Clearstream Utilities was a modest business: two technicians, one front desk clerk, and a system of pipes older than most marriages. But it had potential, and I intended to make it shine.
The first week I took over, I walked through the control room like a general inspecting his troops: every valve, every meter, every pressure gauge—I studied them all. My partner, Mark Reynolds, joined me that morning, sipping black coffee as we checked the dashboards.
"You sure about all this, José?" he asked. "Running a water company isn't like running a farm."
I grinned. "It's all the same, Mark: keep things flowing, fix leaks fast, and don't let parasites feed off your roots."
He chuckled. "You mean Sarah Murphy?"
"Exactly."
By now, Crescent Meadows was in chaos. Sarah's suspension had turned the HOA board into a battlefield: some residents wanted her gone permanently, others blamed me for ruining the neighborhood's image. But the truth was simple: they'd built their paradise on stolen ground, and now the bill had come due. The irony? I was about to make them pay legally for what they'd once stolen.
As the new owner, I met with county officials to revise the regional water distribution plan. We reclassified zones based on priority:
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Agricultural and emergency services: top priority.
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Residential essential use: moderate priority.
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Aesthetic or non-essential (fountains, lawns, and HOA vanity projects): restricted until the drought ended.
Every word was backed by regulation, sealed and signed by the county's drought management committee.
The next day, my company issued new contracts. For most people, it didn't change much. But for Crescent Meadows, the fine print hit like a hammer: their water rate doubled, their flow quota was cut in half, and their request for beautification exemptions was denied. I knew Sarah would read that clause and choke on her lemon water.
Sure enough, the following week, I received a letter written in her signature passive-aggressive tone:
"To Whom It May Concern, it has come to our attention that Crescent Meadows HOA has been unfairly targeted under new water regulations. Our community is a model of excellence, and we refuse to be punished for our success. Please reconsider this discriminatory policy immediately. Respectfully, Sarah Murphy, HOA President (Suspended)."
I forwarded the email to Mark and typed a short reply:
Dear Mrs. Murphy, your community is indeed a model of what happens when arrogance meets reality. Enjoy your restricted flow. Sincerely, the guy who owns the faucet.
Of course, I never sent that version. Jolene wrote a proper one with legal jargon instead, but oh, I wanted to.