Page 205 of Taken Away

Bennett's eyes remained on the proposal. "I think growth is easy."

Vanessa blinked.

That clearly wasn't the answer she'd expected.

Bennett continued. "Keeping quality while you're growing is the hard part."

Vanessa folded her hands. "You're assuming quality suffers."

"No." His voice remained calm. "I'm saying that's the risk."

Tension gathered around the table.

Lockwood. Walter. Bennett.

All saying different versions of the same thing.

Risk.

Vanessa turned to Aubrey. "We're talking about a controlled expansion."

Aubrey lowered her gaze to the numbers.

The projections were strong. So was the market research. The demand was already there.

This was the kind of proposal she'd approved dozens of times in Philadelphia.

Maybe hundreds.

Her gaze moved around the room.

Walter looked uncertain. Lockwood looked skeptical. Bennett looked thoughtful.

It felt like everyone was waiting to see whether she belonged here.

Whether Aubrey could make the call.

The feeling hit a nerve.

Aubrey sat straighter.

"I think we're letting fear drive this discussion."

No one moved.

Vanessa's eyes brightened.

Lockwood's expression didn't change.

Aubrey continued. "Every opportunity carries risk."

She turned directly to Lockwood.

"If Mabel had been afraid of risk, there wouldn't be a Blackwood at all.”

Aubrey pressed forward.

"The demand is there. The distribution network is there. The numbers support it."