Page 18 of The Bourbon Bargain

“We can work with that, but it won’t fly as is,” Luca muses.

“Too much blame casting. If we’re addressing this, we have to keep it straight to the facts and not look shifty or like we’re unable to accept when we’ve fucked up,” Payton adds.

“Then bring up the real facts. Address the inconsistencies of the suit and the false information they are working with. When have we ever colluded to rob workers of rights? Never. We want the best value for our money, but we don’t go out of our way to harm anyone, especially the workers.” I wave my hand around at our own gathered assembly in emphasis. We are a Fortune 100 Best Company To Work For, and that extends to every level of our operation.

“Good labor is hard to come by and we have only ever replaced management at new properties so we could have our company values prioritized,” Zander says, and the look of anger on his face likely matches mine. “That’s probably where our problem lies. Look into the replaced upper management at the mine operation. See who may be kicking their feet for losing out on their job. They were likely crooked or not doing their job to begin with, but that gives them all the more reason to make a fuss and try to get their revenge now.”

I nod in agreement and motion for Diego to run with it. “We cut the fat quickly, so we’ll have to check with human resources and the acquisitions team to confirm who was on staff before we took over that isn’t there now. We can hunt down some unhappy rats,” I say, knowing there is likely a gleam in my green eyes that would scare anyone else on the receiving end of it.

I’m known as the bringer of death for a reason. At least in the business world. My actions are swift and decisive, and I never spare feelings when it’s my bottom line at stake. Fuck with me in my personal life and you’re likely to see the same side, though even less congenial.

“Local workers aren’t powerful enough to put this together so quickly,” Zander muses out loud, leaning back in his chair. “Who did we beat out of this deal?”

I stare at the ceiling, trying to remember the tiniest details of this acquisition. I was more worried about the numbers and making them work for Olympus than who we were bidding against, if anyone.

“Rex Omnia was sniffing around the operation before we jumped on it. They were the only real contender, though,” Payton answers immediately. His mind is a veritable database of every detail of our business. It’s scary how much he retains and has easy access to given the slightest provocation. His eidetic memory has come in handy on many occasions, and helped us take over some pretty hostile companies when he was able to produce somecompellingreasons why they should agree to our terms.

I lower my gaze from the ceiling right along with my heart as it drops into my stomach. “Rex… as in Octavius Rex?”

Payton nods and sits back, crossing his arms and staring me down. “Looks like the ghost of Christmas past is coming back to haunt you, brother.”

Fuck me.

“How was he even able to be considered a contender? I thought he lost everything a few years back,” I muse, knowing full well he did. I took it all from him.

“He partnered with some big names on several projects and earned himself a nice reputation for making smart deals rather than always playing it fast and loose. He’s definitely worth watching out for, now.”

Rex was always one to watch out for. No amount of crumbling legacy or shattering of life as he knew it would end that notoriety. I met Octavius, or Tavi, as he went by back then, while doing my MBA at Wharton. We were both set to take over family businesses, feeling smug and cocky at twenty-two as we aced exams and saw the world as ours for the taking.

Things started to go downhill for Tavi several years after graduation when my brothers and I took our family mining business and expanded in every direction we could, gobbling up smaller corporations that expanded our holdings and inflated our own bottom line. Rex, Inc., a transportation conglomerate that had fallen on hard times, was one of our eventual purchases, though we picked it apart as we often do with acquisitions. Not only did Octavius’s father get bought out, but he was also ousted from his leadership position at the company that had been in the family for generations.

What Octavius could scrape together from the company afterward became Rex Omnia, but it was a minor thing compared to the legacy he had planned on inheriting. I guess he didn’t rest on his laurels if he was actually competition for us on this mine deal. It means he’s expanded and is coming after Olympus size deals.

“He definitely has a motive to sink our reputation. Hell, he has every reason to want to see Olympus burn to the ground. He’s based in New York, too. A million bucks says he has his hand in this lawsuit,” I say to the room, and the grave faces that look back at me are reflections of what I feel on my own.

Fuck.

fourteen

Paige

Myimpracticalheelsclackalong the polished cement floor of the distillery as I follow Brandy, my aptly named guide for all things Underworld Spirits on my first day. We’ve covered what feels like miles of the multi-floored distillery rooms, operations offices, and the tasting room. The scale of this business is looming over me with each new floor we cover and every new machine and process we encounter. I’m feeling the intimidation of taking the helm and not having what it takes to execute my job adequately as the newness of everything surrounds me.

The day started with a meeting that brought in all department heads and the executive team where Hayes officially handed the company over to me. I had met most of the people at the launch party a few weeks back, but I had no part in the company at that point, so this felt more official. There was less trepidation in the air than I had anticipated. I was welcomed heartily, the familiarity they have with me thanks to the launch may have had something to do with that. Only a few people gave me looks of discomfort, and I don’t blame them. I’ll still have to work to win over the employees who showed hesitance to accept me as the new company owner, and that’s best done by actions rather than words. Once the formal meeting was completed, I was shown my office, which belonged to Hayes previously, and given over to Brandy for my tour when Hayes headed over to Olympus to deal with his own business.

We’ve covered so much ground in the last two hours I’m starting to feel the effects in the balls of my feet. I’m wondering if we will ever finish the walking portion and get to the sitting part when Brandy abruptly spins at a door.

“This is the last part of the tour,” she says, and I immediately let out a quiet sigh of relief. “This is where our newest gin stills are located, so be prepared for the pine-like aroma of the juniper berries, it’s really strong right now.”

I nod at her, but I’m not prepared for the wave of juniper that washes over us as she holds the door open and ushers me in.

“It smells like Christmas,” I say, surprised by the evocative reaction the scent garners from me. I’ve only had gin a few times but typically ignore it out of spite because it’s Mama’s favorite drink. I don’t think I noticed the intrinsic flavor when I tried it because it was mixed with other ingredients. I think I have seriously been missing out. I expected the sort of hot mash and grain smells that we experienced within the vodka and whiskey rooms, or the oaky scent in the barrel room where the bourbon is aging, but this is fresh, albeit, reminiscent of nail polish remover under it all, and I kind of love it.

“That’s what Hayes said when he first toured this space, too,” she says, smiling and bobbing her head so her ponytail swings.

That’s when I notice her candy cane earrings. Christmas is coming up quickly, and I haven’t found a present for Hayes. What could I possibly buy for a billionaire who has no real hobbies because he’s a compulsive workaholic who buys whatever he wants as he sees fit?

“Y’all are so cute. I just love that he gave you a whole business for your wedding present,” she pauses when she sees my look of confusion. “At least that’s what I read on the Atlanta Haute List, is it not true?”

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