slowly being hypnotised. Maybe this
new development would be okay after all. They might make sure it fits with the
streetscape and the locals were going to have a chance to provide input.
On her left, Emily
gave her a sharp dig in the ribs and hissed in her ear. ‘Are you sure you can
handle this guy?' Charlotte glared at her, then shook her head clear as Craig
continued.
‘Our philosophy is
to build on existing social assets and support them, rather than destroy them. We
have an entire division dedicated to managing what is known in the industry as
inner-city infill developments. And by managing I mean more than managing
financially. We have a researcher on board who looks into the history of the
area. We also contract a futurist, a consultant who predicts not only the
growth potential of an area but the social and cultural significance of our
proposed developments. Finally, one of our core philosophies is to develop
sustainably, using materials whose manufacture is not resource intensive and
designs that minimise the impact on the environment.’
‘Bullshit!’ Ben
fake-sneezed on Charlotte’s right, causing the people around them to snigger.
Craig paused to
smile, throwing it at both Ben and Charlotte, before continuing.
‘We also undertake
a rigorous community consultation process which, for the Boundary Street
development, is beginning tonight. Through this process, we ask the community
to air their concerns and offer them the opportunity to shape the development
planned for their neighbourhood.’
Over the course of
his speech, the crowd had gradually fallen silent, buying the sales pitch, just
as Charlotte had found herself doing. Damn him and his mesmerism.
Craig paused
heavily and the crowd began to murmur. A number of eyes turned in Charlotte’s
direction. Craig picked up on the cue expertly. Ooh, he was good.
‘Ms Evans,’ he
said, letting the crowd know he knew her. ‘As this proposal directly affects
you, I’d be very keen to hear your thoughts.’
Charlotte glared
at him so he couldn’t fail to interpret those thoughts. You had plenty of
chances to hear them the other night, you arsehole.
But when she
cleared her throat, it was with trepidation. As angry as she was, she wasn’t
blinded by it. She knew she was going to get shot down. Was it too much to
expect to retain her dignity in the process?
‘Mr Carmichael,’
she said, using his name as deliberately as he'd used hers, her voice
deceptively controlled. ‘I’d like to know more about how you came to choose
this site for your proposal. Surely there must be vacant land in the suburb
that could offer you the same financial return?’
Craig eyeballed
her and paused for thought. Good. She had surprised him.
‘It’s a matter of
timing, Ms Evans,’ he replied. ‘The opportunity arose to acquire a prime site,
and we jumped on it. While you're correct in that there's plenty of vacant land
in the area, none of it is, or was, for sale.'
‘So for all of
your declarations about looking out for the community, you’ll only do so if
there’s an opportune profit to be made?’ she noted.
Behind him, Keith,
who had squirmed nervously throughout Craig’s entire speech, was now suddenly
incensed. He leapt out of his seat. ‘Of course we’re out to make money, we’re a
bloody business for Christ’s sake,’ he barked.
The room erupted,
and half of the crowd got to its feet.
‘You can’t buy us
off with your bullshit!'
‘You’re all the
same, capitalist bastards!’
Keith shrank back
into his chair, startled by the onslaught, mumbling something about bloody commies.
Charlotte watched Craig for his reaction, getting ready for her next move.
But this time he
avoided her eye. He ran his hand through his hair. Though far from defeated, he
suddenly looked desperately weary. With most of the crowd hurling insults at
Keith, Charlotte wondered if anyone else had observed this momentary dropping
of his guard. But before she could even
new development would be okay after all. They might make sure it fits with the
streetscape and the locals were going to have a chance to provide input.
On her left, Emily
gave her a sharp dig in the ribs and hissed in her ear. ‘Are you sure you can
handle this guy?' Charlotte glared at her, then shook her head clear as Craig
continued.
‘Our philosophy is
to build on existing social assets and support them, rather than destroy them. We
have an entire division dedicated to managing what is known in the industry as
inner-city infill developments. And by managing I mean more than managing
financially. We have a researcher on board who looks into the history of the
area. We also contract a futurist, a consultant who predicts not only the
growth potential of an area but the social and cultural significance of our
proposed developments. Finally, one of our core philosophies is to develop
sustainably, using materials whose manufacture is not resource intensive and
designs that minimise the impact on the environment.’
‘Bullshit!’ Ben
fake-sneezed on Charlotte’s right, causing the people around them to snigger.
Craig paused to
smile, throwing it at both Ben and Charlotte, before continuing.
‘We also undertake
a rigorous community consultation process which, for the Boundary Street
development, is beginning tonight. Through this process, we ask the community
to air their concerns and offer them the opportunity to shape the development
planned for their neighbourhood.’
Over the course of
his speech, the crowd had gradually fallen silent, buying the sales pitch, just
as Charlotte had found herself doing. Damn him and his mesmerism.
Craig paused
heavily and the crowd began to murmur. A number of eyes turned in Charlotte’s
direction. Craig picked up on the cue expertly. Ooh, he was good.
‘Ms Evans,’ he
said, letting the crowd know he knew her. ‘As this proposal directly affects
you, I’d be very keen to hear your thoughts.’
Charlotte glared
at him so he couldn’t fail to interpret those thoughts. You had plenty of
chances to hear them the other night, you arsehole.
But when she
cleared her throat, it was with trepidation. As angry as she was, she wasn’t
blinded by it. She knew she was going to get shot down. Was it too much to
expect to retain her dignity in the process?
‘Mr Carmichael,’
she said, using his name as deliberately as he'd used hers, her voice
deceptively controlled. ‘I’d like to know more about how you came to choose
this site for your proposal. Surely there must be vacant land in the suburb
that could offer you the same financial return?’
Craig eyeballed
her and paused for thought. Good. She had surprised him.
‘It’s a matter of
timing, Ms Evans,’ he replied. ‘The opportunity arose to acquire a prime site,
and we jumped on it. While you're correct in that there's plenty of vacant land
in the area, none of it is, or was, for sale.'
‘So for all of
your declarations about looking out for the community, you’ll only do so if
there’s an opportune profit to be made?’ she noted.
Behind him, Keith,
who had squirmed nervously throughout Craig’s entire speech, was now suddenly
incensed. He leapt out of his seat. ‘Of course we’re out to make money, we’re a
bloody business for Christ’s sake,’ he barked.
The room erupted,
and half of the crowd got to its feet.
‘You can’t buy us
off with your bullshit!'
‘You’re all the
same, capitalist bastards!’
Keith shrank back
into his chair, startled by the onslaught, mumbling something about bloody commies.
Charlotte watched Craig for his reaction, getting ready for her next move.
But this time he
avoided her eye. He ran his hand through his hair. Though far from defeated, he
suddenly looked desperately weary. With most of the crowd hurling insults at
Keith, Charlotte wondered if anyone else had observed this momentary dropping
of his guard. But before she could even
Similar Books
