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“Would you be interested in space within the gymcomplex?” I ask. It’s not something I had given much credence to.

Her laughter shocks me. “Can you really see Tyler and his mates wandering into a swanky gym with a membership policy, alongside all the new DINKies that have moved into the area? My teenagers and OAPs are not part of that world—not when their families are on minimum wage or benefits.”

My mind wanders back to the OAPs who had just finished her class. Who were willing to fight for the woman in front of me. Of the kids currently downstairs, who have skipped school to support her today.

“Okay, but just so you’re aware. Our development includes family apartments and social housing. Yes, there will be young couples, but in fact, the development will contain a range of apartments, from one-bedroom studios to four-bedroom apartments.”

I keep my tone neutral, but I want her to understand what we’re trying to do for her community.

“You might be interested in this.”

I pull a piece of paper out of the file and hand it to her.

She sits forward and takes it before dropping back in the seat as she stares at the numbers.

“I don’t understand,” she says, glancing up at me.

“The left column is your old rent. The figures we got from your landlord. The figures on the right are what you would be paying Frazer Development Management Company.”

“But?”

“The figures are lower than what you’re currently paying. Add in all the additional factors and improvements that make the building more energy-efficient and cost-effective. You should see a dramatic drop in your overheads.”

“There is still the issue. My dance school is now retail outlets.”

I roll out the reworked set of architectural plans Jax sent over this morning and lay them out on the table. The board have yet to approve them, but that’s my problem. I just need to get April on board.

I say nothing, patiently waiting for her to engage.

Jax has come through. In the new plans, he’s repurposed the proposed retail outlets and reinstated the dance school, moving it from the centre of the building to the end. He’s increased the space and allowed for additional rooms, including a coffee shop next door after I mentioned how popular the current one was with the kids and ladies. When I mentioned the Frazer Foundation was thinking of employing a counsellor, he included space for additional meeting rooms. The retail and industrial space is vastly reduced, but the community will gain what it needs.

April stares at the plans but remains quiet.

“What are the kids and I supposed to do in the meantime, or can we stay in situ?”

I shake my head. “Unfortunately, that’s not possible. The redevelopment is taking the building back to bare brick and rebuilding the inside using modern eco methods.”

She throws up her hands and gets to her feet. “Then what the hell is all this about, Cal? This will take months. I won’t have a business.”

“Please, April, sit down.”

Shit.

In my desire to see her again, I have not thought this through. This is not like me. I never go into a business proposition unprepared.

Since she reappeared, my head has been in a tailspin.

I almost sigh in relief when April sits and decides to close our deal instead.

“I haven’t ironed out all the details yet, but as you can see.I’ve made progress,” I tell her. “I need you to trust me. Give me time to iron out all the kinks, talk to my board.”

She gives a little snort, but when her eyes meet mine, I see a flicker of hope.

“Okay, I can give you time, Cal. It’s not like I have any alternatives. But at the end of the day.Actionsspeak louder than words, and trust needs to be earned where I come from.”

My heart skips a beat, and I find myself wanting to punch the air. She’s giving me a chance and I will fix this.

She’s right, and now I have to earn her trust. If Wes and the board don’t like it,fuck ‘em, I’ll bloody cover the cost myself if I have to. April is not losing her business.