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“Get out.”

He shoots me a look that tells me he thinks I’ve lost my mind. Maybe I have, but when he turns and slithers away like the snake he is, I let him go.

I move to my desk, dropping into my chair. Now I have another problem to solve. I promised April a solution, but I just need to convince the board that it’s the right one.

CHAPTER 15

CALEB

Imake my way into the boardroom.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” I say, taking my seat at the head of the table.

“I take it, this has something to do with the new plans that have appeared on my desk this morning?” Donald says.

He's a friend of my father and one of the first people to come on board when I set up Frazer Development.

“And the fact the canteen is currently full of teenagers and OAPs.”

Elana smiles. I saw her outside watching the flash mob.

“A proposed change to the current plans for Sunny Down,” I say. “As for the latter,” I shoot Elana a smile. “We are trying to win over a community. This was the perfect opportunity to show them we are on their side.”

Everyone opens the packs Trish prepared this morning before my meeting with April.

“As you can see,” I say. “The changes to the plans will involve a time delay and additional costings.”

“Is all this really necessary?” Donald asks. “Can’t we justmove the dance school into the proposed gym facilities? Kill two birds with one stone?”

My mind drifts to April’s reaction to the same proposition.

“A dance school is very specific. Whichever option we take, it will require a change to the current plans.” I pause and let my words sink in. “Jeff, you were at the town planning meeting. Would you care to give your view on the meeting?”

Jeff looks up. “We’ve been royally stitched up by the landlord,” he says in his matter-of-fact way, and I bite my lip to prevent myself from smiling.

“What do you mean? Does this have anything to do with the demonstrations or today’s flash mob outside?” Donald asks.

“Unfortunately, it’s come to light the landlord wasn’t entirely honest with us. We’re not sure why, but anyway. The community are in uproar over what they see as the forced closure of one of their businesses.”

Donald sits back and crosses his arms. “Can’t we just compensate this business?”

It’s my turn to step in.

“No. The business in question offers a place to go for the younger generation. It has been heavily involved in keeping the kids off the streets. We have been inundated with letters and emails complaining about our supposed treatment.”

“But that’s not our ethos,” Elana sits forward.

“Exactly,” I say. “We build up and improve communities. It’s been our motto from day one. When we get the community onside, we have somewhere like Copper Town.”

Murmurs go around the room.

“You’re saying Sunny Down could be another Copper Town?”

“I think it can be bigger and better. We learned a lot the first time around.”

“But Caleb, the cost increase. Budgets are put in place for a reason. This project is already flying close to the wind.”

“I understand. If you look at page three, I’m proposing we take funds from the proposed Spencer Lane development.”