Chapter 16 - The Deal Falls ApartVoss’s financing bank learned about the easement during due diligence.
Then it learned about the litigation.
Then the public controversy.
Within three weeks, the bank suspended financing pending review.
Voss Harbor Partners missed a purchase deadline on an adjacent parcel.
Another property owner backed out.
The luxury marina plan collapsed first.
Then the hotel.
The development was not dead.
But the version requiring Cole Harbor Seafood was.
Voss offered the Coles $2.4 million.
Owen declined.
$2.8 million.
Declined.
$3.1 million.
Rosa looked at her husband.
“That’s a lot of money.”
“It is.”
They talked for two nights.
Not as heroes.
As business owners.
Parents.
People with debt.
Finally they made a decision.
They would not sell the market.
But they would negotiate a paid access arrangement for limited construction use if public pier access remained protected.
Rachel smiled.
“That is the first rational proposal anyone has made in months.”
Owen laughed.
Jayden asked, “So we work with them?”
Rosa shook her head.
“We protect ourselves while making a business decision.”
That distinction mattered.
May you like
Not every enemy had to be destroyed.
Sometimes the better victory was refusing to become reckless because someone else had been cruel.
