Julian answered no.
The question hurt because it was simple.
He had been willing to accept extraordinary profits without understanding the risks he was asking others to carry.
When the release was finalized, he told Owen that he intended to reduce his role in speculative development.
Owen doubted the decision would last.
Julian acknowledged the skepticism.
He began by reviewing the obligations on projects already underway rather than searching for another glamorous opportunity.
It was tedious work.
He discovered that several contractors had been waiting months for minor payment disputes to be resolved.
He authorized a review and settled the valid amounts.
Nobody wrote a newspaper article about those checks.
Julian found that he preferred it that way.
Chapter 64: The Man at the Bus Stop
One evening, Hannah recognized Simon waiting for a bus near the public library.
He was wearing the same brown coat, though the cuffs had been cleaned and repaired.
She approached with a smile.
“Are you testing another neighborhood?” she asked.
Simon laughed.
“My driver had a family appointment, and I thought I might enjoy an ordinary ride.”
Hannah checked the bus schedule.
“This one runs late when there’s traffic.”
“Then I shall experience something familiar to everyone else.”
They talked about the harbor plans and her classes while they waited.
Simon asked whether Hannah had ever wished he had made a quieter call that night.
She considered the question.
“Sometimes I wish none of it had happened,” she admitted.
“But I don’t wish I had walked past your table.”
Simon nodded.
“Those are different things.”
The bus arrived with a hiss of brakes.
Hannah stepped aboard first, showed Simon where to pay, and found him a seat near the front.
He thanked the driver as though the ride were a gift.
Hannah watched the city pass the window and felt relieved that the old man could be a person in an ordinary coat rather than a symbol of power for one evening.
Chapter 65: The Neighborhood Meeting
A community organization invited representatives from the trust, the developer, and nearby businesses to discuss the future of the waterfront.
The meeting took place in a church basement where folding chairs had been arranged around a long table.
Agnes chaired the discussion and insisted that residents receive time to speak before the professionals delivered presentations.
A small business owner worried about rising rents.
A fisherman feared the new construction would interfere with early morning access.
A young parent asked whether stroller routes would remain open.
