“Jobs that would pay minimum wage at best and offer part-time only schedules,” I answered his debate. “Jobs that would only benefit a small fraction of the people in our area who might be looking for work. And chances are those same people will eat at the establishments that are included in the retail center. Because eating at a quick and cheap fast food place will be easier and less costly than visiting our traditional and unique eateries.”
“Some people view those jobs as a lifesaver,” he continued, “those who have homes, families and children.” I saw his smirk and wanted to slap him. “Sometimes those minimum wage jobs are all that stands between a mother and the food on the table for her children. And is it a bad thing to keep the cost of local eateries competitive? I mean would it kill the area if places were no longer able to charge ten bucks for a hamburger?”
“There’s a big difference, Mr. Monroe, in a hamburger at one of our restaurants and what is labeled a hamburger at most fast food places.”
“You do realize the Village has fast food as well, right?”
I felt flustered. He’d backed me into a corner. My own argument seemed less valid.
“Is there something you need?” I shot at him, avoiding his question altogether.
“May we chat,” he asked, “Privately.”
“Of course,” I handed the remainder of my flyers out and turned to follow Evan Monroe to a secluded spot of the grounds.
“That was cute,” he teased, unsuccessfully. “The way you tried to shame me.”
“Well I should have known you have a magical answer and a winning smile to get through everything,” I huffed.
“You are aware that this fight will be over next week,” he asked. “Maybe we could be friends?”
“Not as long as you plan to try and destroy what I love,” the anger showed in my voice.
“The sooner you realize it’s not a matter of destroying it, the better it will be for all of us,” his smile flashed once more.
“It doesn’t matter,” I shrugged. “It’s not going to happen. The people are mostly against the idea.”
“But,” he argued. “It’s up to the Historic Resources Commission.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “I expect they will do as the people want.”
“I’ve already got it,” he beamed.
“Already got what?” I asked, suddenly wondering if an emergency meeting had taken place. “How did you already get it?”
“Well,” he began, “technically I didn’t. But it’s in the bag. I have no doubt that I will be given what I’m asking for next week.”
“Confidence isn’t always appealing Mr. Monroe,” turning, I began to walk away.
“I have someone at the HRC,” he threw in, just as I was about to leave, causing me to spin on my heels.
“You what?” I asked, angry all over again.
“I have someone,” he repeated. “At the HRC. She’s going to bat for me. She promised I’d get the approval.”
“And I’m sure you promised you’d call in the morning,” my eyes rolled again at the mere thought of someone choosing to support him.
“That almost resembles jealousy Miss Haraway,” there was a twinkle in his eye that might have been attractive if he weren’t such an ass. “It’s not like you didn’t get your chance.” He winked and I felt my face heat with anger.
“Not even if my life depended on it Mr. Monroe,” I spat. “What I am feeling is anger that someone at HRC would sell a vote to the most charming bidder.”
“That would be assumption on your part,” he noted. “Perhaps she is simply impressed by the plan and what it could do for the community.”
“The only thing your plan would do for this community is ruin it,” I turned to walk away again, “and I won’t let that happen.”
“Good luck,” he laughed as I headed back towards the crowd and refused to look back.
The anger I felt had control over my body. The nerve of him wining and dining someone from HRC in order to achieve his goals. More than anything, I was upset that so many women would fall victim to such a stupid and obvious trick. It wasn’t like Evan Monroe was the type of man to stick to anything. Hell, he wasn’t even from the area. He’d come from some place up north with a pile of money and a plan to make more.
I decided it was hopeless for me to try and talk to any more people. I would defeat the cause if I showed them my personal grudge against the man. And he was right. I had no proof of how the deal went down. All I knew was that she was an idiot and the Village might pay for that.
“You look horrible,” Kendall noticed immediately that I wasn’t okay. “Let me get you something to drink.”
“Unless I hid a bottle of liquor back there, it won’t help,” I told her, sitting down at one of the tables. “What happened to all of the customers?” I asked, barely noticing that the place was empty.
“It’s been like this for about ten minutes,” she shrugged. “I’m not sure. It’s been busy as hell all day.”
“That’s odd,” I took a sip of the coffee she had sat down. “Evan Monroe is an egotistical, obnoxious asshole.”
“I thought we already knew this?” Kendall sat down with me.
“It’s worse,” sitting the cup down, I looked at my best friend. “He’s playing with a member of the HRC.”
“Playing with?” she questioned, confused.
“He said he has someone on board and that
she
ensured him she would get the votes for it to pass,” another sip of the coffee touched my lips.
“So you assume that it’s sexual?”
“Have you met the man? How could it be anything else?” my voice rose, making me grateful no customers were in the shop.
“Maybe she likes his idea?”
“Why would anyone like his idea?” the thought didn’t make sense to me.
“Because it’s not entirely bad,” Kendall mumbled, looking outside instead of at me.
“Wait,” her words stung worse than any I’d heard all day. “
You
support that horrible idea?”
“I didn’t say I support it Lex,” she argued. “I said it’s not entirely bad. I could see how some people might support it.”
“Why would anybody that gives a damn about Biltmore Village want a retail center to be here?”
The concept was lost on me. The idea that my best friend would be okay with it made me angry.
“Maybe they want to see the place advance,” she suggested. “A lot of people like the bigger stores Lex.”
“Then they should move somewhere else,” I spouted. “This place is what it is because we don’t have that. I don’t want to see my home ruined because someone wants their groceries for half the cost!”
“Calm down Lexi,” she reached across and placed one of her hands on mine. “I’m just offering a different perspective.”
“Well it’s a shitty one,” my words came out like venom. “I’m closing up and heading home.”
“Closing? But there are so many people out there,” her confusion was evident. “You don’t want to close now.”
“I need to leave. I need a hot bath and some rest,” I knew that if I didn’t go home I was going to take my bad mood out on my best friend.
“Why don’t you let me stay? I can close up later,” she offered and for a moment I was reminded that I wasn’t angry at her. “You go and rest. Don’t worry about the shop.”
“Thanks,” I said sincerely. “I mean that. Thanks.”
I stood up and grabbed my things from behind the counter.
“I owe you Kendall,” I acknowledged as I walked out the door.
*****
Chapter 5
Waking up the next day I felt refreshed and a little guilty. I had really let my anger at Evan Monroe take over the way I handled everything else, including Kendall. Grabbing a cup of coffee and my phone I made my way to the porch to send her a quick text.
I win the shittiest friend in America title for this week. Forgive me?
While I waited on a response, I sat and tried to make a plan for how to handle Evan and his newest pawn in the game. It made sense to me that if he could wine and dine a member of the HRC then I could possibly talk with them as well. Only I wouldn’t use my looks or charm. I’d hit them with the truth.
Not really America, but maybe the southern part. Of course I forgive you.
You are the best!
Not many people had a friend like Kendall, one that could take my bad moods and laugh them off. Someone that would run my store so I could focus on Society business. She was an amazing person and regardless of her opinion on the development, I knew that I was lucky to have her.
Agreed. How are you feeling today?
Other than guilty? I’m okay. Making a game plan. Trying to decide how to handle things.
I jumped up and ran inside to grab a notebook. The plan was coming together in my mind. I just needed to make some notes.
Hit him the same way he hit you. Go to the commission. Appeal to them.
That’s what I’m thinking.
Staring at the blank page in front of me, I began to think about the commission. There were seven members. Evan had gotten to one of them. I wasn’t sure which one, but I knew it was a female. That left six that I could contact. It wasn’t unheard of to chat with them. We often found ourselves working together as the Society and the Commission often had a lot in common.
I knew most of them quite well. We’d all lived in the same general area most of our lives, but that wasn’t how we’d become familiar. I had gotten to know them through community work. I’d become acquaintances with them and their families as we worked together on various issues facing the community.
That gave me a little leeway over Evan Monroe. I didn’t have to appeal to them on his level. I didn’t have to win their trust or convince them about the benefit of what I wanted. I just had to talk to them as a friend and confidant. I just had to show them my side, from the heart, and let them make their own decisions. I had to appeal to the people that already knew and trusted me. I wasn’t lying or being sneaky. I was doing the same I’d do in any situation. Telling what I believed to be right.
I began to make a list of the people on the Commission. I included their names, spouses if they had one and children’s names if they had any. I made notes about things I knew about them. Just when I had my list the way I wanted it, I realized it was time to go to work.
Fortunately for me, the day was slow. Most of the people that were lingering around the Village had already been into the candy shop and weren’t planning to return. Overall, I probably had five customers the first four hours I was open. But I didn’t mind. Not only had the day before been extremely profitable, I needed the break so that I could work on my plan.
I began by scheduling a lunch date with Tammy Knox. She was one of the three females on the Commission and one that I’d bonded with through the years. We made plans to meet at a local sandwich shop. No doubt she knew that I wanted to discuss this development, but that wasn’t unheard of when situations like this arose. Nor was it looked down upon.
When I got to the shop, Tammy was already at a table.
“Lexi,” she smiled and stood up to hug me. We Carolinians were big on our hugs. “It’s so good to see you. How is the shop doing?”
“It’s great Tammy,” I smiled as we both took our seats. “But it won’t be if that development is allowed to continue.”
“I had a feeling that was why we were having a sudden lunch date,” she smirked, picking up a menu.
“I’m sorry,” it was an honest remark. “I should call more often.”
“It’s okay Lexi,” her smile was warm and inviting. “You are nothing if not passionate.”
“It’s a disaster waiting to happen, Tammy. I am afraid of what it would do to Biltmore Village. Someday I’m going to have kids. I want them to grow up and see this place the way I do,” my sentiments were heartfelt. “Don’t you want Carmen to be able to walk through the streets the way we did?”
I knew Tammy would understand what I was saying. Her daughter Carmen was only three and would likely grow up in the same area we’d both lived our entire lives. Tammy and I had actually been friends throughout most of our lives. It wasn’t that we were super close, but we’d always known each other and chatted and been friendly. This also meant we’d also seen each other out and about and known what it meant to grow up in the Asheville area.
“Yes,” she admitted. “I want Carmen to have a life just like I had.”
“Then I need your help to stop this,” I confided. “He’s not going to give up unless he has to. And that shopping center will bring nothing but problems. We know that. Just look at what happened to surrounding areas.”