Fields of Iris

Plans for a New Brooksedge

Chase's P.O.V

As I sat outside Mayor Whitmore's office, I thought about the dinner I shared with Iris last night. It was surely the oddest time I'd had in a while, but I'd hoped that getting her home late would make her late for her responsibilities at the farm. I was hoping to find out this morning, but instead I have business to take care of first. I checked my watch for the eighth time before I looked up to see my old friend Billy coming towards me.

He sure was a dork, but he was the dork that helped me pass calculus. "Chase! Back so soon?" He asked as I nodded my head.

"Being the Mayor's intern, I'd think you knew these things," I responded.

"Yea, you'd be surprised by what he doesn't tell me. I know he has a call right now but it shouldn't be lasting too long," He said as I sighed, sitting back. "Do you have somewhere else in town to be? Have you been by to see your folks yet?" He questioned as I tried not to roll my eyes. I guess it wasn't too far-fetched of a suggestion that I didn't go back home.However, Billy Frank was the only guy in this town that I enjoyed and one of my oldest friends, so I knew his question was with good intentions and not gossip.

"Of course I did. And nothing's changed except the debt they can't catch up on. I don't get it with these people, I mean they're offered a check with more money than they've seen in their life and they still won't budge," I rambled, as Billy chuckled.

"You should know them better than anyone. Culture is more to them than money," Billy said as I huffed and leaned back. He was right. He also knows them just as I did. He was raised on a farm too, but instead of wanting to get out of the farming district, he wanted to save it from disappearing. Unfortunately, he was working under a man who wanted to do the exact opposite.

"Yeah well they also need someone who can do the work or there is no culture to keep up with," I spoke just as my phone rang. I looked down to see the phone call I had been expecting today. I was just hoping I had time to take it. "I need to take this," I said before hopping up and putting the phone to my ear.

"Ivan," I said across the line.

"When my assistant told me that Chase Dodson wanted to talk I almost changed my number," he spoke as I let out a laugh, knowing he wouldn't do such a thing.

"Then you remembered the three nightclubs my company has invested into you and the disclosure agreement we signed about your endeavors into other business ventures," I spoke, hearing silence across the line for a moment.

"I was going to mention the club, but it was a spur of the moment venture. I'm actually starting some investing of my own," he said as I rolled my eyes. Ivan was a smart guy who ran a few raunchy strip clubs and dive bars that we helped reinvent and double their revenue. We knew he was sneaky though and this was just one example, but I was smart enough to know how to use this to my advantage.

"Still, it breaks the agreement. French caviar doesn't exactly match with strip teases," I spoke as he let out a dramatic gasp across the phone.

"My clubs are more than strip teases. They are passionate, renowned, revitalizing experiences. Speaking of, I'm having an immersive experience at one of my clubs tomorrow. You can see that I have been putting your investments into good use," he said, telling me exactly what I Wanted to hear.

"I know you're a fan of dark and weird artwork. Well, I know someone that's pretty good. Mind if I bring her along?" I asked, hearing him hum in thought across the phone. He couldn't do anything without the dramatics.

"What's the name? Anyone I've heard of?" He asked.

"Uh no. Her name is Iris. She's a hometown friend," I said the last part a bit reluctantly.