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I booted my computer up and looked over the numbers. We were… comfortable, more than comfortable, actually. Our profits were the best they’d been in years, and I saw no reason why they wouldn’t stay that way.
With a heavy heart, I called Benji; the moment he picked up, I cut him off. “Come to my office, please. I need to run an idea by you.”
Half an hour later, papers scattered over my desk, and Benji was rubbing his face. “I mean, it’s all there, but—”
“We won’t take a hit,” I replied. “But I don’t know if they will oblige my request. Was there anything in their contract for a…I dunno, an escape, no-liability clause?”
“No, but there is this:advancementofexpenses, the Company shall advance the expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any proceeding, and such advancement shall be made within 20 days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances.It has been five days since we got the contract, and we have not sent an invoice, so hopefully, this can help us?”
I took the sheet and scanned it. “Hopefully—” then I looked at Benji. “Are you okay with this? I know it’s been a dream come true to have a contract like this, but—”
“Hey,” Benji shook his head. “I cannot tell you a damn thing about relationships and emotions and all that, but I do know the business, and if this is her only chance to get atop the ladder, then go for it. Hopefully, they’ll come around again with another contract for us.”
I sagged back in my seat. “You’re okay with my giving up the biggest contract of the century for a woman I don’t even know will reciprocate my feelings?”
“You gotta at least try, man,” Benji replied. “Now, I am going back to the tasting and keep the results, just in case you know.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, “Smart.”
When he left, I sighed, sat up, tapped my computer awake and again, and went to book a flight…to Texas.
ChapterNineteen
Ethan
Austin, Texas, was…hot. Probably not as hot as Houston, but the humidity made me crank the AC up to the maximum. I was heading to meet with Mr. Portman, and it was out of pocket for me—well, for anyone showing up to another’s place of business or home (where I understood he mostly worked from) unannounced.
I hadn’t even called ahead to find out if Mr. Portman was home or not, and I would fully understand if he kicked me out on my ass. I had to Google the directions to the Twisted Twines Ranch, and I took the long road. On either side of the double lane were sprawling lands with bulls everywhere.
I never felt culture shock before, but this…this stunned me. It was so far removed from the cool hills of Colorado that I was lost for words. I couldn’t fathom being in charge of such a large farm—no,ranch. I had enough trouble managing a 2500 sq foot Meadery, and I couldn’t even calculate how much land I’d passed and what it would take to control it.
As I got closer, I saw men on horseback, real cowboys, lassoing a big-ass bull and having him hog-tied on the ground in seconds—I had to slow down to watch. The only westerns I had been to were old movies on TV and maybe half an episode of Rawhide, but this was live.
“I’d be dead in two seconds,” I murmured. As I headed to the ranch house, I could see arching over the slight rise.
The house was not what I had expected—but whathadI expected? Ashack? The man was a billionaire; of course, he would have a three, four-story sprawling mansion.
I parked and sucked in a breath—this was risky. I didn’t know what I was doing—but I had to try. Mia deserved to take over her family’s winery, and I had the key to helping her do so; why not hand it over?
Do you realize that Mia never said they had not denied her flat out? It’s not an infinitive; there is a whole lot of space between them not contacting her again and them denying her. Could I have jumped the gun?
I reached for the folder on the passenger seat and stepped out, hoping my jeans and button-down were acceptable for an impromptu business meeting. I got to the porch and made to ring the bell when the door opened, and Ben, the guff cowboy who’d been a part of the trio I’d met, came stepping out.
He drew up short at seeing me. “Mister Vega?”
“Mister Hills,” I said. “I apologize for the sudden arrival, and I should have called first because that is simple decency, but I need to speak with Mister Portman. It’s an emergency.”
He plucked the hat off his head, “I see. I agree about calling first, but emergencies do come about without any sign. Hunter is here, but I’ll have to speak to him first. Wait here a moment?”
Relief washed right through me, and I turned to look around. God, this place was magnificent; I would never live there, though, but the splendor was not lost on me. The air was so clean, with no sign of the usual city smog. I smelled earth and trees and flowers.
Maybe a vacation house? For a short stay?
“Vega?” Ben said behind me. I turned to see him opening the door. “He’ll see you now.”
“Thank you,” I replied, then followed him up to an office.
When I stepped in, I saw a tall man, dark-haired, with sharp blue-green eyes…holding a little boy with fly-away hair, asleep on his shoulder. This could be the sick son Mia had mentioned.
