We sign where Fitch indicates, because what else can we do? I’m not happy about being popped into a pressure cooker. We sign and initial what seems like dozens of pages in the thick packet. By the time we’re done, I walk out of that office with operational control of everything my grandfather built and legal ownership of absolutely nothing.
Once we’re on the sidewalk, I say, “Twelve months. Can you believe that?”
“Yes. It sounds like a prudent financial move.”
“You would,” I say more snidely than I intended. “And my uncle, Cray, has to review the quarterlies. He’s not going to be happy about that.”
“Why not?”
“He married me off to you so he could wash his hands of this whole mess. He’s got his own businesses to manage and his club to run.”
“Need I ask where in the fuck he got a club name like Cray?”
“You’re a smart man,” I snap back. “I’m sure you probably can guess.”
He responds grimly, “Because whoever tagged him with the name thought he was crazy?”
“Yeah, he was one of the founders of Vulture’s Pride back in the day. Then he struck out on his own. It takes a lot to push the crazy out of him, but when someone does, he fights dirty.”
Mica gives me a strange little lopsided grin. “I’ll do my best to remember that.”
“You’d best do exactly that, because that old man could beat your ass with very little effort.”
His eyebrows fly up. “Do not taunt me like that. I’m a very competitive man.”
“That’s an issue for another day. Right now, I need to figure out how to meet the upcoming expenses of two businesses, hire new drivers, and I’ve got a contract renewal coming up.”
“The twenty percent clause is a problem,” Mica responds as we walk to my car.
I respond to his assessment, “You’re right. All it’s going to take is two underperforming quarters and I lose gramps’ legacy. I wonder how they are going to measure bad quarters against a baseline that hasn’t been established yet,” I say, still trying to get my head around the situation.
“They’ll likely calculate the baseline from the last twelve months of operating revenue. I’ve already pulled those numbers. Your margins are thin, but they’re consistent. You’d have to lose two major contracts simultaneously to hit twenty percent.”
Surprise rolls through my mind. “You pulled the numbers before this meeting.”
“Yes. I had a look at them last night.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know whether it was relevant information or not. I didn’t anticipate there being a performance clause.” Glancing away, he adds, “This situation has been stressful enough. I honestly didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily.”
I begin to tear up. This is either the sweetest thing anyone has done for me in months or Mica just being OCD.
“Do you think your uncle will become a problem?”
“Cray has never shown any interest in owning or running those businesses,” I tell him. “But he’ll be very interested in making sure I stay married for however long is necessary for him to wash his hands of this situation.”
“So, his interests and mine are aligned for once,” Mica says with a cute little smirk.
I squint my eyes at him, trying to decide if he’s flirting with me or just joking around to lighten the mood.
“It looks like you’re all mine for twelve whole months,” he says, sounding not a bit possessive.
He’s joking with me, so jump on board, “Maybe you’ve got it all backwards. Instead of me being yours, maybe you’re all mine.”
He just laughs. “At the very least, you have a new accountant and that’s not nothin’, sweetness.”
By this point we’re getting into my vehicle. “Let’s get food,” I say. “I concentrate better when I’ve got food in my belly.”
