Megan stared down her cousin. “Give us answers, Mayor.”
“I’ve given you answers.” Ramona’s response was brittle.
“And we’ve given you ours. We won’t sit on our hands as you bring New York lite to Trinity Falls.”
The reaction of the audience was even louder this time—cheers, applause and foot stomping.
Ramona banged her gavel again. “I warned you, didn’t I? I warned you. This meeting is now adjourned.”
Megan watched her cousin push away from the table and stalk from the assembly room via the rear exit. She returned to her seat to collect her handbag and coat. The hand that came to rest on her arm was Ean’s. She’d know his touch forever.
Ean’s palm slid from her shoulder to cup her elbow. “You were fantastic.”
Megan shook her head, nearly shaking with frustration. “No, I wasn’t.”
“The crowd disagrees with you. Did you hear them?”
“I didn’t get any answers. Instead, I brought the meeting to an end.” Megan blew out a breath.
“Ramona ended the meeting because she couldn’t handle you.” He used his hold on her arm to draw her closer to him and away from pedestrian traffic.
Darius shoved his pen and reporter’s notebook into his backpack. “Ean’s right. You had her on the ropes. This will make the front page of tomorrow’s Monitor.”
“Great.” Megan’s sarcasm was a mask for her unsettled nerves.
“I’m impressed.” Ean’s grin lent a mischievous light to his olive eyes. “You’re a natural leader.”
She blinked at him. “I don’t know about that, but you might be onto something. Maybe what we need is a better leader.”
Darius arched a brow at her. “What do—”
“Excuse me, Megan.” CeCe Roben’s voice interrupted them.
Megan gave her a questioning look. “CeCe, are you sure you’re allowed to fraternize with the enemy?”
CeCe’s chuckle sounded uncomfortable. “I don’t think of you as the enemy, Megan. I hope you don’t consider me one, either.”
Megan faced the councilwoman. She took a moment to regret the loss of Ean’s touch as his warmth dropped from her elbow. “You and the rest of the council are threatening my livelihood. How am I supposed to consider you?”
“I don’t agree with Ramona’s plan. I’m not the only council member who feels that way, either.” CeCe looked around as though searching for someone in the crowd. Was she worried Ramona had reentered the room?
CeCe’s confession didn’t make Megan feel better. “We elected you to represent our interests, CeCe, not to cave in to Ramona’s demands.”
“It’s not that easy.” CeCe’s blue eyes searched for understanding.
Megan didn’t give her any. “Why not?”
“Ramona is socially connected. If we cross her, she could use her connections to hurt our careers.”
“If you disagree with Ramona’s direction for Trinity Falls, why don’t you run against her?”
CeCe looked horrified. A blush warmed her translucent skin. “I couldn’t do that, Megan. I need my job. Serving on the council doesn’t pay enough to support me and my family. I’m truly sorry.”
Megan watched CeCe walk away. “I’m ashamed to admit that I understand CeCe’s reluctance to stand up to Ramona.”
Darius grunted. “So do I. She can be a bitch when you cross her.”
Ean helped Megan with her coat. “You found the courage to break the story about her plans for the center.”