Blackstone had immediately filed motions challenging my water rights documentation, claiming the 1923 agreements were archaic and superseded by modern zoning law. They'd also requested an emergency hearing to have my injunction dissolved, arguing that I posed an environmental threat to the lake ecosystem.
But Linda's desperation was showing in other ways, too. Word around town was that she'd been making calls to resort investors, spinning wild stories about my "terrorist threats" and plans to sabotage the development. The paranoia was getting to her.
Thursday evening, she called her own emergency HOA meeting. The agenda was simple: declare me a clear and present danger to community safety and authorize all necessary measures to protect the resort investment.
I walked into that meeting with Patricia, Frank, and a folder full of documents that could end Linda's reign permanently. The community center reeked of nervous sweat and cheap cologne. Linda's supporters had clearly been working overtime to pack the room with their allies.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I said, standing up during the public comment period, "I'd like to present a final proposal for resolving this dispute."
I spread my water rights documentation across the table, followed by the resort's loan agreements and Linda's financial irregularities.
"I keep my bridge as a historically protected structure. In exchange, I guarantee minimum water levels for resort operations and support architectural review for all new construction."
The room went dead silent. You could practically hear Linda's brain processing what she was seeing.
"This is extortion!" she finally hissed. "You're threatening to destroy a $4 million investment because you can't follow simple community rules!"
Patricia stood up smoothly. "Mrs. Prescott, my client isn't threatening anything. He's offering to guarantee your water supply in exchange for respecting his grandfathered property rights. That's called negotiation."
Linda's face turned the color of boiled lobster. "I don't negotiate with terrorists! This board will not be held hostage by environmental extremism!"
That's when Frank Wilson cleared his throat. "Ma'am, with respect, Jake's got legal authority over secondary water management that predates your development by eighty years. This isn't extremism; it's property law."
The vote was swift and predictable. Linda's board rejected the compromise six to two, with only Mrs. Chen and old Mr. Patterson supporting negotiation. Linda seemed to think she'd won some kind of victory.