Chapter 43 - Celeste's Last BargainCeleste Vale requested a private meeting with Kalista.
This time, Marcus and Tessa attended.
Celeste arrived without her usual entourage.
Her expensive suit was immaculate, but exhaustion shadowed her face.
"My lenders are reconsidering the development," she admitted.
Kalista said nothing.
"The ongoing investigation has created uncertainty."
"Understandably," Marcus replied.
Celeste ignored him.
"I want to resolve Harbor Row."
Tessa placed the residents' proposal on the table.
"Then these are the terms we can discuss."
Celeste skimmed the documents.
"A community land trust?"
"With independent governance," Tessa answered.
"And you expect me to surrender my company's investment?"
"No," Kalista said. "You can negotiate a lawful transfer based on independently verified property rights and fair valuation."
Celeste looked at her.
"You're offering me a way out."
"I'm offering the residents a possible way forward."
"And the investigation?"
Marcus answered immediately.
"That proceeds independently. No agreement here can extinguish the claims of parties who aren't represented or prevent lawful investigators from doing their work."
Celeste's expression hardened.
"You really are determined to ruin me."
Kalista leaned back.
"Your decisions created your exposure. My involvement didn't create the financial records."
For the first time, Celeste looked genuinely defeated.
She stared at the proposal.
"What if I refuse?"
Tessa replied calmly.
"Then the existing legal proceedings and public financing review continue. We'll keep representing our clients."
Silence filled the conference room.
Finally, Celeste stood.
"I need to speak with my attorneys."
"Of course," Marcus said.
As she reached the door, Celeste stopped.
"Sterling told me something about you once."
Kalista looked up.
"He said you were the only person he'd ever met who could be as ruthless as he was."
Kalista considered the words.
"There was a time I would have taken that as a compliment."
Celeste waited.
"Not anymore."
The door closed.
Kalista looked at the proposal on the table.
May you like
She wasn't interested in watching another empire burn.
She wanted the people beneath it to survive.
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