“Oh, sure. You’re the best. That’s why I’m sending you. Because this could be the most important trade show ever for this company.”
“Really? I thought things were going well here at the company. Why is this so important?” Mason had seen the quarterly financials for the company, and everything was fine. But he wondered whether maybe there was something the higher-ups knew that they weren’t telling everyone else.
“Oh, sure. Things are good. And we want to keep them that way.” Brad leaned forward and lowered his voice. “We need to find out exactly what Bursting Blooms is doing. If you get my drift.”
“I’m not sure I do get your drift, Brad.” Mason shifted in his seat, starting to feel very uncomfortable. “Ginger is working on perfecting our rosebush fertilizer formula.”
“I know. And she’s doing a fine job. It’s just that we’re losing market share rapidly in that sector.”
“Well, I’m sure she’ll come through. And besides, we have good market share in all the others sectors, don’t we?” Mason was surprised to discover he really wasn’t alarmed about losing market share. In fact, he wasn’t as concerned about the company’s financial health as he used to be.
Maybe that was because he was seeing Brad’s office and the corporate headquarters in a different light after being in Pinecone Falls. He used to think the big corner office was impressive. But today, it looked pretentious and stale. The giant mahogany desk, the big leather chair, the sectional sofa in the corner behind the glass-and-steel coffee table, the beverage fridge beside the black walnut credenza… the view of the smog-filled city out the window.
“We need something a little bit more,” Brad said.
Mason’s gaze returned to his boss. “I’m not sure exactly what you mean. I’m going to go do my best, setting up the booth as I always do and chatting up the customers. What more could I do?”
Brad leaned back in his chair. “Well, let’s just say maybe there are some things that could be done that might put our booth in a better light than Bursting Blooms’.”
“We have a great display already, and I think it’s better than theirs.” Mason should know, as he’d designed it himself.
Brad leaned forward and glanced to the right as if double-checking that someone else who could overhear hadn’t magically appeared in the room. “I’m not talking about the display. I’m talking about maybe working things so that their booth doesn’t come out exactly the way they planned.”
Had Mason just heard that right? Was he talking about sabotage? “I’m not sure I get your drift.”
“I don’t mean anything underhanded… well, not too much. I mean, maybe if somebody tripped over some of the lighting back behind the booths or fell and damaged a display...”
“That sounds dishonest, and I don’t roll that way.” Anger bubbled up in Mason’s chest. Did Brad actually think he could pressure him to do something unethical? Apparently, those rumors that Mason hadn’t wanted to believe about Brad were true.
“There’s a promotion in it for you.” Brad looked him directly in the eye, and the meaning was clear.
Something changed in Mason as if a switch had been flipped. Or maybe this had been coming for a while. The corporate life was getting old. He was tired of the constant travel, the stressful, smoggy city, his tiny apartment, and never being home enough to develop close ties with the few friends he’d managed to make in the city. When he’d been with his dad in Pinecone Falls, he’d been so much more relaxed and happy. The fresh, crisp air and slow pace of small-town Vermont had grown on him.
Brad had said the company needed more, and Mason did too. He needed more time to himself. More time for the things that were important, like his father. Maybe he really did need to find a good place to settle down. His father would be happy about that. But what he didn’t need was pressure and bribes from his boss. He didn’t need this job.
Mason stood. “Brad, I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can do what you’re asking. In fact, I don’t think I can work here anymore.”
Brad shot out of his chair, holding his hands out in front of him. “Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. You don’t have to do anything. I was just feeling you out. You can’t just quit like this. The big trade show is coming.”
Mason looked at him and shook his head. He knew Brad would get someone else to sabotage the booth. There were plenty of guys clamoring to get his job. “Sorry, Brad. I just can’t do this anymore. I’m going home.”
Chapter 25
The trees weren’t getting any better. At least, that was Kristen’s observation when she visited the tree farm with her brother early the next morning.
“Give it time.” Ethan tried to sound optimistic, but the strain on his face revealed he didn’t think it was working either. “We still have a week before people start clamoring for trees.”
Kristen had walked through the rows of neatly growing blue spruces, balsams, and Norwegian firs. The balsam fir, with its heavy pine fragrance and dark-green needles, was the overwhelming favorite. Unfortunately, those trees were having the most issues.
“Maybe people will want to stick with blue spruces this year. We could offer a discount.” She tried to sound optimistic but knew that people would want the balsams.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get it fixed. I applied one of Dad’s special concoctions last night.” Ethan glanced over at the affected trees. “See? They look better already.”
Kristen wasn’t so sure about that, but she didn’t want to bring Ethan down, so she acted just as optimistic as he was trying to sound.
She trudged back to the house, plastering a smile on her face as she walked into the kitchen because she didn’t want her mother to worry.
“How are things out there?” Dorothy asked.
