“Not all.”
Brenda’s eyes narrowed.
“You need to decide whether you want to be a neighbor or an adversary.”
Marcus remembered the sentence.
He wrote it down after she left.
Things escalated.
His disputed charge became $930.
Then $1,145.
Late fees.
Administrative review.
Attorney letter.
The letter said association could pursue lien rights if unpaid.
Marcus hired an HOA attorney.
Not because he wanted litigation.
Because somebody had placed the word lien next to his house.
The attorney, Karen Patel, read the file.
Then looked at him.
“How much do they say you owe?”
“Eleven forty-five.”
“How much did original alleged work cost?”
“Six eighty-five.”
“Did GreenLine perform anything?”
“No.”
“Can you prove?”
“Camera records.”
“You have that far back?”
“Cloud.”
Karen smiled.
“You’re my favorite kind of client.”
“What kind?”
“Annoying but organized.”
She sent one letter.
The charges disappeared.
No apology.
Marcus should have let it go.
He almost did.
Then Teresa called.
The widowed nurse.
She received a notice of intent to lien over $3,800 in accumulated charges.
Original violation?
Her late husband’s wheelchair ramp.
The ramp had been approved.
But after he died, HOA claimed approval was temporary and demanded removal.
Teresa was grieving.
She ignored two letters.
GreenLine removed it.
Charged $2,900.
Then fees.
Marcus stared at invoice.
“Did you authorize them to enter?”
“No.”
“They came when I was at work.”
“Camera?”
“Doorbell wasn't working.”
“Neighbors?”
“One saw truck.”
Marcus helped her call Karen.
Then Linda called.
Then Jamal.
Within two months Karen represented five homeowners.
Cedar Ridge board began describing Marcus at meetings as “organizer.”
Brenda called him “disruptive influence.”
He attended his first board meeting in March.
Fifty people.
The board sat behind folding tables at clubhouse.
Brenda center.
Five board members.
Management representative.
Marcus waited through landscaping report, pool budget, holiday-decoration reminders.
Then homeowner comments.
He stood.
“Can board explain GreenLine bidding process?”
Brenda sighed visibly.
“We have addressed this.”
“Not publicly.”
“Vendor contracts are managed appropriately.”
“Was relationship between GreenLine ownership and your family disclosed?”
Murmurs.
Brenda’s face hardened.
“This is personal attack.”
“It’s yes-or-no governance question.”
Board treasurer, Harold Stein, shifted.
Marcus noticed.
Brenda said:
“GreenLine was selected based on performance.”
“Was there competitive bid?”
“Not required for every service.”
“How much did HOA pay GreenLine last year?”
Management rep looked toward Brenda.
Marcus had already obtained annual financial statement.
“Two hundred eighty-four thousand six hundred dollars.”
Room changed.
Residents looked at each other.
Brenda snapped:
“You are mischaracterizing.”
“That number is in annual report.”
“For multiple services.”
“I know.”
Marcus held folder.
“I’m asking whether related-party relationship was disclosed.”
Harold finally spoke.
“It was.”
Marcus looked at him.
“When?”
Silence.