‘Read my name. You have 30 seconds…’

Vanessa sat beside Grant, laughing as he said, “The tenants won’t fight. They never do.”

Onscreen, Vanessa raised a champagne glass.

“Then bill the city twice,” she said. “By the time anyone checks, we’ll own half the block.”

The room went silent enough to hear ice melt.

Vanessa turned slowly toward the screen.

Grant whispered, “What did you do?”

I looked continue reading …