Chapter 20 #3
“I like that she acknowledges different sides of the issue,” River said, her mouth on fire from the sashimi. Marina just nodded, watching the screen.
Adriana walked at an angle to the building, and a huge whiteboard with pictures and writing all over it came into view, set up on the grass and stark against the night behind it.
“Before I made my way here, I talked to plenty of people on the East Coast from the communities affected by the redevelopment.” She tapped one section.
“In the Capital project, there was harassment of varying levels. From knocks on the door at all hours to reiterate the buy offer, to threatening notes, to people sitting outside the buildings whose owners didn’t want to leave in a show of intimidation and coercion.
” She tapped three other sections. “That was the case with these other projects as well. In this one,” she tapped a photo of a burned-out multistory house, “there were accusations of arson, though they weren’t proven.
But the building was then sold to Black Pinnacle for one-tenth of the initial offer. ”
Marina set her food down firmly, and her knuckles were white as she gripped the wine glass. “Shit fucking fuck.”
River couldn’t say anything. She continued to eat and gently nudged Marina’s plate toward her. “Just a movie for the moment.”
Marina threw her an irritated glance, and then it softened. “This is bad, River.”
“It’s facts, and you work with those for a living. You can deal with them tomorrow.”
“This project, however, is the one where many of the questionable dealings come together.” The largest section, in the middle, showed numerous burned-out buildings, as well as dark SUVs parked outside people’s houses.
“We spoke with a government official who confirmed bribes were taken by multiple agencies in order to push through zoning, lift rent control restrictions, and even force evictions. Predatory buyouts, where tenants were unaware of their rights, were common, as was discursive rhetoric that made it sound like they were going to help people but ultimately displaced them instead.”
Once again, the cameras panned over the agitated crowd, which was growing restless as it waited for Adriana to finish so they could give voice to their rage.
“This is a company that lacks any moral compass. They don’t care about community.
They don’t care about people who have less than.
What they want is homogenous housing with chain stores that cater to the upper ten percent of society.
And they’ve made it very clear, time and again, project after project, that they’re willing to get what they want at any cost.” Her gaze moved across the crowd for a long moment.
“And so far, they’ve gotten what they want.
The question is, will they get it again, here in Chicago, in a community that needs investment, not eradication? ”
She stopped talking and the crowd took their cue.
The chant of “Black Pinnacle, black heart” could probably be heard on the moon.
It went on for some time, and River saw a couple of the kids from her workshops at the back, fists and voices raised.
Activism was good, and she’d never tell them otherwise, but she couldn’t help but worry about them too.
“I’ve loaded everything we’ve found out about Black Pinnacle on my website.
I’ve also sent it to the various news agencies I’ve worked with in the past. Whether or not they’re willing to go up against a billionaire is something we’ll have to find out later.
If you’re interested in the evidence we gathered, I suggest you check it out fast, before we’re forced to take it down by Black Pinnacle’s lawyers, who are probably already scrambling to shut us down. ” A link appeared on the screen.
“I’m excited for you to meet someone from the community—”
River gently reached over and hit the close button on the screen, making Marina look at her with a deep frown. “The interviews are to connect viewers with the community. They won’t show anything you need to see right now.”
Marina sighed and set down her phone. “This is going to be a nightmare.”
River ate quietly and was glad when Marina started to eat again too. “That was a terrible movie. I get to choose the next one.”
Marina gave her a small smile. “Sheila’s going to rip off everyone’s head and scream obscenities into their neck holes. You’ll have to take a raincheck on the movie until I reattach my head.”
“I have a feeling you’re amazing at what you do. I think you’re probably a tsunami when it comes to setting your mind to something and making it happen. You’ll handle her.” River meant it, even though that same swirling energy was set against her own community.
“Why don’t you want to move?” Marina asked, picking at the charcuterie board. “I say that as the art gallery potential hook-up. I really want to understand what keeps you there.”
River nodded thoughtfully and finished her mouthful of salami and weird, squishy cracker. “Fair enough. I grew up there—”
“But you left. You went away to college. People leave their hometowns all the time and never look back.”
River waited, her eyebrows raised, and Marina waved her hand. “Sorry. Go on.”
“I loved being away at college. I loved the new experiences. But here’s the thing, Marina.
I’m different. Whether you believe it or not, when you see and feel the things I do, it’s nonstop.
At least here, where I was raised, I’m comfortable and used to it.
People know me and don’t look at me sideways or whisper behind their hands about me.
My shop is my sanctuary. My home is haunted,” she nodded firmly when Marina’s head snapped up from where she was deciding on the next bite, “but they’re my ghosts.
Well, mostly. There’s a new one I haven’t gotten to know yet, but we’ll get there.
” She grinned at Marina’s eye roll. “I like the people. I like my fellow business owners. I’m…
comfortable. In a way I haven’t been anywhere else. And to me, that’s home.”
She let the words flow and figured they’d land where they would. They were quiet for a while, and she could feel Marina’s energy shifting, flowing, and then getting…excited?
“Want to tell me what you’re thinking about that has you fired up?” River asked finally.
Marina’s eyes narrowed. “You said you can’t read minds.”
“I can’t. I read energy, and yours is thrumming. So?”
“It’s client-based, so I can’t really say anything yet.
But I may be onto something interesting.
” Marina slid her hand over River’s. “Thank you for meeting me. We’ve been butting heads, and it sucks that we’re on opposite sides.
But the fact is, I can’t stop thinking about you.
You’re quirky and kind and stupidly hot, and while I don’t usually care about someone’s personality as long as they’re good in bed, you seem to have gotten under my skin. ”
River blinked hard, surprised at Marina’s candor. And her energy suggested what she’d said was genuine. “Wow. For the most part, I feel the same way. I mean, I do care about people’s personalities even if we’re doing the dirty mambo, but you’ve gotten to me too.”
There was a moment of expectation, of awkward awareness that something had shifted, before River thought, fuck it, and slid her hand under Marina’s thick hair to pull her close.
The kiss was so perfect it was almost painful. The feel of Marina’s energy slamming into her own made her moan, and then Marina’s hand slid up her thigh. She tasted of wine and possibility, and River wanted to pull her out of her chair and onto her lap.
The dome door opened and a waiter came in, saw the situation, and looked away. “Sorry. I was checking to see if you needed anything else.”
They broke apart, and Marina put her fingers to her lips, her eyes wide, her gaze searching.
“We’re good, thanks,” River said, glancing at the waiter and then back at Marina. “Did you need anything else?”
Marina shook her head but didn’t say anything.
“We have another booking in twenty minutes, just to let you know.” The waiter grinned, then left.
“Wow.” River spread her hands on the table, not sure where else to put them. Marina still looked a little stunned.
“I…” Marina finally lowered her fingers from her mouth and looked away. “That was different.”
River laughed. “Not really the adjective a butch wants to hear, just so you know.”
Suddenly, Marina stood. She grabbed her purse and coat and hurried to the door. “I have to go. Thank you for this. For…” She touched her lips again. “For that. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
And then she was gone. River sighed and sat back in her seat.
What the hell had happened? That kiss had been something else.
Not just physical. It had been a connection, the kind you rarely got with someone.
It was consuming, like you’d been pulled into some kind of void and all you knew was the person connected to you.
No wonder Marina had run. River should probably do the same before her heart was pierced by a million high-heel punctures. But damn…what a kiss.