The following week, Kate approached Mikki about the idea she started working on after her tour with Tommy. She showed the map to Mikki. "Mikki, here, a few blocks away from the condo building. There are three identical buildings, the same size, shape and square footage as my building...all side-by-side," she pointed to the location on the map. "What's the story on these?"
"Those are for sale. Someone is trying to buy them, but they've run into some problems getting the sale through," Mikki answered. "Why?"
"Do you know what they plan to do with them if they buy those buildings?" Kate asked.
"Not really, probably tear them down...they're at least a hundred years old or so," Mikki replied.
Kate thought for a minute. "Mikki, those buildings are identical to my building. Has Jay considered not selling them? You know, also turning them into condos or apartments; renovating them just like we're doing on my project?" she asked.
"I don't know, but why would we want to do that?" Mikki asked.
"You know the city is growing. The city has plans to make that a very nice part of town. There are already plans for an open-air mall of sorts near there. Think of it, Mikki. Who wouldn't want to be within walking distance of shops, restaurants, bars...not too far of a drive to the airport...the hospitals; ya know?" she proposed. "That's a single's paradise. Instead of two or three bedrooms, increase the number of units making them studio, one and two bedrooms," Kate influenced.
Mikki sat back in her chair. "Have you run any numbers on this?" she asked.
"Sort of, but I don't have all the information. I mentioned it to Tommy the other day and he said it was a good idea, but because those buildings are pending sale, he really didn't give it much more thought," she replied.
"Okay, suppose we don't sell them?" Mikki asked, leaning forward, putting her chin in her hand.
"The possibilities are endless...condos, apartments, shops. C'mon, Mikki, we put a man on the moon using slide rulers over fifty years ago. It can't be that difficult to make money here," Kate asserted gently.
Mikki looked at Kate for a second. "Hey, girl, not to get off topic, but your degree from Tech is in Marketing, right?"
"Yeah," Kate asked.
"What was your minor?" Mikki continued.
"Physics, heavy on math...why?" Kate asked.
Mikki thought silently. "GPA?" she asked.
Kate sighed. "I didn't do as well as I wanted; three point nine one," Kate softly said with a touch of embarrassment.
Mikki sat back in her chair. "You're shitting me, girlfriend; seriously?"
"Yeah, I know...I should have done better," Kate replied, her eyes cast upon the table with a fair amount of self-imposed shame.
Mikki started quietly laughing, looking at Kate in wonder. "You're a trip, Kate."
"What? I didn't do as well as I wanted," she responded.
"Kate; seriously? A three-nine-one out of four, right?"
"Yeah," Kate replied with a smirk of discontent.
Mikki stared at Kate realizing there was no point pursuing Kate's under-estimated academic achievement. Mikki shook her head in amazement, then returned to the conversation.
"Okay; let me ask Jay what he thinks. Can it wait until tonight, after he gets home?" she asked.
"Sure, that's fine," Kate replied.
"Hey, Kate," Mikki paused "Please understand, Jay won't just turn off the switch on a sale, just because there are some problems. This may take a few days or even weeks, okay?" Mikki advised.
Kate nodded. She was happy for now that Mikki was going to get Jay's attention on her idea. The good news was, if there's trouble with the sale, nothing will happen to those buildings until a decision is made.
The days stretched on as Kate worked hand-in-hand with Mikki, tapping Tommy for input and advice, as needed. Her idea for the three buildings stalled, as the problems involving the sale stagnated for another few weeks. She learned that sometimes, nothing moves as quickly as needed in commercial real estate.
By mid-November, two independent soil tests did find small traces of chemicals in Section Five. The city had no records indicating chemicals were produced on the site, however, any records the city did store, were likely destroyed during the 1986 annex fire. After they learned about the fire possibly destroying records, one of Jay's team members went to the local paper and found several articles covering the plant's activities making insecticides during the war and pesticides afterwards.
Jay praised Kate's intuition and valuable insight. The city agreed to cover the small costs involved in toxic removal or abatement at the site, if needed. Jay and the city representatives chalked it up as an honest mistake, given the many decades that had passed since chemicals were present, combined with the fire. Further environmental tests concluded there was no danger and plans for the school proceeded.
With the holidays approaching, the project started slowing down, however, the demand for houses did not, as the growth of the city didn't take a break for holidays. Kate spent more time at home and at her agency's office focusing on residential sales.
Mark and Kate attended Jay's annual holiday party where Mark met Jay and Mikki for the first time. Mark and Jay hit it off as Jay found Mark's job with the hotel chain interesting; given Jay was into real estate and leasing. They also talked about golf and football. Jay was also an avid golfer and had a few business and personal connections within the NFL.
Kate and Mikki had grown closer to each other. There was no doubt Kate felt a deep connection with Mikki, but she still loved Mark very much. She still struggled with telling Mark about Mikki; about her bisexuality...a point of contention for Mikki. Mikki implored Kate to be honest with Mark. Mikki again cautioned her, if Mark discovered their affair, it might be more damaging than if Kate opened-up to Mark. Kate took her chances as time went on.
A week after Jay's company party, Mark threw some laundry into the wash. He found Kate on the treadmill. Mark held one of Kate's sweatshirts in his hand. Kate smiled at him as she jogged.
"Stop," Mark told her.
She took out her ear pods and looked at him.
"I said stop, Kate," Mark said with conviction.
Kate came to a stop with a puzzled look on her face.
Mark held up her sweatshirt. "Explain this, please," he instructed.
"What? Explain what, Mark?" she asked in confusion.
Mark tossed the sweatshirt at her face. "Why does this smell like chlorine?" he asked with concern.
The sweatshirt bounced off her face, onto the treadmill. "I don't know, Mark," she replied.
"Jay has a pool, right?" he asked.
"Yeah", Kate responded.
Mark paused, staring at her. "This is like the third time I've smelled chlorine on your clothes and not ONCE have I seen your bathing suit in the wash. What the fuck's going on?" He asked in a raised voice.
Kate knew Mark was highly upset as he rarely used the f-bomb; especially at her. She could have easily explained that her and Mikki are the same size and she wore one of Mikki's suits, but in a split second, she didn't want to go there.
"Mark, settle down, oh my God," she said nervously taking her towel from the hand rail and dabbing her face, standing on the machine.
Mark stared longer; silently. His stare turned into a menacing glare.
"Mark, really; please what's..." she tried to explain.
"I don't make enough money?" he interrupted. "You don't love me anymore? Do you fuck him in his pool or after you get out?" Mark asked, his anger rising with each question.
At that instant, Kate realized Mark assumed she was sleeping with Jay. While the gravity of the situation was indeed seriously perilous, Kate tried desperately to hide the growing concern on her face that Mark had totally missed with his assumption.
"What the FUCK, Kate! You're sleeping with your fuck'n boss, aren't you!" Mark accused, his voice near screaming.
Kate realized this was going downhill at the speed of a bullet. "No, Mark...no! Please, stop!" she tried to keep calm, stepping off the treadmill and grabbing Mark on both arms, looking deeply into his eyes, pushing him back a few steps. "Please, I'm not cheating on you with Jay. I promise, Mark...please, baby...please, trust me...please," she tried to kiss Mark but he pulled back.
Mark glared at her, trying to calm down; trying to assess her sincerity. Kate could only stare back at him. Silence filled the room.
Quietly, Mark opened up. "Something's going on, Kate. Almost as soon as you started working for Jay, I could tell you were a little different. You need to be honest with me starting right...fucking...now!" Jay said sternly, trying to keep a civil tone.
Kate's mind flooded with Mikki's warnings about Mark finding out. Kate knew this was the moment she had to put everything on the line with Mark. Kate sighed deeply and loudly, knowing the jig was up. She pointed to the living room where they could sit on the sofa.
Kate sat on the couch with Mark to her right. She tried to speak, then put her face in her hands and started to sob.
"I fuck'n knew it," Mark huffed. "Do you love him?" Mark asked with pain in his eyes.
Mark stared; Kate sobbed.
"You fucking BITCH! Answer ME!" Mark screamed.
