Chapter 1273
Natalie pulled up to the county government building, registered at the gatehouse, and parked her car out front. She made her way inside, looking sharp and professional. Today, she ditched her usual look for something more formal. Her hair was tied back, she had on light eyeshadow and eyeliner, and she went with a clear lip gloss. She wore a light gray trench coat that hugged her figure, coffee-colored pencil pants that made her legs look long and sleek, and white high heels that were both classy and elegant. A light blue silk scarf added a touch of sophistication.
At the Imperial Bar, she was the charming and savvy owner, but today, she was all business.
Natalie climbed the steps, taking in the serious vibe of the government building. Office staff moved through the halls, but no one paid much attention to her stylish outfit.
In this place, power was the name of the game. Natalie smirked inwardly. Only small men were distracted by sex. Real power brokers had clear minds, iron wills, grand visions, and the patience to see them through.
"Ms. Flores, please wait a moment. I'll see if the County Executive is available," the secretary said with a smile before heading to the next office. Soon, she waved Natalie in.
Natalie's heart pounded as she walked into the County Executive's office. The man she was about to meet had a lot of say over the future of Harmony County.
But Armando's first words put her at ease. "Ms. Flores, your proposal for the commercial pedestrian street renovation is excellent and fits perfectly with our needs in Harmony County. Let's dive into the details of the construction and operation today."
"My pleasure, County Executive." Natalie looked at Armando's calm, mature face. Compared to him, Jasper was nothing. She knew this conversation could shape her future. Taking a deep breath, she started explaining her ideas.
Harmony County had changed a lot over the past decade, but it still lacked a solid commercial district. The few shopping centers were scattered and couldn't draw crowds or create a buzz.
Natalie had been mulling over this idea for a while. Inspired by bustling urban centers, she saw her recent promotion as the perfect chance to turn Maple Avenue into a lively pedestrian street.
"County Executive, I see the commercial pedestrian street as more than just a place to walk and shop. It's a showcase of our government's image and cultural heritage. It could be Harmony County's calling card, drawing in folks from nearby cities and counties. Plus, it could be a great spot for promoting policies and displaying our culture," Natalie said confidently, having prepped thoroughly.
She pointed to a map of Harmony County on the wall. "The area between Maple Avenue and Oakwood Lane is the historic district. It would be a travesty to demolish these buildings. We can incorporate them into the pedestrian street project. If the first phase is successful, we can expand in phase two, turning the entire old town into a vibrant tourist destination, encompassing dining, entertainment, leisure, and cultural experiences."
"Ms. Flores, you've got some big plans," Armando said with a smile, looking at the spot she pointed to. "You've even included the county government in your plan. Are we going to be working in a tourist area soon?"
"County Executive, if I may," Natalie chuckled, "our government needs to modernize. Forward-thinking cities are moving towards a service-oriented model. The government should be a facilitator, providing essential services and letting the market drive development. This promotes efficient resource allocation, instead of the government trying to control everything. Otherwise, we'll be stuck in the dark ages."
"Very insightful. I should be blushing as the County Executive," Armando nodded, growing more impressed with Natalie. Initially, he had some doubts when she approached him, knowing her background. She wasn't just a simple businesswoman, which could easily lead to criticism.
But while he could hold himself to high standards, he couldn't expect the same from everyone else. In a small place like Harmony County, people like Natalie were the ones who could make things happen. What he needed were practical talents with ideas and capabilities, so after much thought, he decided to give Natalie a shot.
"County Executive, I've always admired you," Natalie quickly chimed in. "I've read all your reports thoroughly. Honestly, there are probably no more than five County Executives in our state with your forward-thinking mindset. I truly believe Harmony County will be transformed and rejuvenated under your leadership."
"Ms. Flores, you're too kind," Armando replied, waving his hand dismissively. "The development of Harmony County doesn't rest on just two leaders. It relies on ambitious entrepreneurs like you. Everyone needs to work together to build a solid foundation, rather than relying on shortcuts and unethical money-making schemes. That path leads to a dead end and abandonment by the people."
A chill ran down Natalie's spine as she caught the subtle hint in Armando's words. Maybe he was referring to Lawrence. After all, Lawrence had started by cheaply contracting several coal mines in Harmony County, engaging in reckless extraction that led to frequent accidents—each resolved with hefty payoffs to the victims' families. The mining town suffered from pollution and groundwater depletion, yet the government only imposed nominal fines. Back then, safety oversight was under the County Executive, now known as Jack.
It would be too simplistic to label Jack solely as Lawrence's protector. Harmony County had been deeply impoverished during those years, with most collective enterprises bankrupt and the county government unable to pay wages. When someone stepped up to take over the coal mines, it was natural for them to receive policy protection. Additionally, the police had a confidential whitelist, requiring the County Executive's approval to detain individuals, even if they broke the law. These measures were necessary given the circumstances of that era. Past policies shouldn't be judged by present standards. Ultimately, the impoverished could only discuss right and wrong once they had the chance to survive.
Natalie presented her report for nearly an hour, with Armando mostly listening and occasionally asking a few questions. Finally, Armando nodded in satisfaction. "Ms. Flores, your report is comprehensive and in-depth. I personally believe that constructing a commercial pedestrian street is meaningful. However, it still needs to be discussed in a meeting. Even if approved, the project will be publicly tendered, with experts scoring and evaluating the bids."
"County Executive, rest assured, I'll get the proposal ready according to the county government's requirements and bid as soon as possible," Natalie responded quickly. She had already lined up several out-of-town investors and raised nearly twenty million dollars. She was determined to win the commercial street project.
"Alright, Ms. Flores, let's leave it at that for today. I have another meeting," Armando said with a smile, extending his hand. "I hope to see you become Harmony County's first truly successful female entrepreneur."
"Thank you, County Executive. I'll do my best." As Armando's broad hand grasped hers, Natalie felt a bit dazed. Usually, men were the ones infatuated with her, but she couldn't tell if she was intimidated by his power or admired his charisma.
She had never believed in truly honest and upright officials, but now she realized her perspective was too narrow to understand the ideals and beliefs of a man like Armando.
Thinking about how she once intended to seduce someone like Armando, Natalie felt foolish and naive. She carefully restrained her small schemes, realizing that honesty was the most effective approach with him.
Stepping out of the county government building, she looked up at the vast blue sky, feeling much lighter. Getting back into her BMW, she felt confident that as long as the county government conducted a fair evaluation, the pedestrian street project would be hers. She wouldn't need to use her looks to seduce any man.
Natalie wanted to share her joy with someone, but after holding her phone for a long time, she didn't know who to confide in. Despite mingling with different men daily, she had never trusted anyone over the years and felt extremely lonely inside. The time spent with Kevin was the only period she felt truly happy and carefree.
Natalie felt a surge of indescribable gratitude. Her smooth escape from Jasper and connection with Armando were largely due to Kevin. If it hadn't been Kevin with her at Fairy Lake Reservoir, she might have ended up at the bottom of it, courtesy of Jasper.
Unfortunately, Kevin wasn't by her side now. Otherwise, she would have driven to the cabin with him to spend a whole day venting her joy. Perhaps the best decision she ever made was meeting Kevin. He was truly her benefactor.
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