Leigh closed the door behind him and leaned against it. “Another week in London. What shall I do with it?”
Images of “Sir Lancelot” filled her head as she changed back into her nightdress and returned to bed.I wonder how I can locate you and discover all your secrets. Surely there has to be a safe way. But how?
Chapter Five
Tuesday afternoon, Leigh sat in Chad’s office and sipped tea. They had spent the day touring the several buildings where her many employees worked. She had watched them labor while making linens and garments, and chatted with some of them. She found it fascinating to watch the raw products made into fabrics, then see the material progress into beautiful and useful items—all with her family name on them! Pride and joy filled her.
“Much of the cotton used comes from Georgia and Texas, doesn’t it?” she asked her guardian between nibbles on a sweet cake.
Chad set down his cup. “Most of it from Texas, and a lot from your aunt Jenna. It’s high grade, so we’ll be buying from her as long as she continues to grow it.”
“That’s good news. Thank you.”
“Why thank me? You’re the boss and owner. You can buy from whomever you please.”
“I didn’t realize so much is involved. One has to know about materials, purchases, shipments, and employees. There’s careful scheduling to do where they’re all concerned. My head is spinning from all I’ve heard and seen. I hope I can learn it all.”
The black-haired man chuckled at her fearful tone and expression. “You can, Leigh, but it will take time and training. If you order too much, or ship too late, or anger customers, or machinery breaks down, or workers get unhappy—you have to know how to deal with a crisis. If you don’t, you can lose it all, faster than you can imagine. Especially if more than one major crisis occurs at the same time.”
Leigh sighed. “I’m glad you’re so knowledgeable, Chad, and so willing to help me learn. It never sounded simple and easy when you explained it to me, but it’s even more complicated than I realized.”
“That’s why you hire good men and women to tend certain chores for you. A person can’t be skilled in every area. Talented people save you money and headaches.”
Leigh poured them more hot tea, and added sugar and lemon to hers. “Do you think they’re worried about having a female owner?”
“No. I’ve talked to most of the area bosses since your arrival, and no one wants to quit the company.”
Leigh smiled. “That’s because you’re still the boss. If you left the firm, Chad, I’d be lost, bankrupt within a month. You aren’t thinking about starting your own business in Africa and moving there, are you?” Her blue gaze settled on him.
“If you’re referring to that talk with Joseph—as I told him, I’m interested in new ventures, but not in moving on. I think it’s wise for a man to have his own earnings and victories; does marvelous things for him. But this place is home and life to me. I’m happy here, Leigh. I hope you still feel that way after November.”
She looked surprised. “Of course I will. I want to learn the business and help out, but I want you to continue running it.”
Chad settled back in his chair behind the large desk. “You’ve seen the books, so you know how well we’re doing.”
“What about competition?”
Chad leaned forward again and propped his elbows on the wooden surface. “There isn’t any to concern us. Stokely Limited was burned down close to two years ago, and the head of it was murdered. The stockowners couldn’t rebuild because it wasn’t insured and the cost was too great. As for Elliott’s of London, Brandon Elliott was the one accused of the arson and murder at Stokely, or so the charges and evidence implied. We’ll never know the truth, because he committed suicide.”
“How awful. What a terrible way to lose your competition.”
Chad shrugged. “Elliott had recently expanded and renovated, so he was deep in debt. Once it was announced he was to be arrested and he took his life to avoid disgrace, we collected on his debts by taking over his firm. William was the one who loaned him the money; they were planning some joint projects. There’s an old saying, ‘One man can’t have good luck unless another man has bad luck.’ Tragic but true. Until some smaller companies expand, Webster International practically owns a monopoly in our market.”
“Speaking of luck, didn’t you mention we’d had some recently?”
A smile filled Chad’s face and eyes. “We had several special orders come in last week, large contracts, Leigh. Elliott used to fill most of them. Hotels and restaurants wanting new drapes and linens, and fabrics to recover furniture. Those kinds of labor and materials are expensive. We’ll make a big profit on them.”
“If those jobs are so important and special, do you think we should be leaving the country for so long?”
“Our manager at Elliott’s old firm knows what to do. He’ll see that the jobs are handled with skill and speed. He and the clients know I demand the best quality and charge the most reasonable prices. Besides, one of them wants an exotic look to his restaurant, a jungle air, something different and exciting to obtain more business. I told him I would bring back native cloth, treasures, and trophies, at a nominal cost to him since I’ll already be in Africa. Tropical plants, wicker and bamboo furniture, African colors and patterns on the chairs and tables, stuffed exotic birds or live ones in cages, native artifacts, clever lighting,” he murmured his list. “I can close my eyes and envision it now. It’ll be the talk of the town. I doubt there’s an Englishman alive who doesn’t want to go on a safari. This way, he’ll get a taste of the jungle while enjoying a fine meal and drinks in familiar surroundings.”
Leigh’s eyes and cheeks glowed with anticipation. She liked this sunny side of her guardian. She wished he could be this way all the time. Without Louisa’s influence and presence, maybe he could, although that would be dangerous for her, as Chad was much too appealing like this. “It sounds wonderful, Chad. With your help, it can be authentic. Whenever we go there, it’ll remind us of our special trip together.”
Chad’s gaze met hers, and he looked at her a little too intimately and too long. Leigh hadn’t meant her words as he seemed to be taking them. She felt herself growing warm and tense with anxiety. “More tea?” she offered, rising to fetch it to end the awkward moment.
It was time to ask Chad a rather troubling question. She had wanted to get to know Chad better before delving into the curious and possibly painful topic of her grandfather’s will. Reading the will had told her why she didn’t need to fear lethal mischief from her guardian, but not why the man who had become like a son to William Webster had been almost excluded in favor of a stranger. She knew, Chad could inherit half of the wealth, but only after his mother’s death, preceded by her own heirless demise. She was certain he didn’t want the firm cut into pieces or a stranger to walk in and take partial control. If the other possible heir was a stranger … “Who is Jace Elliott? Why does he inherit half of everything if I die childless? Why haven’t I met him?”
If Chad was surprised by her question, it didn’t show. But a sad look took away a glow from his eyes and face. He exhaled before responding.