“Can’t it be just as simple as coincidence? It isn’t entirely crazy to think that a farmer would want to sell as much of their product, and by products, to stores. It’s kind of why we’re in this business. So the fact that you and I had the same idea to propose additional lines to our brands isn’t unheard of.” Having had enough time in this office that holds too many skeletons, I walk away and towards my newoffice.
She resigns, accepting my words as truth –which they are– and follows me out of the office. The way she stomps behind me tells me that her mood still hasn’t subsided and I need to do whatever I can to cool her anger.
“How do you know where I live?” I step into the kitchen and open a cabinet, taking out two glasses and setting them down.
“My dad. He has an entire file with all of your information.” Serena admits this somewhat timidly. “He likes you, you know. I can’t imagine why since you seem to dislike him so much.”
I fill the glasses with sweet tea and push one towards her. “I do not dislike your father. I respect him in the highest regard, but I don’t appreciate his attempts to take my land and business from me. The message seems to never sink in.” She takes the glass in her hand and sips on it, looking at me over the rim sheepishly. “What? What aren’t you saying?”
She takes her time with a slow drink and I look at her, an incredulous look of annoyance. When she places her glass down, she inhales deep and exhales worriedly.
“In the file, there’s uh…there’s more than just your address or meeting notes. Your f-finances are also in there and he ,” Her mouth moves as she chews on the inside of her cheek. “He could see that you are in trouble.”
My face pales and my heart stops. How did he get my information? Those aren’t public documents so the only place he could have gotten them from is someone in my circle. Any employee I’ve lost over the years has never left on bad terms. In fact, anyone who left was always told they could return. Their departure was usually due to low seasons or better offers. I’ve never held grudges because I understand the ebb and flow of farming, so I can’t imagine they would steal from me in that way. My personal documents.
There are but a few people who have access to my files over the past two decades and that includes my parents, my accountant, Aster (now that she’s a part of this) and…my ex wife.
“He was worried that you may lose your farm to a stranger or big corporation who would run it into the ground. All he’s ever wanted to do was save it from ruin. He loves San Saba and all of the farmers in this community. We are fortunate to have the ability to lend a helping hand when it’s needed.”
“He wasn’t offering a helping hand. He’s dead set on taking it. How do I know he wouldn’t run it into the ground. Sell it off for parts and profit off of my misery.”
“My father is not a heartless man,” she barks at me.
“No, that would be you.” Her face falls and I can tell I’ve gone too far. “I’m sorry. That’s out of line and I shouldn’t have said it.” She gives me a small nod and I continue. “What exactly was hisplan after taking my company from me? And how the hell did he get a hold of my finances?”
With a shrug she tells me, “I honestly have no idea how he got that information. He’s never said and I know for a fact that the information has never gone beyond he, Santi and I. My dad is neither dishonest or malicious and would never use something so private against you. As far as his plan…he wanted to revive your business and eventually sell it back to you. At no profit to him aside from what he gained from the crops. He planned to sell it back to you for what we paid.”
I study her face looking for deception, but all I find are flecks of gold and thick lashes that are like seductive fanning feathers, beckoning me to come closer. I blink and shake my head, telling myself she is not the one to be fantasizing over.
“I really don’t know what to say to all of that. I appreciate his concern but I will fix it myself. Starting with the new product line. And since we won the food contest, that will be easy. Most of the local grocers have already agreed to carry our ice cream.” I raise my brow with ahow do you like them apples…pecans?
She rubs her lips together –those coral colored plump lips– and nods her head. “And you have the equipment to mass produce it in a timely manner? And refrigeration system to store and trucks to transport?”
Her words stab me in the stomach like a jagged knife. I know I need those things as I have nothing of the sort aside from my kitchen and truck. I’ve been looking for equipment to help us out, but the prices are slightly out of our budget and will require me to obtain a loan. One that I don’t think we can afford. I had resigned to simply never sleeping and buying a large freezer until profits started rolling in.
“I’m looking into it. We have space in our storage to convert to a kitchen so it’s just a matter of filling it with equipment. The trucks will be provided by Queen Food. Their only requirementis that I provide the product ready to be shipped. They are the distributor so they don’t own the rights to produce the food in house.”
She looks down at her hands, contemplating what she’s going to say next, and I prepare myself for some type of barb.
“Would you be open to renting a space?” I knit my brows together and tilt my head, questioning her meaning. “We have a test kitchen that we’ve recently built with the same purpose. There is everything you would need to make your ice cream including a large walk-in freezer. We could rent it to you and write up a schedule so that we aren’t in the kitchen at the same time, fighting for space.”
“That would make it so much easier for you to steal my recipe, wouldn’t it?”
Her eyes narrow and her hand smacks the granite counter. “You know, despite what you think of us, ofme, I am genuinely offering help without any strings. I don’t want your recipe. I don’t steal. This is the helping hand I’m opening to you. My goal is to continue my father’s vision of the company, and that includes supporting our fellow farmers. If you don’t want to use it, then–”
“I’ll take it.” The words are out of my mouth before I can even really think. My stubborn will was pushed aside by the logical and rational part of my brain.
I know I can’t do this all on my own, and there isn’t one cent of extra money. Not having to spend twenty thousand for a working space has been the biggest worry sitting on my chest. As much as I hate to be at the mercy of a rival, but right now I really don’t have much of a choice. It’s time to either sink or swim.
She gives me a small smile, quickly getting it under control, and holds out her hand. “Okay then. Come by the office tomorrow and we can work out the terms. I promise not to takeadvantage of you. We will come to a fair agreement for both of us.”
Serena offers her hand to me and I shake it, but all I can think of is how I wish shewouldtake advantage of me. She wouldn’t have to try hard because I’m already on the edge.
9
SERENA
It’s been three weeks since I offered our kitchen to Burke for his operations and he and his daughters have been busy preparing large batches to be packaged and distributed. Because they are only in local stores, they are able to handle the orders on their own as it is a much smaller scale. But if they continue to grow, they will definitely look into their own space.
