Dax was so happy that he had the majority in his vote to build the houses. But he couldn't go headlong into the project, after all the mistakes he made. He put on a brave face knowing that he was doing this for a good cause.He read the newspaper in hopes of finding something new about himself, his chest tightened at the news of the poor sales report on Haven Homestead and then another that made him turn pale as a ghost.Dax got a call from Allora Hills, he rolled his eyes. He heard the door click open."Who is it?" He roared and his voice echoed in the large room.Shannon entered, she had arrived too for lessons. But she had something on her mind to talk to Dax about."Oh Shannon, it's 2:55PM." He checked his watch."Dax, we need to talk." She said. "The news report.""I have a function to attend at 3PM." He said. "Look, this is important. I can't let this_" Allora walked towards him accompanied by her in-laws, Celina and Martin Hills. "What's going on? Did I invite you three?""Oh

He ran on the treadmill, feeling his muscles burning and his heart thudding against his chest and ears, the sound of his heavy breathing in the gym and the this of his sneakers against the treadmill conveyor belt, he reached a stage where he could no longer go on and running felt like a distraction. He slipped and stayed on the floor staring at his black sneakers, seeing and feeling the sweat trickle down his arms to his fingers and the sound of the drops dropping on the hard ground. The floor was cool against the balls of his palms.Dax brushed his eyes clenching his teeth, the past lingered around his head, one voice telling him that he couldn't live without Allora. He took a deep breath trying to ground himself by setting his sights on the mirrors around him, the gym equipment with the lights bouncing off the shiny leather. He felt like he almost drowned and had to come up for air, from the way he was huffing and puffing. He clutched his hair now in a dilemma. The texture of his ha

"Do you want to have dinner with me?" He asked, his voice filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty. And as he waited for her response, the air seemed charged with possibilities.Shannon didn't look the least impressed. She was good but he looked like he had not had dinner. "No Dax but you look like you could use it." Dax watched her leave. Gratitude welled up within him. Gratitude for having a friend like Shannon, someone who was there not just in the good times but also during the trying moments. Her rejection, in this light, felt like a reaffirmation of their friendship, a reminder that he had someone who truly looked out for him.Respect filled his thoughts as well. He respected Shannon's boundaries and her decision to prioritize his health over a simple dinner. Her honesty was something he cherished, a testament to the strength of their connection.Yet, there lingered a touch of apprehension. As he nodded in understanding, Dax couldn't help but feel the weight of his responsibili

Dax scoffed, the powerful forces at play could be the wealthy were against the agenda and chose to stick to the status quo. Because they were benefiting from the current situation or the politicians.His heart pumped when he thought about the loan sharks. It was undeniable that their customer base would lessen if he continued with this project. Dax lifted his chin facing Councilman Smith, he knew he meant well when he spoke out to him."I'm sorry but the people are counting on me. The people can't continue like this and I must ensure that there's solidarity. I won't be a puppet for the government either."...Dax sat at his desk, his sleeves made zipping noises as he rolled them up to get some work done. He stroked his chin briefly thinking deeply about with Councilman Smith had said. Each time he addressed it, there was a mounting headache.He studied the proposal from SilverStone Construction. He was eager to get the project moving forward and believed they could do the job efficien

Octavian continued, his tone dripping with accusation. "Dax has made promises, grand promises about this project, but what he's not telling you is the truth. The truth about how this project will burden us with debts for generations. The truth about the shortcuts he's taken to cut costs."Gasps spread through the crowd. Octavian's accusations were carefully crafted to cast doubt on Dax's integrity and the project's viability."I have evidence," Octavian declared, holding up a stack of documents. "Documents that reveal the financial irresponsibility behind this project. I have bystanders who can testify to the corners that have been cut."Dax's face paled as he attempted to defend himself, but Octavian had strategically chosen this moment, knowing that Dax wouldn't be able to provide an immediate response.The crowd began to murmur, some people nodding in agreement with Octavian, while others remained loyal to Dax. The atmosphere had turned volatile, and Dax could feel the weight of Oct