Victoria's anger cooled into something more useful.
“Good.”
Marcus blinked.
“Good?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Reminding me why this cannot be my decision.”
She turned toward Naomi.
“Convene independent committee. Exclude me.”
Marcus’s confidence weakened.
“Victoria.”
“Pause enforcement pending review under counsel.”
“That could take weeks.”
“Then it takes weeks.”
“You’re risking the project.”
“I’m reviewing the project.”
“This isn’t necessary.”
Victoria looked at him.
“That sentence is usually how I know review is necessary.”
She ended the call.
Naomi stared.
“You like the mechanic.”
Victoria looked at her.
“That is your conclusion?”
“You came in wearing last night’s dress, ordered a seven-property portfolio review before coffee, and just recused yourself because you don't trust your own objectivity.”
“I trust my objectivity.”
“That’s worse.”
Victoria sat.
Naomi smiled.
“How handsome?”
“Go away.”
“That handsome.”
“Naomi.”
“Coffee?”
“Yes.”
“Breakfast?”
“No.”
“You flirted.”
Victoria gave her a look.
Naomi walked toward the door.
“At least tell me if he flirted back.”
Victoria remembered Daniel turning toward her.
His face inches from hers.
Careful.
Tired.
Interested.
Then Lily moving in the office.
Victoria smiled before she could stop herself.
Naomi saw.
“Oh, this is catastrophic.”
“Leave.”
Naomi laughed and left.
At 11:03, Daniel was replacing brake pads on a Honda Accord when his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He ignored it.
Again.
Ignored.
Third time.
He slid out from beneath the car.
“If this is about an extended warranty—”
“It’s Victoria.”
Daniel sat up.
“That fast?”
“You gave me one day.”
“I expected you to use more of it.”
“I don't like wasting time.”
“That tracks.”
She did not laugh.
Daniel noticed.
“What happened?”
“I found the loan.”
“Good.”
“And six other properties.”
Daniel wiped his hands.
“What does that mean?”
“It means your garage is part of a larger acquisition strategy.”
He went still.
“What kind?”
“Redevelopment.”
Daniel looked through the open bay toward the neighboring businesses.
A barber shop.
Small bakery.
Transmission shop.
Two apartment buildings.
A corner grocery.
“You're buying the block.”
“My company is.”
“Same difference.”
“No.”
“It really isn’t from where I’m standing.”
Victoria accepted that.
“The foreclosure is paused.”
Daniel said nothing.
She continued.
“All seven enforcement actions are paused pending independent review.”
“What does that mean for me?”
“No sale. No seizure. No deadline running while review is open.”
Daniel stared at the concrete floor.
He should have felt relief.
He did.