Chapter 53
Joe's POV
The soft knock on my study door was followed by the all-too-familiar voice I'd come to associate with both order and manipulation.
"Come in," I said without looking up.
Ivan entered, his signature leather folder under one arm. The thing looked older now, with edges frayed, the corners bent like he'd read it over a dozen times.
"The documents you requested," he said, holding it out. "Mark's company files."
I took it without a word and flipped the cover open. The papers inside were well-prepared, no doubt scrubbed by professionals. Diagrams. Projections. Names I didn't recognize.
"The building's set for completion in four weeks," Ivan began, standing beside me. "Mark's parents are covering the entire investment. It's meant to bring tech, trade, and roughly seventy new jobs into the pack."
I said nothing as I scanned the pages. It was too clean and perfect. Every figure was polished to shine.
