Saving Elliot ©2015 Sydney Wray

Chapter 9~My town

I sat in uncomfortable silence in the backseat of our Limousine. My father sat in front of me, facing me as he scrolled through his phone.

"I'll be putting you to charge of the observing. I want you sitting in the room, taking notes on everything." He suddenly directed, still not glancing up.

I shifted, and questioned, "Observing?"

"Yes, Elliot," he said impatiently. "I hope you can handle that."

I was usually put to the task of things far more complicated, and more my area of expertise.

"Why wouldn't I be able to handle it?"

My father finally looked up, a look of coldness in his eyes. I had never questioned him. "Your actions with that girl,"' he paused with a semi look of disgust, "yesterday, did not tell me you can handle your usual jobs."

I was about to tell him her name was Hailey, but bit my tongue.

"Father.." I started, perplexed. "Observing is not my area. I-"

"-will do what I said." He finished, going back to his phone. "I own this business deal, not you."

I bit my tongue, fuming.

[***]

"And finally, the dispersion of population will be complete." My father finished, clasping his hands in front of his listening colleagues

I typed furiously, only to pause over the keyboard. Dispersion? Of population? I looked up, confused.

"How will that work, again?" Someone asked.

My father paced the head of the room. "After disposing of most of the low-income buildings, and replacing with more prestigious firms, most of the workers that are out out of work are unable to find a job in this area. Thus, the amount of knowledge needed to know in order to take the new jobs, is not," he paused with a smirk, "in this area."

Although I had been thinking about Hailey all morning, her face along with the Community Service job she had with the kids flashed in my mind. What about the children? What would happen to them? And Hailey's building she had painted herself..would it be taken down?

I fumbly continued to type, because he shot me a look.

"And the eventual outcome?" Another person to my right asked.

"It will no longer be a low-income town."

Although I wasn't in the proper position to do so, even I had noticed his plan held holes. Greedy holes. But, I decided at that moment, as guilty as I felt not to share my news with Hailey, I sat up straighter and tightened my tie.

Once outside by our car, he stopped and turned to me.

"You see this Elliot?" my father said, holding out his hands to reveal the ban buildings in front of us. I refrained myself from leaning against our car. He would disapprove.

"Yes, father?"

"This is my town." He said.

"Your partners already put a bid on the town itself?" I asked.

He chucked arrogantly. "No, Elliot. I've already started the paperwork for construction."

My stomach dropped. Something about this didn't seem right.

[***]