Chapter 9: A Contract on the Table

The briefing was scheduled for fifteen minutes.

Nathaniel ended it in seven.

He stood at the head of the smaller strategy room, tablet resting against the table, while two senior advisors and a regulatory consultant waited in disciplined silence. The screen behind him displayed a single agenda item.

Heritage Gala Impact Assessment

Nathaniel tapped once. “Begin.”

The consultant cleared his throat. “The gala itself is symbolic. Attendance lists indicate which voices regulators listen to before formal reviews. Conversations held there tend to resurface later as recommendations rather than opinions.”

“Which recommendations,” Nathaniel asked.

The screen shifted. A port corridor flashed into view. Coastal zoning overlays appeared in pale blue.

“The Eastern Deepwater Expansion,” the consultant said. “Final approvals are pending. Two votes remain undecided.”

Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed. “Those votes were secured.”

“They were aligned,” the consultant corrected. “Not secured.”

Lucas watched close