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CHAPTER 1
Niko Rio
“ I assure you that your order is getting shipped today, and you will have it by the end of the week. I’ll personally see to it.” I said, frustrated that this was the third time this customer had to inquire about the same thing. This was getting out of control, and I needed to get back to the plant to find out what the hell was going on.
“Mr. Rio, I do business with your company because you make the best Teakwood furniture, but if you can’t deliver it on time, then I will need to take my account elsewhere,” he warned.
“Understood,” I replied before he ended the call.
This wasn’t an empty threat. Mr. Baker meant it. His wasn’t our largest account, but any negative review could damage our reputation. It wouldn’t take long for other companies to start looking elsewhere too. I’d worked too damn hard at building such a large clientele, to sit back and watch it all crumble. I had a lot more than just myself to worry about. My factory employedseventy-five skilled craftsmen who counted on me to earn a fair wage.If I go under, so do they.
Mr. Baker had no idea what Tabiqian people had been through. If he did, maybe he wouldn't have threatened to pull his business. But this wasn’t on him. This was on me. I’m the one who wasn’t overseeing things as well as I should be. That needed to change.
I had proactively placed a call to the factory earlier today and confirmed that Mr. Baker's order was being shipped today. As it had been for the past week, my manager Trye Mayas seemed to be too busy to take my call. Busy was good, if he was doing what I needed him to do, overseeing the factory. But my gut said that wasn’t the case and he was avoiding me.
There was no way he didn’t know I was pissed. I’d pretty much sent him a text message a week ago telling him that. Was it unprofessional that I had threatened him to either get his shit together, or he’d be replaced? Yeah. Half of me meant it but what I was trying to actually do was motivate him. Trye had been an amazing manager. Not so much lately. I knew his workload, like mine, had changed. Trye never said he couldn’t handle it. Even his response to my warning was that he would do better. It was evident that Trye might be trying, but he surely wasn’t succeeding.
Even though it was late in Tabiq, and everyone would’ve gone home, I knew Trye would be there preparing for tomorrow’s workload. At least that was what I hoped, since that was what I paid him for. His office phone went to voicemail. So did his cell phone. I wasn’t going to leave him another message. No point. What needed to be said, had to be said in person.
It was only about a six-hour flight from Dubai, but I needed to charter a jet,and that made it more challenging. Commercial flights weren’t allowed to fly into Tabiq. The airport had been upgraded over the years and handled cargo jets coming andgoing. Yet President O’Connor refused to allow any commercial flights. Anyone coming to Tabiq was closely monitored. I got it. My country had a past that no one was proud of. As president, she was doing what she could to ensure that mistakes weren’t repeated. But when it came to running an international business, it complicated things.
As though the universe had taken pity on me, my phone rang, and it was Dean Henderson. He wasn’t my partner, but he had given me a loan to start my business. I still didn’t understand why he did, but I am grateful that he did. I’d repaid every penny, so I had no idea why he was calling.
Answering, I said, “Hey, Dean. What can I do for you?”
“I heard you’re in Dubai. So am I. Do you want to get together for a drink?” he asked.
Not sure how he heard I was here, but I hadn’t made it a secret. I was here to sell my product. I suspected Dean was doing the same. But from now on, I’d need to keep my whereabouts a little quieter. Not that I had anything to hide, I didn’t like anyone tracking my movements for any reason.
“I’d love to, but I’m busy.”
“Meeting with a client?” he questioned.
No point in lying. "Trying to charter a flight and head back to Tabiq.”
“How soon do you need to be in Tabiq? I’m in Dubai on business and have a meeting in the morning, but I was planning on flying out shortly after,” he said.
He didn’t reside there. From what I knew, he and his wife Tessa lived outside of Boston somewhere. I’d traveled to the US several times, mostly to Boston, New York, and California. Not once had Dean extended an invitation to his home, even when he knew I was in the States. We were socially polite, but I wouldn’t call us friends.
“You’re going to Tabiq?” I asked. Since his family owned and ran the only resort in Tabiq, I shouldn't be surprised that he was going there. But I had a feeling there was more to it than that.
“Wasn’t planning on it,” he said.As I thought. “I wouldn’t mind stopping in and visiting with my brother Alex. We had seen each other for Christmas and discussed a new business venture. I probably should follow up with him before he changes his mind.”
It was common knowledge that the Henderson family had all traveled for a family reunion. I couldn’t picture them all sitting around a Christmas tree without talking business. Dean's comment confirmed my suspicions. No matter how hard they tried, or what the circumstance, they were all about business. I understood that. It was the one thing the Hendersons and I had in common. We were all driven and hard-working.
I wanted to ask what type of business, but I knew enough about Dean to know that he wasn’t going to share any more than he had. He also knew that he’d planted a seed to pique my interest. It worked.
Even if I reached out for a charter plane elsewhere, the odds of leaving tonight were slim. Most likely, sometime tomorrow, that too in the evening. Taking Dean up on his offer made the most sense and with any luck, it’d give us time to discuss some business ventures of our own. Not that I wanted a partner, but if I was going to take my business to the next level, I would be needing someone I could count on. Trye clearly wasn’t that person.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to join you on that flight.”
“And how about that drink?” he asked.
“Sure. My lobby has a great bar. Thirty minutes?” I suggested.
“Perfect. It will give me a chance to call Tessa and let her know about my change of plans.”
He ended the call. Before I could slip my phone into my pocket, it vibrated announcing a text message. The ID said it was Trye.
