Eyes turned to me and Valerie.“I don’t know.”I didn’t.I’d never been in a situation like this.That was John’s decision.“From what we’ve learned this week, the owner, Fred, had no idea what was going on.”I broke off as the server walked up.We all ordered food and drinks.
“How could he not?”Marcus asked.
“Fred didn’t review the books very often, and when he did, everything looked good to him.He was the owner and left things up to his team.As for the substandard material, he was beginning to get suspicious.I think that’s why he was so nervous when Valerie and I visited, especially after we pointed it out.But he hadn’t done anything about it, yet.”
“So Rustic is no more,” Josh sighed.“We’ll have to find another company.”
“About that.”All eyes turned to Valerie, including mine.“I did some digging, and I found a company that might work for you guys.”
“What?”Josh looked shocked.
“I know I’m not as familiar with what you guys need or do, but I started looking around.There’s a company call Lilly’s.They mainly do custom work.I checked out their work online, and I think they might fit.”She pulled up their website on her phone and handed it to Josh.
Josh huddled with Dean as they scrolled through the website.
“They’re pretty new, but they might be willing to do some sort of partnership or make what you need and sell it to you rather than rent it.That was the original plan, wasn’t it?”
Shock ran though me.She’d researched a company to replace Rustic?That was unexpected.
Josh handed her phone to Miles and said, “What do you think?”
“Why are you asking me?John would be the one to talk with.”Miles glanced at the screen.“This does look promising.”
“Let me see.”Marcus held out his hand.When he had the phone, he scrolled through.“Wait a second.I know the owner.”
“You do?”Cassie asked.
“Yeah.We met up at an engineering get-together a little over a year ago.I think I still have his business card.He was just starting out making custom furniture.We need to talk to John.”
Reaching over, I took Valerie’s phone from Marcus and stared at the screen.“You are fantastic,” I whispered to Valerie.
“Sounds like a good thing I was invited tonight,” John said, coming up to the group.
“We weren’t sure you were going to make it,” Asher said, standing to snag another chair for John.
“I couldn’t miss Valerie’s last night.You saved my company a lot of heartache and at great risk,” John said, sitting down.
“I did my job.”Her voice was quiet.
“So, what was everyone so excited about?”John asked.
I handed Valerie’s phone to John while Josh and Dean explained what Valerie had found.She fiddled with her iced tea.
“Are you okay?”I asked softly.
“Fine.It’s everyone reaction.I’m a bit puzzled.”
“About what?”
“My father is the cause of Fantasies, Inc.losing out on buying Rustic, and no one seems to care.”
“You’re not your father.”
Valerie tilted her head and stared at me.
“Everyone here knows you did what your moral and ethical standards told you to do.Yes, he’s your father, but you’re nothing like him or any other member of your family.You’ve carved out your own life and on your terms.”Couldn’t she see that?
“I didn’t think about it like that.”
