Page 28 of Fever

I checked my watch then my cell.

“Do you have another appointment?” my father asked, noting my clock watching.

Mr. Murdock began ordering his food as I responded, “I have someone I want you to meet. She should be here any moment.” This brought Mr. Murdock’s and Tina’s full attention to me. I turned to the server. “Excuse me, there will be a fifth guest. Can you make room for her please?”

“Sure thing. Would you like to order?”

“This water is fine. I’ll wait until she arrives.”

“We should all wait then,” my father announced.

“No, it’s all right, you’ve waited long enough. I’d like for us to get started.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Pop, order your food.”

He did, giving me a glance before continuing.

The server left, and my father got right down to business.

“So, Charles, if you don’t mind,” my father said, “I’ll start by saying thank you for meeting my son and I today and introducing us to your lovely daughter. We both have a genuine interest to see our companies prosper, and at this time in Gemz’s growth, I want to make sure it holds the family ethics that I have spent the last few years devoted to molding and shaping to its current state.

“I have offered my son Josiah the option of taking complete ownership of Gemz, which is why I wanted you two to meet and get to know each other. If all goes well, you two could be partnering, and I will be on permanent vacation.”

“I wasn’t aware that you were looking to partner with another company,” I said, making sure he knew I wasn’t familiar with this type of charade he was playing.

“I figured if you didn’t take over the company, I would still need a CEO with some common ground to run Gemz, but if you signed the contract it would be ultimately up to you. However, having a partner with shared interest when it comes to business, growth, finances, employers, clients, and other things that could go wrong would be supreme for you, don’t you think?”

“Why would I need a partner when I have you?”

“Son, I want you to realize that I won’t be around most of the time. Taking over this company is a serious deal; some things will happen at the drop of a dime, and I could be on an island in Costa Rica somewhere. What will you do?”

“Costa Rica? Pop, are you taking a vacation you haven’t told me about?”

My father snickered. “Maybe.”

“So many secrets these days,” I said.

My father held up his hand. “No secrets. I’m laying everything on the table now. And the company needs order, stability,” he said, which was sounding oddly familiar to what Santana had said earlier.

“He’s got a point there,” Tina said.

“Does he?” I returned.

“Yes, and in the event that Mr. Rose isn’t around to assist you, my father should be. He is the best at what he does with Summer Rain. A real honest man with integrity and muscle. That’s who you need on your team.”

I glanced from the proud smile on Mr. Murdock’s face to the seriousness of Tina’s.

“And what about you?” I said. “Your father says you’ll be taking over Summer Rain. That means I’ll have to get assistance from you.”

Tina kept her focus on me. “I’m quite equipped to handle whatever comes my way, Mr. Rose.”

She held a twinkle in her eye that I recognized as a flirtatious indicator.

“Well said, baby girl,” Mr. Murdock said.

“I get the feeling you have a feisty daughter on your hands, Mr. Murdock,” I said. “I’m sure she could get anything she wants from you.”

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