Chương 6
Greg went pale.
Michael continued.
“Andrea, Beckett represents a company that filed a preliminary planning inquiry with the county six weeks ago.”
I did not breathe.
“For what?”
“A boutique resort and event complex.”
The vineyard outside suddenly looked different, not because anything had changed, but because someone else had already imagined it gone.
Michael kept talking, but for several seconds his words sounded farther away than they should have.
“The inquiry is not an application,” he said.
“It doesn’t authorize construction or guarantee approval.”
“What exactly did they ask the county?”
“They requested an informal review of access, wastewater capacity, traffic impact, lodging density, and whether portions of the land might qualify for a hospitality use under existing zoning.”
I looked at Greg.
His eyes had moved from me to the driveway, then to Ben, then back to me.
He was measuring exits.
“Whose company?”
“I’m still tracing that.”
Michael’s voice sharpened.
“The inquiry was submitted by Beckett on behalf of an entity called North Creek Hospitality Partners.”
Greg’s jaw tightened.
“Do you recognize the name?”
“No.”
I answered Michael without looking away from Greg.
“Greg does.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Greg said.
His voice had changed again.
The outrage was gone.
Now he sounded careful.
Michael heard him.
“Is he with you?”
“Yes.”
“Put me on speaker.”
I did.
Michael did not greet Greg.
“Mr. Foster, were you aware of a preliminary planning inquiry concerning Andrea’s property?”
Greg stared at my phone.
“I’m not discussing legal matters with you.”
“That’s your right.”
Michael sounded almost bored.
“Then don’t.”
Greg gave me a hard look.
“You’re turning this into something it isn’t.”
“What is it?”
“A concept.”
“A concept involving my land.”
“A concept involving land Samantha was going to own.”
“Eleven acres.”
He said nothing.
“Not thirty-six.”
Still nothing.
Ben folded his arms.
I could see sweat darkening the collar of his work shirt.
The day had become hotter while we stood arguing.
A fly tapped itself uselessly against the screen between us.
Michael spoke again.
“Andrea, I recommend you end this conversation.”
Greg laughed once.
“Of course you do.”
“I also recommend preserving all communications related to the property transfer.”
That got Greg’s attention.
Michael continued.
“Do not delete texts, emails, attachments, drafts, or shared documents.”
“This is ridiculous.”
Greg’s face reddened again.
“No one committed a crime.”
Michael’s reply came immediately.
“I did not say anyone had.”
The distinction made Greg look worse than an accusation would have.
I watched him register it.
“So what happens now?” I asked.
“I obtain the planning inquiry, confirm the ownership and management of North Creek, notify your estate planner that no transfer documents are to be changed or submitted, and prepare written notice terminating permission to use the vineyard for the wedding.”
Greg stepped forward.
“You can’t terminate it two days before.”
Michael ignored him.
“Vendor contracts are separate.”
“I’ll deal with those.”
“You may owe cancellation charges.”
“I expected that.”
“Andrea,” Greg said.
I looked at him.
“This can still be fixed.”
The sudden softness in his voice was almost unsettling.
Ten minutes earlier I had been controlling, vindictive, ignorant, and unreasonable.
Now apparently I was capable of fixing things.
“How?”
“Open the gate.”
“No.”
“Let’s sit down.”
“No.”
“Call Samantha.”
His mouth hardened.
“She’s my fiancée.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t get to divide us.”
“I’m not trying to.”
“That’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“No, Greg.”
I stepped closer to the screen.
“You are standing outside my locked door because my daughter told me I could pay for your wedding but not attend it.”
His eyes flickered.
“That decision had nothing to do with the property.”
“I didn’t say it did.”
“Then stop connecting them.”
“I’m not connecting anything.”
I held up the phone.
“Your attorney did that for me.”
He went still.
Michael corrected me.
“His development attorney.”
“Thank you.”
Ben rubbed a hand across his mouth, hiding another almost-smile.
Greg saw it.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
Ben lowered his hand.
“I think you’re in somebody else’s yard arguing that she shouldn’t ask questions about her own land.”
“You’re an employee.”
“That is correct.”
“You can be replaced.”
“Also correct.”
Ben’s voice stayed calm.
“But not by you.”
I turned away before Greg could answer.
“Michael, call me when you have the company records.”
“And send the wedding notice today.”
“I’ll draft it within the hour.”
“Thank you.”
I ended the call.
Greg stood on the other side of the screen for another moment.
His expression had become almost blank.
Then he nodded.
“All right.”
The change was so abrupt that I did not trust it.
“All right what?”
“You want lawyers involved.”
“You already involved one.”
“That isn’t what Beckett was doing.”
“What was he doing?”
“Exploring options.”
“For whom?”
Greg looked at Ben.
“This is private.”
Ben shrugged.
“I can go stand ten feet away and still hear you.”
I almost told Ben to leave.
Then I realized I did not want to be alone with Greg, even through a locked door.
That realization embarrassed me.
Greg had never threatened me physically.
He had never raised a hand.
He had never even raised his voice much until that afternoon.
But something had shifted.
Not danger exactly.
Uncertainty.
That was enough.
“Ben stays.”
Greg stared at me for a second, then nodded.
“Fine.”
He moved closer to the screen.
“North Creek is an investment group.”
“Whose?”
“A group of investors.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“I’m one of them.”
Ben stopped shifting his weight.
I felt my fingers tighten around the phone.
“How much of it do you own?”
“Not much.”
“How much?”
“Eight percent.”
“Who owns the rest?”
“Different people.”
“Names.”
“I don’t have to give you my partners’ names.”
“Then you don’t have to stand at my door.”
His face tightened.
“One of them is my firm’s managing director.”
That surprised me.
“Your employer is involved?”
“Not the firm.”
“Him personally?”
“Yes.”
“And others?”
May you like
“A real estate operator in Napa.”
“Who?”
