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“I wish you could, but we both know that you need to get back out there to sell the furniture, or the business will decline and close.” He’d done so much to build it back up and we were finallyon track with deliveries after the new hires were trained. But we needed new orders.
“Do you remember me meeting with Dean Henderson?”
“I do.” I will never forget that day. I accused Niko of so many things. All of them had been wrong.
“We were talking about ways to grow and market this business. What I need is a business partner.”
“And that is going to be Dean?” I asked. I didn’t want someone like Dean trying to control a business that Niko put all his heart and soul into.
“No. I was thinking more along the lines of your father.”
“My father? Your partner?” He nodded.
“I have been doing a lot of thinking since I returned to Tabiq.”
“About what?” I asked.
“I’ve made my share of mistakes. And I’ve forgotten how this business even started. It wasn’t all me. A woman named Robin had seen the potential of teakwood. She and her husband, James Burke opened the door for the business. It’s just that neither of them was from Tabiq, and it was hard for them to gain the trust of our people so it made it impossible for them to get the business where they had dreamt it would go. When I decided to return to Tabiq, that company was struggling. Mostly because of not being able to find the right craftsmen. They agreed to sell it to me as long as I didn’t close the doors. They wanted it to thrive and grow. Do you know how that happened?” he asked me.
“Hard work? Long hours?” I said.
“Yes, to both. But there was another key piece. Your father knew exactly who to hire. He was the missing piece that would ensure that the factory ran smoothly. Together, he and I built this business from just a few people to now a hundred,” he stated.
That was great, but he was forgetting one important piece. “Niko, he doesn’t even work for you anymore. And the last time I spoke to him, he was okay with that. What makes you think he would want the job back?” I would love it if he did.
He looked as though he had something very important to say and wasn’t sure how to. After all that we’d been through today, things I’d said to him, he should feel comfortable saying whatever was on his mind. Before I could prod him along, he finally replied.
“I’ve spoken to your father a couple of times over the past few months. He’s ready to come back,” he said.
“He has been talking to you and not me?” I said, stunned, and angry.Yeah. I can see now why you didn’t want to tell me.I had been so worried about my father. Why would Niko keep this a secret?
“There are reasons for that. I’ll let him tell you all about that himself. But when he does, please do me a favor. Don’t judge him. Just listen and know that everything he has done is because he loves you.”
“And he has told you that too?” I questioned.
“On many occasions. You are lucky to have him as your father. He’s not perfect, then again, no one is. Definitely not me.”
“Nor me,” I said.
“Never doubt that he loves you. And so do I,” Niko said.
“And I love you, Niko. I have no idea why you haven’t told me about knowing where my father was before, but I am sure you have a good reason. I know you’d never do anything to hurt me.”
“No. I wouldn’t. He made me promise not to say anything to you. I wanted to on so many occasions, but I gave my word. He needed me to honor it.”
I know my father never would’ve asked such a thing if it wasn’t important to him. I could still be a little angry, but I wasglad Niko had respected my father’s wishes.But I had a few questions for my father.
“You’re really going to offer my father to be a partner in the business?” I asked.
“Already did. He said yes.”
“And what does that mean for you?”For us?
“I figure there are a lot of changes we still need to work on. I will still handle sales, but not on my own. I will hire a sales team.”
“So you won’t be traveling all the time like you were?” I questioned.
“I will be doing a lot of traveling. At least I hope to be.”
