CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?”Bailey asked Landon, her gaze narrowed as she studied his features. “Jitters?”
He nodded. Bailey knew him so well. She’d easily picked up on his emotions. It was nice that they had grown so close in such a short period of time.
“Why am I so nervous?” Landon asked Bailey. “I’ve done dozens of presentations in my career, yet this one is nerve-racking.” He clenched and unclenched his fists at his side.
Bailey grabbed ahold of his hand and tightly squeezed it. “Well, this is new for you. You’ve never presented on behalf of the cider lab before and in front of Hattie.”
He sucked in a fortifying breath. “You’re right. Good thing is, I’m also excited.”
“Me too. I always get this little rush before a presentation,” Bailey admitted. “Let’s do this!”
“We’ve got this!” Landon said as he pushed open the doors to the conference room.
They walked into the room together as a united team, immediately greeting everyone at the table. Hattie, her executive team, Xavier, and Caleb were sitting in on the meeting along with Joann and Fritz. Landon noticed Fritz subtly giving them a thumbs-up sign. For the next half hour Landon presented the line, with Bailey acting as backup. He took the lead, and despite his initial nervousness, he quickly found his rhythm.
Now they were all waiting to hear Hattie’s verdict. Landon knew that Hattie wasn’t one to sugarcoat her opinions. If she thought the presentation had missed the mark, his grandmother wouldn’t hesitate to say it. He was actually more worried about Bailey’s feelings than his own. She had put her entire heart and soul into this line.
A hushed silence settled over the room after the presentation concluded. Landon was sitting at the table, crossing his fingers and toes.
“I’m very pleased with what you’ve come up with,” Hattie said as she swept her gaze around the conference table. Landon could see the signs of wear and tear in her demeanor. Being out and about had tired his grandmother, and although she was doing her best to stay alert and project a strong image, he saw right through it. “And I’m tickled and honored by the name you’ve given the holiday line.”
Hattie’s Holiday Cheer had been the name Landon, Bailey, and Fritz had come up with. They thought it fit the line perfectly and set the tone for a celebratory hard cider. Not to mention that it was a fitting tribute to the grande dame of Yukon Cider.
“We’re happy you’re pleased,” Landon said. “It was a labor of love.”
“Literally,” Hattie said, looking back and forth between him and Bailey while cackling.
Caleb chuckled loudly. “Good one, Grandmother,” he said.
“Landon, I think the cider lab is a perfect fit for you. Just as I imagined,” Hattie said. She was beaming. “Your team is the heart and soul of this company. We appreciate you.”
Hattie began clapping enthusiastically. The other executives followed suit.
“Thanks, everyone,” Hattie said, concluding the meeting. “Have a wonderful day,” she added with a slight wave of her hand. She seemed a little listless to him, lacking her signature vitality.
As everyone got up from the table, Jacques came forward and whispered something in Hattie’s ear. Landon sensed that he was acting with urgency. No doubt he’d observed that Hattie wasn’t up to being at Yukon Cider for much longer. Hattie waved her hand in the air and frowned at him. Jacques looked over at Landon and Bailey, beckoning them toward Hattie.
As soon as they reached her side, Hattie gifted them with a beatific smile. “The dynamic duo. What a wonderful pair you make.” She leaned closer. “And not just in a professional capacity either,” she whispered. “You really killed it.”
He and Bailey chuckled at Hattie’s use of slang.
“I think it’s time you said your goodbyes,” Jacques said, stepping forward and standing behind her wheelchair.
Joann stepped toward her team. “I’m very proud of all of you. This line is going to be spectacular,” she gushed.“Maybe award winning. Seeing Hattie so delighted is the biggest win of all.”
Landon agreed. Hattie was a tough customer, so earning her approval meant that they had hit this campaign out of the park. It felt so good to know that he’d finally been able to do something right.
“That couldn’t have gone any better,” Bailey said after Joann left, holding up her hand for a high five from Fritz. She then did the same to Landon.
“Thanks to the two of you,” Fritz said. “I’m sorry that I’ve been MIA. The flu really had me out of commission.”
“Don’t ever apologize for being sick,” Landon told him. “We’re just glad you’re back.”
“And that you were able to be here with us today,” Bailey added, giving Fritz a hug.
“Team cider lab for life,” Fritz said, snapping his fingers. “I better get back to the lab, since I’ll be playing catch-up for a while with my reports.”
