Kate Takes Care Of Business by Cartwright Rachel

Author:Cartwright, Rachel [Cartwright, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
ISBN: 9780988090781
Publisher: eRead Press
Published: 2013-06-16T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Five minutes later, Kate opened the door to greet her father and Richard Hallman. Thankfully, both men were tense and too absorbed in their own conflict to notice Kate’s agitation.

“Hello, Katey,” said Mr. Hallman, giving her a quick hug. That had been his nickname for her since she was in ponytails. She didn’t mind . . . as long as no one else called her that.

Richard Hallman was a huge man with thinning hair. He had probably once looked as athletic as Sterling did but he had gone to beef. He had a triple layer of chins and an enormous paunch. His chins seemed to quiver with indignation and hurt.

Kate’s father gave her a pointed glance as he ushered Mr. Hallman into the room. “I told Richard about my business proposal.”

My business proposal? What happened to ours? Kate laughed out of nervousness. She glimpsed her reflection in the wall mirror. “Oh? Is there anything I can do to help?”

Dad looked around the room as if he expected to see someone else at any moment. “Would you mind if we borrowed your room for about an hour to discuss it in private away from the other shareholders? If they don’t know where to find us, we won’t be disturbed. Lucille needs some help if you’re free.”

Mr. Hallman lumbered into the main room and plopped himself down on the plush sofa. “And when you get back, Katey. Maybe you can talk some sense into your pig-headed old man before he makes a fool of himself at the meeting.”

Kate felt a sickening sensation of her life and her father’s, plunging downward. Dad’s troubled look only made it worse. “Okay, I’ll be with Lucille if you need me.” She picked her shoulder bag off the table and with a weak wave of her hand, left the room with the men’s voices trailing after her.

Kate closed the door and walked only a few feet down the hall before her phone chimed.

It was a text message from Lucille: Don’t you go anywhere. You have to find out what they’re saying.

Kate looked back at the door. Things were getting heated now because she could hear their rumbling voices in the hall. She glanced down one end of the hall and then the other. She took a deep breath and padded back to the door. She pressed her ear close until she could hear them clearly.

“You of all people,” said Mr. Hallman. “It’s beyond me.”

“It’s not bad business to keep American jobs at home if we can still turn a profit.” Her father’s voice was restrained this time. “I believe in the same things that you do, Richard, the right to work and earn, the right to own what you earn.”

“You’re not acting like it.” Mr. Hallman was bitter. “It would take a huge investment of capital and time to set up with no guarantee of profit in the end. You’re undermining the vision of the company I thought we both shared.”

“No. I’m just trying to do what I believe is right for the continued growth of the company and the people who work for it.

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