.” When the call came through, she took a deep breath before answering. “Marina Fuentes. How can I help you?”
“Thanks for taking my call. I’m doing a story on the gentrification of South Shore, and I wanted to see if you or your client had any input? I’d love to ask you a few questions.”
Ah. So it was the South Shore deal they were snooping around. “I’m sure you’re aware that as a lawyer, I can’t speak to any media without my client’s permission.”
“I completely understand. I wanted you to know that we’ll be doing a live broadcast on every social media platform at six tonight.
We’ll discuss Black Pinnacle’s intention to gentrify South Shore, and I’ll also be reporting on some of the other communities they’ve made almost unrecognizable and where some of those people are now.
” She paused, clearly waiting for Marina to jump in.
When she stayed silent, Adriana continued.
“I’m anticipating this being an ongoing series as we reach out to more and more people and the situation in South Shore progresses.
If your client wants to get a word in, now would be a good time to do it. ”
Marina sent a text to Cari. Find out who this Adriana journalist is NOW.
“Again, I can’t speak for my client. However, I’ll be sure to let them know of your intentions. How do we get hold of you, should they want to make a comment?” The likelihood of Sheila giving some rando reporter the time of day was about as likely as Rob wearing a parka to a tea party.
“You’ve got my number now. Call any time. You could even come on down tonight and join in.” There was a smile in her tone, like she was already playing a game. “See you soon.”
Marina hung up, foreboding pushing her to her feet.
Cari came in and went straight to Marina’s computer, tapped something in, and then waved her over. “Have a look.”
Marina looked over Cari’s shoulder. On screen was a young, pretty, dark haired woman holding a microphone. She wasn’t in a living room in her sweats. She was on a military base, reporting on the deaths of a boatload of refugees.
“Wait. She’s an actual journalist?”
Cari nodded. “She’s one of the new variety. She’s got contracts to report via a bunch of social media channels for the big stations. Like this one,” she tapped the keys, “for CNN’s TikTok page.” She looked up at Marina. “She has over fifteen million followers.”
Marina pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m guessing she’s not one of the Bro-fund money grabbers.”
“Nope. Left wing all the way. Who is she after?”
“Black Pinnacle. Specifically the South Shore project.” Marina bit her lip. “I’d better give Sheila a head’s up.”
Cari vacated Marina’s chair. “What do you need from me?”
Marina sat, contemplating her next move. “I’m not sure. Let me contact Sheila and then I’ll let you know.”
Cari waved and Marina picked up the phone. She hadn’t spoken to Sheila since the ballet, and the brief reprieve had been nice. But this was the job.
“Marina. I thought I’d hear from you earlier. But no sense in appearing too eager.” Sheila’s voice, as usual, was glass covered in snow.
“I got a call from a journalist, and I wanted to let you know. She’s doing a story on the South Shore gentrification project—”
“I assume you didn’t say anything.”
If Marina had been a cat, her hackles would have risen. “Of course not. But you should know she’s high profile and says she has information and interviews from your other projects. I wondered if you wanted your team involved from a press angle.”
There was a moment of silence. “Her name?”
“I’ve texted you a link so you can see her for yourself.
She’s kicking off the story in South Shore tonight at six.
” Marina ignored the tiny flicker of hope that she’d have to be there and maybe have a chance to drool over River a little more, though she wouldn’t talk to her.
But looking was acceptable. She could hear the journalist’s video playing on Sheila’s end of the line.
“She’s an upstart, a nothing looking for a bit of attention.” She sighed heavily. “I’ll send a few people working on the project down there to be my ears. Thank you for your loyalty. You know how much I value that.”
Ick. She forced a smile into her voice. “Just doing my job. Hopefully it won’t gain any traction and we’ll move ahead.
” Somehow, she had a feeling that wasn’t going to be the case.
How had the journalist even come across the project anyway?
It was a tiny piece of real estate in the vastness of Chicago.
The woman reported from war zones. Why would she care?
Someone in the community must have a connection…
River. Instinct told her she was right. How a local ghost-whisperer knew someone with that kind of pull she couldn’t imagine. But then, River was more than that, wasn’t she? Strong, sexy, confident, kind…who knew what women had graced her bed? The thought was both arousing and disturbing.
“I’m setting up a dinner for you the day after tomorrow. Some of my friends from the ballet would like to speak to you about legal matters and becoming a client of yours. I assume you don’t object?”
The words were straightforward enough. So why did it feel like Sheila was handing her a package attached to an explosive? “That would be perfect, thank you. I’ll make sure my assistant keeps my schedule clear.”
“I’ll expect a better thank you than that at some point.” Her voice had gone low, husky. It was probably meant to sound sexy. Instead, it sounded like gravel had taken up smoking.
“A fruit basket it is. I’m sorry, I have to run to a meeting. Talk to you soon.” She hung up, knowing full well she was supposed to have waited for Sheila to dismiss her. There’d be a snipe fest in her future, for sure.
“Let’s go.” Cari popped into her office. “Let’s go to the thing in South Shore tonight.”
Marina frowned. “You want to work after work?”
“While I love Patootie, she’s in heat and I can’t handle her cries of lusty doggy despair. I’m also out of ice cream, and my D&D group has cancelled because someone has band practice. Let’s go watch a cute journalist get everyone all riled up. You can tell Sheila you were doing reconnaissance.”
Marina laughed. “She’s already sending a merc team of her own, and we don’t want to get in their way.
” She considered the proposition from a different angle.
“But then, we’ll also be in the background, and I might get some more ideas about who’s on board and who could be nudged to sell. ” She shrugged. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Cari gave a little shimmy. “How exciting!”
Marina shook her head and was still grinning when Rob came in and flopped onto the couch. “Why the hag face?” she asked.
“I never look anything other than perfect, I’ll have you know.” He rested his head against the couch. “I want to retire and spend all my time by the pool being waited on by cute pool boys. Is that so much to ask?”
“So do it.” She continued to watch Adriana’s videos with the sound off. “You guys have enough money to retire and live frugally.”
His look of disgust made her laugh. “We have enough to live more than frugally, we just don’t know if we could stand each other for that amount of time each day if we didn’t have to go anywhere. And what has you in a good mood?”
“A reporter is doing a series on gentrification projects by Black Pinnacle. Cari and I are going down to see the first filming of one in South Shore tonight.”
He sat up, frowning. “Your client is about to come under fire and it’s making you laugh? Have you officially cracked?”
She leaned forward. “You know how much I love a good fight. And this promises to have teeth. I’m not the media legal team. I’m just the real estate person handling paperwork, so I can enjoy the show from the sidelines without getting my hands too dirty.”
His eyes narrowed. “No…there’s more to it than that.” Suddenly he raised his hands. “It’s the hot woo-woo butch. You get to crawl up that mountain of a body and deny anything to do with the media bullshit. You understand she won’t see you as anything other than the enemy anyway, right?”
Just like that, Marina’s good mood evaporated. “I can still look. And fantasize.”
“And be distracted.” His expression of pity looked odd on his normally jaded face. “Babe, you could have just about anyone. Why lust after someone you can’t go anywhere near?”
She considered. “Because she’s safe. She’s a mental distraction, but emotionally and physically she’s just something off a hot-butch calendar. So I can look and smile and play, and know she’s way too different and out there for anything real.”
He nodded, and the pity disappeared. “Okay. Perfect. Have fun and let me know you haven’t been murdered.” He gave a little wave as he wandered out.
Marina started scrolling through Adriana’s platforms and the more she did, the more she saw just how much of a pain in the ass she was going to be.
Marina didn’t like Sheila, that was a given.
But she’d be damned if Adriana was going to make a mess of a client’s deal when her career was on the line.
A new video icon popped up, and she clicked on it.
“Hey all. I’m on my way to Chicago, and you’re going to want to hear the story I’ve got coming your way.
Corporate greed, displacement, social inequality, we’re about to get into all of it.
If you like a good David and Goliath story, make sure you’re with me when I go live at six tonight.
” She gave a wave and a little mischievous smile and was gone again.