Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO WANTED THE BLOCK
The buyer was Victor Kane.
Everyone in the neighborhood knew the name.
Kane Development had been buying properties across the south side for years.
Old apartments became luxury condos.
Family stores became glass offices.
Rents tripled.
People vanished.
Shiomara had heard rumors that Kane wanted their block.
She just never thought anyone would care about her little corner.
Daniel slid a document toward her.
“Your cart permit is tied to this property.”
“I know.”
“If Kane gets the block, he can terminate the vendor agreements.”
Shiomara’s throat tightened.
“When?”
“Thirty days.”
People in the crowd muttered angrily.
Mrs. Delgado from the laundromat shouted, “That snake!”
Shiomara looked at Daniel.
“So that’s why you came?”
“Partly.”
Maya explained.
“Our foundation was reviewing properties for a neighborhood food program. Your name came up.”
Marcus smiled.
“Imagine our surprise.”
Shiomara stared at them.
“You found me by accident?”
“At first.”
Daniel tapped the photograph.
“After that, we knew.”
Shiomara shook her head.
“I don’t understand.”
Daniel turned the page.
“We made an offer.”
“For my cart?”
“For the block.”
Silence.
Shiomara blinked.
“What?”
Marcus leaned against the cart.
“Kane offered forty-two million.”
Shiomara nearly laughed.
“You’re joking.”
“We offered fifty.”
The crowd erupted.
Shiomara stared at them like they had lost their minds.
“You bought a city block because I fed you dinner?”
“No,” Maya said.
“We’re trying to buy it because hundreds of families and small businesses depend on it.”
Daniel looked at Shiomara.
“But you’re the reason we found it.”
An attorney cleared his throat.
“There’s a complication.”
Shiomara immediately knew there always was.
“What complication?”
“Kane has a signed letter of intent.”
“So he wins?”
“Not necessarily.”
Daniel’s eyes hardened.
“The owner can still accept our offer until five o’clock tomorrow.”
Marcus checked his phone.
“Kane knows we’re here.”
Shiomara’s stomach dropped.
“How?”
Marcus turned his screen around.
A local news account had already posted video of the Rolls-Royces arriving.
Caption:
THREE BILLIONAIRE SIBLINGS REUNITE WITH WOMAN WHO ONCE FED THEM.
Below it were thousands of comments.
Then Marcus’s phone rang.
He looked at the number.
“Speak of the devil.”
Daniel said, “Answer it.”
Marcus put the call on speaker.
Victor Kane’s smooth voice filled the air.
“You three are making a mistake.”
Daniel remained calm.
“Good afternoon, Victor.”
“You’re emotional. That’s expensive.”
Maya’s eyes sharpened.
“Some things are worth more than money.”
Kane laughed.
“Not in real estate.”
Then his tone changed.
“And tell Ms. Reyes she should be very careful about getting involved in business she doesn’t understand.”
Shiomara stepped closer to the phone.
“Mr. Kane?”
A pause.
“Yes?”
She smiled.
“I understand bullies just fine.”
The crowd cheered.
Kane didn’t.
“You’ll regret that.”
The call ended.
Daniel looked at Shiomara.
“Now he knows you’re not afraid.”
Shiomara picked up her ladle.
“Oh, I’m afraid.”
She stirred the beans.
“I just don’t like letting fear make decisions for me.”
May you like
Then a city inspector’s truck turned the corner.
And stopped beside the cart.
