Hearts of Steel and Stone

brother sat in the expensive leather chair with the casual confidence of someone who belonged there.

extended his hand. "Hope you

you need,

arbor District project. Mother menti

his office, Richard

cision." Richard settled into the chair across from Marcus's

t hesit

pulled out a tablet. "The current businesses are mostly failing e

of every business in the development zone. Financial recor

ssi Tailoring. Revenue last year was barely thirty thousand. The

hten. "How did you get

n. "The point is, we're not destroying viabl

d we

can't compete with modern retail, they can't afford the rent increa

Monday morning energy. People hurried along sidewalks, cars filled

don't want to

h it. Market forces don't c

the marke

at the window. "Marcus, you've built this empire by being practical. D

ncial profiles painted a clear picture. Most of the businesses in the Harbor District were struggling. They emp

that had guided every major decision

id it fe

-

the week's projects. The wholesale market was busy, vendors calling out p

ad when someone bumpe

woman said, the

known in school. Sarah looked polished now, her

's been a

ou opened your own s

eps me

remember you always loved sewing. Even in h

ngs don't

a, I work in commercial real estate now. I heard t

on the thread spool.

you're thinking about relocating, I might be able to help. I h

ooking to

ig developments move forward, they usually get what they want. The city coun

esses don't brin

ah pulled out a business card. "I'm not trying to scare you, but I've seen th

didn't look at it. "Th

ces available in other parts of the city.

to her shop. She had work to do, orders to complete, custom

ink they can fight it,

. The sewing machine where she'd learned her craft. The pressing table her mother had he

r. Fifty thousand dollars to walk

ng dress, hanging in the back roo

hter, who would be heartbroken if h

nd sat at her sewing mac

ntered. He looked nervous, his hand

iss Rossi?

a

riguez. I live in the apartm

neighborhood, always polite, always work

ing," Tommy said. "About them wan

es

to school three blocks away. If we have to move..." He shrugged

man's worried face. "Are

owners, residents. We thought maybe if we st

stand

eighborhood. That w

ah's warning, about Richard's financial analysi

much good it wou

, right? We can't just let the

the careful organization, the tools of her

have in mind

tomorrow night. We're inviting everyone who might be affe

slowly. "I'

g had changed. She was no longer just a business owner tryin

eterson's visit, she felt like