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Cameron nodded. “Well done. How did you manage that? I’ve been trying to get the two of them to sit down and talk about it for months.”
Grant smiled. “It’s easier for me. I’m not family. I’m being paid to do a job, and I refuse to start that job until everyone’s clear about what exactly it is.”
“Good. I hope they can finally get their heads together and figure it out.”
“I hope so, too. Even though it may mean that my services aren’t required.”
“From what I understand, Chelsea needs some help getting straightened out, even if dad allows her to keep doing what she’s doing,” said Cameron. He met Grant’s gaze. “And if it does turn out to be a short job, there’s still more you could do around here. I have a couple of divisions where I could use an outside eye to help me identify areas we could improve.”
Grant smiled. “I’d love to help.”
Cameron checked his watch. “How long have you got?”
“I’m free till two.”
“Great. Come on in to my office. We’ll talk about it.”
Grant smiled at Mary Ellen as he followed Cameron. She narrowed her eyes at him, but at least seemed less hostile than she had at first.
~ ~ ~
Chelsea blew out a sigh and placed her elbows on the table. She folded her hands together and rested her chin on them. “We’re not getting anywhere, Dad. We’re just going around and around in circles. I know what you want; I don’t agree that it’s the right way. You know what I want, and you don’t agree.”
He mirrored her gesture, placing his chin on his own hands and gave her a sad smile. “I know, buttercup.”
That made her smile. She took a hanky out of her pocket and waved it like a white flag. “Can we call a truce and try to thrash out some kind of compromise?”
“We can try.”
It took an hour and a half, but they finally came up with a compromise she could live with.
Her dad smiled. “I know you don’t like it much, but it’s for the best.”
She nodded. “I know you believe that, and I also know that you’ve got more years’ experience in this business than I’ve been alive. So, contrary to what you think, I’m fine to bow to your wisdom—as long as we stick to our agreement.”
“We will. You know my word is my bond.”
“I do. So, for the next three months I’ll suck it up and do as much as I can your way, but you know full well that I’m just biding my time.”
“Of course, I do. You think that you can just ride out the time and pay lip service while Grant is here and that you’ll then be able to go back to your way.”
She raised her eyebrows at him with a smile.
“If Zosca is going to remain a part of Hamilton-Groves, it needs to turn a profit.”
“It does.” She stopped herself, there was no point getting defensive. “And I know the profit margins could be higher than they are, but that would mean making cuts in areas I don’t want to cut.”
Her father nodded. “So, for the next three months, we will assess exactly what those areas are, and what cuts and efficiencies could be made. After that time, we’ll have enough data to know.”
“We will, but I think we already know what conclusion we’ll reach, don’t you?”
“I do. We’ll find ourselves in the same position we are now, only with facts to back it up. The winery could be run more efficiently for greater profit—but you don’t want to because you don’t see profit as the ultimate goal.”
She nodded. “It is a goal. Obviously, it’s a necessity, but it’s not my only goal or the most important one.” She was glad her dad finally understood that.
“That’s all fine and dandy, and in some ways admirable, but …” He shook his head. “It’s not what the business is about.”
“But it can be.”
