Chapter 53
Joe’s POV
The soft knock on my study door was followed by the all-too-familiar voice I’d come to associate with both order and manipulation.
“Come in,” I said without looking up.
Ivan entered, his signature leather folder under one arm. The thing looked older now, with edges frayed, the corners bent like he’d read it over a dozen times.
“The documents you requested,” he said, holding it out. “Mark’s company files.”
I took it without a word and flipped the cover open. The papers inside were well-prepared, no doubt scrubbed by professionals. Diagrams. Projections. Names I didn’t recognize.
“The building’s set for completion in four weeks,” Ivan began, standing beside me. “Mark’s parents are covering the entire investment. It’s meant to bring tech, trade, and roughly seven
