I shrugged. “There isn’t a trick to it other than hiring the best of the best. Cade grew up doing this.”
“You can’t be the best and have the best of everything, Bastian,” Mr. Crow said. He sat there in a checkered suit and wire glasses, eyes narrowed at me. He was the one at the table we cared about. He owned the refinery I’d have to break ties with at some point.
“I’m just here to work with everyone, Mr. Crow. That includes you.”
“Ah, so you’ve come to agree to more oil at the ports then? I can’t have Tropical Oil under performing.”
The room went quiet. Most knew my stance on this business and they knew I didn’t want any more to do with it than necessary. “What does that do for me?”
He leaned forward and twisted his mustache like there was really something to consider. “Well, I can pay you more.”
“I don’t need money, Mr. Crow.”
“Oh, now, everyone needs more money.” He scoffed and then straightened his bow tie. “What more do you want? The terminals don’t mean much to you. Let us have our fun. Go back up north where it’s cold. We know how to handle our gulf.”
“Well, you see”–I leaned back in the leather chair and took them all in–“I have a wife there now. She loves the ocean and she loves that company. I’m invested.”
Around the table, grumbling ensued.
“Are you importing anything else?” I didn’t break eye contact. I held his with a grip so strong he wouldn’t look away either. If he did, I’d have my answer.
“If you want part of imports–”
I cut him off. “I want any illegal imports to stop.”
“They’re essential to my–”
I stood. “They stop or I walk right now.” This was where I wouldn’t bend. Every single person in the room knew that.
“Fine.” Mr. Crow straightened, jumping at his chance. “You increase our limits on the terminals receiving the oil, and I’ll stop the imports.”
His hand stuck out over the table. I stared at it. Sometimes a handshake carried a lot of weight. Here, it would carry millions. I’d have to hold off on clean energy for months and I didn’t even have the shares to do that yet.
And yet, the imports had to stop. The last piece of my father’s legacy had to be torn apart.
We’d have a clean family business, one my brother and my mother always wanted.
“Done.” I shook his hand.
I’d have to tell Morina later. She’d understand.
35
Morina
Bastian was already gone when I woke, but he’d left me crepes and switched the salt lamp on, just how I liked.
I went through my daily routine and tried to forget about what had happened the night before. We’d pushed each other over the edge and in a flurry of emotions and we’d lost control.
That was it.
Nothing more and nothing less.
Except I ached for him like I did no other man. He’d become more of a friend to me than even Linny.
After I went to surf and sell a couple smoothies, I called her in hopes I’d catch her between flights.
She answered without a hello. “You’re lucky I stay up late. It’s midnight here.”