Leslie opens the conference room door, guiding the man in. He looks about my father's age, with gray streaks coming down his sideburns, and salted through his hair.
The man smiles and holds out his hand. “Mr. Chambers, it's good to finally meet you. Thank you for seeing me today.”
My father stands up, shaking his hand firmly. “Yes, you too Mr. Thayer.”
“Please, call me Ethan.”
“Ethan,” my father says, turning his head to me. “This is my daughter Millie, she just started today.”
“Nice to meet you, taking right after your father I see. I like it. I have a daughter myself, she's also in the same line of work as me, a little different, but close.”
I smile and nod, biting back my words. I want to correct him and tell him that this isn't my choice, it's my father's. But I keep my mouth shut, simply smiling bigger and nodding as if I care.
“Nice to meet you, sir.”
“So Ethan, tell me what we can do for you. From what I understand, you bought a piece of property that recently went into foreclosure.”
“That's right. I bought it about six months back.”
“Okay, and this property, is it commercial, residential?”
“Residential. It's an apartment complex.”
My father flicks his eyes to mine, then down at the pad. Picking up the pen, I start to take notes.
“So, it's an apartment building. Tell me exactly the issue you're having.”
“Well, I bought it with the understanding that the tenants were aware it was being sold. The previous owner let it go into default, and I bought it from the bank on a short sale. After the purchase, I sent everyone letters stating that they had six months to find a new place to live. I've been letting them all live there rent free, but now it's time for them to go. I need to know what I can do legally to get them out. Because some of the tenants are refusing.”
He's forcing people out of their homes? But why?
“Excuse me,” I say. My father gives me a look, but I ignore him. “Where is this property exactly? Just so I can write it in the record,” I say.
“The address is 1372 Cross Street. My plan is to tear the building down completely and rebuild. I've got dozers ready to go, and the plans all drawn up. I already purchased the two lots beside it and the one behind. It's going to become condos as soon as I evict everyone.”
Cross Street. . . I know that address.
It's for low income housing! And there used to be a food bank next door. . .
Did he buy that too?
Why would anyone want to force people from their homes? I can't understand what purpose it serves. Can't he just buy a lot someplace else and leave these people alone?
“Well, first thing we need to do is go to court and get a judge—”
“Whoa, wait a second. You're seriously going to tear down those apartments, kicking out the tenants, and leaving them homeless?”
“What?” Mr. Thayer asks, bewildered by the question. “What do you mean leave them homeless?”
“The properties you're talking about, those are there for people who need them. How can you just decide to take that all away?”
“Millie,” my father snaps. “We don't judge, we just advise.”
“I'm sorry, but this isn't right. Why can't you just renovate the building and let them stay? Can't you give them something better than they have instead of just getting rid of it all?”
“I mean, the building is falling apart, it's not safe as is. And the food bank next door is the same, the previous owner just let it go.”
Veering my stare, I grit my teeth. “You can't do this to these people. They have no place else to go. You kicking them out and taking their food doesn't help anyone. They're already struggling just to get by.”
“Millie, can I talk to you for a minute?” My father grabs my arm, excusing us from the table. He shoves open the door and pulls me into the hall. “What do you think you're doing?” His voice is hard, his eyes full of anger.
“You can't let him do this. You can't let him kick all those people out on the street.”
“You're embarrassing me, Millie, and making a complete fool of yourself. I'm handing you this job, and you're being an ungrateful brat. Law students would kill for this opportunity. There's no risk for you here, it's being gifted to you on a silver spoon.”
“Yeah, well maybe sometimes in life you need to take a risk. Maybe I want to make my own path in the world. Did you ever think of that? Maybe I don't want your stupid silver spoon. I never asked for it to begin with.”
It hits me like a freight train. Kelsie and Hardin are right. If I want something, I need to go for it. I'm not going to find happiness here. This isn't my calling, and I absolutely can't just sit back and not say something when it means so much to me.