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I wouldn't want him to be a complete gentleman. Having a naughty side is one of his best qualities.
The day arrives, and we put on our best business outfits. I literally hold Hugh's hand while we walk into the building. But then he lets go, giving me a tight smile, and I know the anxiety has hit him again.
"You'll do fine," I whisper to him as we approach the desk occupied by Jenkins's executive assistant.
The young woman smiles at us. "Good morning, Lord Sommerleigh. And you must be Avery Hahn. I'm Megan."
Since we hadn't wanted to ambush Jenkins with my presence, Hugh had informed the man that his "business consultant" would accompany him.
Megan ushers us to the closed door to Jenkins's office and swings it open for us, waving for us to enter first. She leaves the door open as she grabs a notepad and pen from her desk, then follows us into the office, where she takes a seat near her boss.
Hugh and I don't sit down yet. First, we need to introduce ourselves.
But our host gets there first. The gray-haired man behind the desk gives us a polite smile as he stands to offer Hugh his hand. "Good afternoon, Lord Sommerleigh. It's a pleasure to see you again."
"Thank you," Hugh says while shaking the man's hand. "I appreciate you giving us a bit of your time."
Jenkins waves to the chairs. "Please, sit down."
And so the meeting begins.
Hugh gives our host a seemingly relaxed smile that matches his posture, but I notice the faintest wrinkles around his eyes that show how worried he really is. As much as I want to hug him, I can't do that during a business meeting. I'll wait until later to throw my arms around him.
"I know why you're here," Jenkins tells Hugh. "I imagine you saw the article."
"Yes. It suggested you might be on the verge of canceling our contract. Is that true?"
Jenkins clasps his hands on his desk and gazes down at them. "I'm afraid so."
My stomach drops like a stone, and I can only imagine how much Hugh must be freaking out on the inside. Outwardly, he still seems relaxed and professional. But those lines around his eyes have deepened.
"May I ask what changed your mind about Sommerleigh Sweets?" Hugh asks. "Our companies have enjoyed a prosperous and friendly partnership for many years."
We both know what made Jenkins change his mind, but Hugh has to ask.
Jenkins stares down at his hands for a moment in silence. Then he raises his head. "I want you to know that I don't judge my employees or my business associates based on how they conduct their personal lives. As long as they do their jobs well, the rest is none of my concern."
Oh yeah, I hear a "but" coming.
"Though you and I haven't had a great deal of personal contact," Jenkins continues, "I've always liked and respected you as a business owner and as a person."
Here it comes…
"But I can't be seen to condone your recent behavior." Jenkins sits back in his chair and exhales a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, Lord Sommerleigh. Yes, I am on the verge of deciding to cancel our contract with Sommerleigh Sweets."
Hugh clears his throat. "I understand. But perhaps you would give me a chance to explain."
"Not sure that would help. I've received complaints from certain peers who are pressuring me to sever my company's relationship with yours."
I can guess who those "peers" are—the Duke of Wackenbourne and his nasty friends.
"Whatever you've heard," Hugh says, "it's not entirely accurate. I don't claim to be a saint, but I would never do the things a certain someone has accused me of doing."
"Yes, I understand that. And your family has always been a strong business partner for us. But…" Jenkins scratches his cheek and glances out the window before looking at Hugh again. "In consideration of our long-term business relationship, I will take some time to mull over the issues. That's the best I can offer right now."
"And I appreciate that you're granting us that much. I could offer you a number of hefty inducements, but I'd much rather you reach a conclusion on your own."
"Thank you, Lord Sommerleigh. I will have an answer for you next week."
