AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Thank you. It's almost time."
"I know. I'll see you in a few."
"Okay, bye," I spoke softly and waved at the camera before hanging up the phone.
He was there with friends, and they had changed their plans so that he could be at the meeting with me. I was so thankful that it made me feel like crying, and I quickly stared at the ceiling.
Chapter 17
It was a few minutes later when I turned on the screen and made sure everything lined up in the background. I joined the waiting area for the call with a few minutes to spare. I walked over to my window and glanced out of it. I could see woods but no lake. I had to walk around the corner of the house if I wanted to see the lake. I paced in the apartment and found things to rearrange in the background of my camera shot. Within minutes, I got a notification saying that Mori Inc. was requesting to join the video call with me.
My chest was hot and humming with nerves, and I tried on a smile and straightened my shoulders. One deep breath, and I pressed the button to answer.
"Hello, Holland?" It was only one person on the screen—a young man I didn't recognize.
"I am calling on behalf of Mr. Mori. We will be joining their meeting in a few seconds. I just wanted to make sure we are online. Can you hear me properly?"
"Yes, I can," I replied, speaking clearly, sitting up straight.
"Excellent," he said. "Have you looked over the legal documents we sent you? They are straightforward."
"Yes, I looked them over, and it all looks fine." I took a deep breath.
Max Morgan, the owner of the lake house and Beau's uncle, read it with me. He and Casey had come back to the lake house this week and they both took a look at the papers and told me it looked like a fair deal for both parties. I had the paper contract printed out and sitting in a folder on the desk. I figured they would ask me to sign digitally, but I printed paper copies just in case.
The man on the screen touched his ear as if he was listening to something in an earpiece.
"Okay, I've got word that I can connect you now. Good luck Ms. MacArthur and congratulations."
He bowed to me and then pressed a button to transfer my video feed to a different room. I saw a conference table, and there seemed to be four or five people sitting around one end of it. I focused on the guy at the center, sitting at the head of the table. He was Japanese. My eyes roamed across the faces toward the right, and then quickly panning left. Two women, three men, and none of them were Beau. I did not see Beau.
But my heart was pounding and I smiled and glanced at the guy sitting at the center again. "Hello," I said with a small nod toward the screen.
"Hello, Holland, how are you?" The man spoke with very little accent.
"I'm fine, thank you," I said. "I’m excited."
"Oh, wonderful. It's going to be an enjoyable venture. My father's favorite business ventures are the ones he enjoys."
"Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity."
It was probably a little early to be thanking him, but I couldn't help myself. He smiled and nodded.
"These are some of the people who will be helping to explain the terms of the contract. We will sign and witness here today, and then get started on setting up manufacturing. We will set up a small facility and begin producing within the next few months. We added an anticipated start date to the contract."
"That sounds great," I said.
"Okay, well, if you're ready to sign… I believe Beau Cameron will be joining us for that part. He'll be our witness. There he is now. Hello, Beau. Come on in."
I was relieved that he finally got around to bringing Beau in. I had expected him to be there from the start. As he spoke, I saw Beau come into the screen. I smiled and regarded him blankly, taking in his handsome face, his smile, as he walked toward the screen. I was so thankful to see him—so thankful he was there. I stared at the screen, smiling over my shoulder.
Where?
Over my...
Oh, my.
Here.
