“It’s not just being first for me,” Jack says. “It’s being able to do this right in my community. With the indoor farm, I’ll be able to supply the local restaurants, the local markets, even do direct sales. I’ll be feeding my friends and neighbors directly.” He leans in. “As a farmer, that means something to me. It gets to the heart of what we do. There will be no middleman. I get to shop and eat beside people I care about, knowing thatI’mfeeding them. Directly from my farm to their tables.” He shrugs. “I really like that. I’m guessing you would too.”
Eduardo studies Jack for a long moment. Then he nods. “I would like that.”
“And we can offer you the chance to give your customers even more variety than you do now,” I say.
Eduardo sighs.
“You’re going to be ahero,” I say. “Everyone will be talking about you. I’m sure your friends are trying to protect you, but new things don’t happen inside the comfort zone, Eduardo. You have to be bold. Be the one your friends come to for advice when you’re the local expert on green-energy-powered indoor farming. I know it’s big, but don’t be afraid of change. Be brave.”
He lifts a brow. Then he pushes back from the table. “If you’ll excuse me.”
He stands, takes his glass of wine, and leaves the room.
Oh.
I wasn’t expecting that.
Crap.
I look at Sofia first. “I really thought I’d read him right,” I say. I probably should just say I’m sorry. “I know he’s a leader here. I thought that would appeal to him.”
She nods. “No, you’re right. He is. And being someone others look up to is important to him.”
“I’m sorry that I insulted him.”
“I don’t think you did,” she said. “You just gave him more to think about.”
Damn, I hope so. I look at my brother. He toasts me with his glass. “Youget to call and tell Everett how it went.”
My heart does a little flip. I get to call Everett.
My boss.
About my first official business meeting.
And tell him that I might have upset the guy who weneedto finish this first farm.
Great.
Well…it’s his own fault. He should have been the one to come talk to Eduardo. Obviously.
I sigh and reach for my glass too.
Thirty minutes later,I settle back against the pillows propped on my headboard at the hotel. I want to call for room service first. We stayed and “finished” dinner at Sofia’s insistence, but I couldn’t eat much.
I kept hoping Eduardo would return to the table, but he never did.
Dammit. If I ruined this because I insulted the man’s ego…well, that’s annoying. Men’s egos are always annoying. But I will feel bad, of course.
I know I can still get five farms signed on in Sapphire Falls, but those farms are all smaller than the ones here. And we’ll still need fivemore. We’ll be starting from scratch. I’m sure if Eduardo pulls out, getting four more farms on board here will be impossible.
I take a deep breath and hit the button to dial Everett’s number.
He answers after one ring.
“Ginny?”
My stomach swoops at the sound of his voice simply saying my name. Oh, wow, I’ve missed him. Damn.
