minutes.
“Thank you, Bill , ” Etta said. “I think I speak for the board when I say we’re impressed with the work you’ve done. Your ability to juggle our various interests is truly amazing.”
Mark nodded and grinned. “Bill’s been out on the front line, that’s for sure. He spent last Tuesday in the Colorado legislature talking to our reps about legislation to fund Sylvia LaFever’s amazing study of climate change with regard to the beetle kill.”
Fay leaned in. “Get a plug in for your little pet. Disgusting.”
Etta kept her eyes on her agenda, crossing off items with a pen. “Yes. As Bill said. Thank you, Mark.”
“It’s cutting edge.” His eyes glittered as if placing a delectable feast in front of the board. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have her at the Trust.”
Etta didn’t respond.
Fay stood up. “Excuse me. If there’s nothing else you need from us, Bill, Thomas , and I will head back to work.”
“By all means.” Mark dismissed them.
Etta pushed back from the table. She and Fay embraced and agreed to meet at seven the following morning.
Amid thanks and goodbyes, the three walked out, abandoning Nora.
Nora’s heart jumped into her throat. One more moment to remain employed before she landed back on the streets.
“Excuse me, Etta,” Daniel Cubrero said.
They all turned to him.
“If I might, I’d like to bring up a topic not on the agenda but one that is dearest to my heart.”
Not a woman alive could say no to that man. Etta was no exception. “Of course.”
He paused and surveyed the board members in turn. “ El Oriente, or the Amazon B asin in Ecuador, as you know it.” He smiled at them. “It is under attack. The region of tropical rainforest is home to the most diverse collections of plant and animals in the world. A half-million indigenous peoples live there.”
No one moved. His voice caressed them and they loved it , Nora included.
“The big oil companies have discovered that the world’s last great oil field lies underneath this crucial environmental area. I would like the Trust to consider joining a coalition to save the rainf orest from these marauders.”
The way he said marauders made Nora want to be overrun.
The Birkenstock woman, obviously the trust-funder named Marion Dempsey, interrupted. “Didn’t the UN pay Ecuador billions to stop development of the rainforest?”
Daniel nodded. “Yes. But it isn’t enough. What if there is a disaster in Ecuador? If suddenly they have a tragedy like Haiti after the earthquake there in 2009? The government will acquiesce and allow the oil companies to drill and the rainforest will suffer.”
One of the back of heads — Nora guessed it belonged to the advertising exec, Bryson Bradshaw — said, “Doesn’t your family own World Petro? What do they think of you working on this initiative?”
Daniel’s smile would bring even a serious man like a banker to his knees. “We have held some very … lively … discussions about this. But my father ultimately agrees that this area must remain pristine. He is willing to donate one million dollars to set up a foundation for the rainforest protection.”
Etta must be a woman of steel because she sounded as if she might turn Daniel down. “We’re more of a local operation. Getting involved in Ecuador seems out of our league.”
He conceded. “Perhaps.”
The Santa man —Nora figured he must be the college prof essor named Willard Been — said, “If your father is donating a million dollars, why do we need to join?”
“Mostly to add prestige to the group. The more organizations joining the coalition, the more who will want to be a part of it. It can create a snowball, yes?”
Mark held up his hand, smiling like a stray dog in the pound, hoping someone would love him. “We’re running a little late. Why don’t we break for lunch before the finance report and come back refreshed?”
Etta cast a slight frown in his direction. She addressed the
“Thank you, Bill , ” Etta said. “I think I speak for the board when I say we’re impressed with the work you’ve done. Your ability to juggle our various interests is truly amazing.”
Mark nodded and grinned. “Bill’s been out on the front line, that’s for sure. He spent last Tuesday in the Colorado legislature talking to our reps about legislation to fund Sylvia LaFever’s amazing study of climate change with regard to the beetle kill.”
Fay leaned in. “Get a plug in for your little pet. Disgusting.”
Etta kept her eyes on her agenda, crossing off items with a pen. “Yes. As Bill said. Thank you, Mark.”
“It’s cutting edge.” His eyes glittered as if placing a delectable feast in front of the board. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have her at the Trust.”
Etta didn’t respond.
Fay stood up. “Excuse me. If there’s nothing else you need from us, Bill, Thomas , and I will head back to work.”
“By all means.” Mark dismissed them.
Etta pushed back from the table. She and Fay embraced and agreed to meet at seven the following morning.
Amid thanks and goodbyes, the three walked out, abandoning Nora.
Nora’s heart jumped into her throat. One more moment to remain employed before she landed back on the streets.
“Excuse me, Etta,” Daniel Cubrero said.
They all turned to him.
“If I might, I’d like to bring up a topic not on the agenda but one that is dearest to my heart.”
Not a woman alive could say no to that man. Etta was no exception. “Of course.”
He paused and surveyed the board members in turn. “ El Oriente, or the Amazon B asin in Ecuador, as you know it.” He smiled at them. “It is under attack. The region of tropical rainforest is home to the most diverse collections of plant and animals in the world. A half-million indigenous peoples live there.”
No one moved. His voice caressed them and they loved it , Nora included.
“The big oil companies have discovered that the world’s last great oil field lies underneath this crucial environmental area. I would like the Trust to consider joining a coalition to save the rainf orest from these marauders.”
The way he said marauders made Nora want to be overrun.
The Birkenstock woman, obviously the trust-funder named Marion Dempsey, interrupted. “Didn’t the UN pay Ecuador billions to stop development of the rainforest?”
Daniel nodded. “Yes. But it isn’t enough. What if there is a disaster in Ecuador? If suddenly they have a tragedy like Haiti after the earthquake there in 2009? The government will acquiesce and allow the oil companies to drill and the rainforest will suffer.”
One of the back of heads — Nora guessed it belonged to the advertising exec, Bryson Bradshaw — said, “Doesn’t your family own World Petro? What do they think of you working on this initiative?”
Daniel’s smile would bring even a serious man like a banker to his knees. “We have held some very … lively … discussions about this. But my father ultimately agrees that this area must remain pristine. He is willing to donate one million dollars to set up a foundation for the rainforest protection.”
Etta must be a woman of steel because she sounded as if she might turn Daniel down. “We’re more of a local operation. Getting involved in Ecuador seems out of our league.”
He conceded. “Perhaps.”
The Santa man —Nora figured he must be the college prof essor named Willard Been — said, “If your father is donating a million dollars, why do we need to join?”
“Mostly to add prestige to the group. The more organizations joining the coalition, the more who will want to be a part of it. It can create a snowball, yes?”
Mark held up his hand, smiling like a stray dog in the pound, hoping someone would love him. “We’re running a little late. Why don’t we break for lunch before the finance report and come back refreshed?”
Etta cast a slight frown in his direction. She addressed the
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