“I want no part of it. We will not carry those products, and I want a top-to-bottom review of every supplier we use to ensure none of them are using companies like this. I won’t profit off the backs of men and women who have no choice in their employment.”
Nicholas pulled off his gloves. “Dad’s going to say that’s an expensive proposition.”
John finished snipping at the thorns and sat back in his chair. His gaze was shrewd when it met Nicholas’s. “What do you say?”
“It doesn’t matter what I say. I don’t own half the company.” He didn’t mean for his tone to be so testy, and he recalibrated immediately. “I mean, the ultimate decision is up to the two of you.”
“Which one of us do you think is right?”
Ha-ha. No. He wasn’t falling into that trap. Privately, he agreed with his grandfather, as he often did, but that was an opinion he’d take to his grave. The usual way he handled situations like this was to get both of their visions and then create a perfect compromise neither could wiggle out from. His thoughts were part and parcel of that compromise, but picking sides was a fool’s errand. He was Switzerland, a neutral party in this world war. “I’ll have to consider it some more.”
John harrumphed. “Fine. Consider it fast, though. This could blow up.”
In many ways, his grandfather understood public relations far better than his dad. “Yes, sir. I have people drafting a few different statements we can circulate to the media as well.”
“Good. Good.”
“I think once we come to a decision on this, we should come up with some general guidelines so we can handle these sorts of issues without needing to bother you. Or Dad,” Nicholas said.
John smirked. “Are you saying we micromanage you?”
Yes.“Our company has grown dramatically in a short period of time. It makes sense to periodically review all of our job responsibilities.”
“I swear, son. You got this diplomacy directly from your grandmother.” John removed his gardening gloves. “Very well. Speaking of your grandmother, I’ve sent Shel to you for a job.”
Nicholas racked his brain, but came up empty. “A cousin?”
“Barbara’s sister’s daughter’s niece. She’s in a tough spot.”
Nicholas didn’t bother to try to parse that connection. It didn’t matter how anyone was connected to him. If John said they were family, they were family. Besides, he’d probably recognize the girl when he saw her. “Fine. I’ll find her a place.” He came to his feet and dusted off his pants legs. “Is that all?”
“One more thing.”
“Yes?” Nicholas walked to the porch to grab his suit jacket.
“I want to see Livvy.”
It was a good thing Nicholas had his back to his grandfather, because it took him a second to control his expression. In the meantime, he pulled his jacket on, his brain racing. When he felt more composed, he turned to face his patiently waiting grandfather.
“I’m sorry—”
“Don’t feed me any bullshit,” John said bluntly. “I know she’s here.”
Nicholas didn’t bother to ask how John had found out. Though he mostly kept to himself now, in Rockville, John was larger than life. There were few people who he hadn’t affected in one way or another. “She’s here. I don’t know why you think I’d be able to arrange a meeting between you.”
“Don’t play dumb, Nicholas. I know you’ve seen her.”
“What makes you say that?” He was proud of how cool and controlled his voice sounded when he wanted to grab his grandfather and demandto know who had seen them together and where. They’d been careful. Had he been spotted at that hotel?
His blood ran to ice to think of what his father would think about that.
“Don’t worry about it. And relax, your dad doesn’t know you’ve seen her.”
Nicholas bit the inside of his cheek. “I don’t care whether Dad knows or not.” Look at that. He was even able to lie without betraying a hint of his inner disquiet.
John merely nodded. “I need you to do this for me, Nicholas.”
He stuck his hands in his pockets, not bothering to pretend any longer. “I don’t think I can arrange that. I’m not planning on seeing her again.” She wouldn’t want to see him. Generally, when a woman booked it after sex with a couple of terse messages, it was a pretty good sign she was done.
