Part 17
The next morning, the construction site was quiet, the heavy machinery sitting idle under a grey sky. Marcus Vance stood in the temporary site office, reviewing blueprints with a smug expression, fully expecting a phone call from Daniel Hayes conceding to the financial demands.
Instead, the door swung open, and Maria walked in, followed closely by Daniel and a formidable lawyer carrying a thick briefcase.
Marcus blinked in surprise, quickly masking it with a smooth, patronizing smile. "Ah, Mr. Hayes. And Ms. Fuentes. I wasn't expecting a personal visit. I assume you received our assessment regarding the foundation? It's a terrible shame, but old buildings always have secrets."
Maria didn't sit down. She walked right up to his desk, placing her hands flat on the blueprint. "Mr. Vance, I spent five years cleaning commercial properties before this job. I’ve worked alongside structural engineers, facility managers, and safety inspectors. I know what a cracked foundation looks like, and I know what a inflated invoice looks like."
Marcus’s smile faltered. "Now, see here, Ms. Fuentes—"
"No, you see here," Maria interrupted, her voice ringing with absolute authority. "Yesterday afternoon, I hired an independent, state-certified inspector to review the site. He found absolutely zero structural damage. What he did find, however, was that your crew has been diverting materials paid for by our foundation to another one of your commercial projects uptown."
Marcus turned pale, looking past Maria toward Daniel, hoping for some corporate solidarity. But Daniel merely crossed his arms, his expression ice-cold.
"My lawyer here," Maria continued, gesturing to the man beside her, "has already prepared a formal filing for corporate fraud, grand larceny, and breach of contract. We are prepared to submit this to the district attorney by noon today. If we do, your company will lose its state license, your current projects will be frozen, and you will likely face prison time, just like Vanessa Cole."
Marcus swallowed hard, the sweat visible on his forehead. "This... this must be a misunderstanding. A miscommunication among my project managers."
"You have twenty-four hours to get your crew back to work," Maria said, her tone dropping to a whisper that felt sharper than any shout. "You will complete the renovation on the original timeline, and you will do it for ten percent less than the originally agreed price as compensation for our trouble. If you fail to do so, I will personally ensure that your name is smeared across every newspaper in New York. Do we understand each other?"
Marcus looked at the fierce woman before him, then at Daniel, who gave a slow nod of confirmation. "Yes," Marcus whispered hoarsely. "We understand."
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As they walked back to the car, Daniel couldn't help but laugh out loud, a sound of pure exhilaration. "Maria, that was magnificent. You didn't even need the lawyer."
Maria smiled, her heart pounding but her spirit soaring. "I told you, Daniel. I’m done being bullied."
