Nolan's number had been the desire of many, but when it finally landed in Reginaâs hand, it felt as heavy as a sack of gold coins.
Regina hesitated, her voice caught in her throat.
Nolan picked up his phone and, seeing the unknown number, asked, âSpam call?â
His tone suggested he was on the brink of hanging up.
Panic surged through Regina, and she blurted out, âDonât hang up! Itâs me!â
Recognition dawned on Nolan, and his lips curled into an intrigued smile as he leaned back in his office chair. âAh, Regina, to what do | owe the pleasure?â
Nolan's voice, poured through the phone, seemed to set Reginaâs cheeks ablaze.
âI-L wanted to ask you something. | hope itâs not too forward.â
âIf you think itâs forward, then maybe you shouldn't ask, right? Simple.â
Reginaâs heart raced with urgency, fearing he might just end the call, but Nolan didnât hang up. He seemed to be enjoying this little game of cat and mouse.
âBut itâs something | need to ask.â
Now even Nolanâs curiosity was piqued. They had only crossed paths a few times-what could be so pressing that Regina needed to ask him?
âGo on,â he said, his interest evident.
Taking a deep breath, Regina cradled the phone in both hands and dove in. âAre you aware of an incident in the commercial district that the Harris Group is planning to develop? Thereâs this weathered homeless man wandering around the area claiming the Harris Group ruined his life, left him nothing but broken dreams.â
Regina held her breath, waiting.
On the other end, Nolanâs faint breathing was the only sound until a soft chuckle broke th silence a full minute later. âSo, you're bringing this to me, Regina, because you think thereâs a connection between the Harris Group and this man?â
Regina's brows knotted as she said, âOf course, thereâs a connection! He once had a home on the land you're about to develop.â
âMs. Tanner, you said it yourselfonce had.â So why doesn't he have it anymore? âAgs, (Seg qeeeorne offecireh Gt elopers and moved out. What are you getting at with this? Are you expecting me to solve the manâs housing problem, or do you think Iâm the reason heâs homeless?â
Regina instinctively wanted to deny it, but the reason she called Natan was togedan gniike to confirm whether or not he played a part in this manâs misfortune.
âDoesn't the Harris Group have a part in it? If it werenât for your development plans, how could he have lost his home?â
Regina muttered, fully aware of her own melodrama.
Nolan's voice came through, distant and detached, âRegina, you're quite the idealist, aren't you? Mr. Tanner has oe eee you wall But avs Gertie acts straight, shall we?
The land was there first, then came the house, and the manâs shelter existed. Because he chose to give up his original home, that land ended up in the developer's hands, and | won the bid fair and square.â