Chapter 9 - The new foundation
The sun broke through the heavy November clouds just as we stepped out of the federal courthouse doors. The midday light caught the glass towers of downtown Charlotte, casting long, brilliant reflections across the asphalt.
The reporters were still swarming the steps, shouting questions, thrusting microphones forward, and flashing cameras, but as soon as the U.S. Marshals formed a protective perimeter around David and me, the crowd parted respectfully. We walked straight to the waiting car without stopping for soundbites.
Once the doors closed and we pulled away from the courthouse melee, the interior of the SUV became instantly quiet, insulated from the noise of the city by double-paned acoustic glass.
I leaned my head back against the leather headrest, closing my eyes for ten seconds as the exhaustion of the past two months finally began to wash out of my system.
"It’s over," David said softly, keeping his eyes on the road ahead as we headed toward the Tryon Street corporate offices.
"Not over," I corrected him, opening my eyes and looking out the window at the construction cranes working on our downtown tower. "Finished with the old chapter, maybe. But the foundation is just getting started."
He smiled, reaching across the center console to give my hand a warm, grounding squeeze. "Dinner tonight at the villa? I’m thinking we celebrate by finally redesigning that sunroom you’ve been complaining about for three years."
May you like
"Only if I get to pick the architectural layout without anyone telling me it feels too cold," I replied with a genuine, unburdened laugh.
"Deal."
