bedroom and stepped onto the narrow balcony overlooking Dune Haven's central courtyard. The soft breeze carried

's confrontation with Marco, the tension still palpable. The clock was ticking: they had one week t

c strokes echoing the quiet of the morning. A line of freshly laundered towels glowed like beacons against the pale wicker

mits and securing reluctant investors was daunting enough; compelling the

, jolting her from her thoughts. It was a

e permit extensions? P

o her pocket. Turning back into the room, she spotted Marco waiting by the door, a heavy folder of binders clu

of relief in his voice. "I though

ing to bring order to the chaos of the day ahead. "The sooner we start, the better." She

f room. The air was thick with the scent of coconut-scented cleaning spray mingling with the faint aroma

r-quality reports, land-use maps - and looming above them all, the ca

egorize all endangered species on the property and cross-reference them with the county's stipulations. Once we h

d insights. "I've already reached out to Dr. Patel for the lagoon analy

she tapped a pen thoughtfully against her lips. "I'll draft the

drifted toward the sandy path beyond the window, where the waves lapped agains

e backing, the county will view our efforts as jus

s. "Elliot was spotted in the area yesterday-his yacht's tender

urgency igniting within her. "

xt move. She crafted a bold email proposing a meeting: an in-person presentation of the stud

howcasing the undeniable benefits for Drake Industries: glowing publicity, com

ind. Elliot was a savvy strategist, and she knew he could sniff out weakn

oting the email off to his public affairs office and carbon-copying his

meet at 6 p.m. this evening in his priv

up the coast, shimmering with marble and glass. Meeting there meant navigating a for

: she had to prove she could naviga

ing off the anxiety swirling in her mind. "I'm meeting him tonight," she

ef etched across his face. "B

If I can get his verbal commitment, that will pave the way for everything e

portive hand on her shoulde

houlders and pushing back any hint of f