Read Online A Sweet Deal (Crimson Romance) by Monica Tillery - Free Book Online

time I date someone, it’s news almost immediately, and tabloids rarely follow up to see if their information is correct. Morgan Enterprises doesn’t have shareholders, but our employees are sure to catch wind of it if I’m seen meeting with you. Some of them already know that Saffron wants to acquire us, and they panic. They worry about their positions with the company, and it fractures their focus. It’s not good for anyone.”
    “I see.” It made perfect sense, but that didn’t dampen her attraction for Richard. She shifted in her seat, feeling uneasy.
    He pulled a packet of candies out of his jacket pocket. “Would you like a Millie?” He held the packet out to her.
    She had always loved Millies. The lemon- and ginger-flavored hard candies were the oldest and one of the bestselling products Morgan Confectioners produced. She accepted one from the packet and popped it in her mouth. “I do love Millies. I’d like to see something like them for Saffron, once we expand beyond chocolate.” She relaxed as the flavor filled her mouth. Like every other kid growing up, she had loved candy. When she was a teenager undergoing chemotherapy, though, there were days when hard candy was all she could tolerate. During the days when nausea was a constant companion, she went through Millies by the case. The lemon and ginger combination was a soothing balm for her then, and she still found a great deal of comfort in the familiar flavors now.
    “They were my mother’s favorite. They’re named after her, you know.” Richard popped one in his own mouth and tucked the packet back into his pocket.
    “Your mother’s name was Millie?” She raised her eyebrows. As much as his family history had been public knowledge, she could not remember learning his mother’s name.
    “Well, Millie is short for Amelia. My father always called her Millie, and she loved these candies, so he named them after her. It was the first candy Morgan ever sold.”
    “Made with love, I guess. Maybe that’s why they’re such a success.”
    “Morgan products are more likely to have a story than not. We don’t just mass-produce things without putting thought into the entire line. That’s why I’m so hesitant to partner with other companies or allow any of our divisions to be bought out by bigger corporations. Morgan isn’t just a job for me.”
    “It’s your life, your legacy. I see that, but surely exploring other options doesn’t mean you don’t care for the company.” Back on familiar ground, her confidence returned. If she focused on business, on her work, she could ignore the hypnotic green of his eyes.
    “If we sell a division to Saffron, then that sets a precedent. Every other division or product line will be seen as up for grabs at worst, and at best it makes us look weak. This company means more to me than anything. My father built Morgan Confectioners from the ground up. The fact that I’ve been on board to see the rest of Morgan Enterprises come to fruition has been the greatest gift, and I don’t take it for granted.”
    “I remember reading a story in a magazine about the first candy shop your family opened. There was even an old picture of all of you. You were such a cute kid.”
    “Any time you wonder if there’s a chance that I’ll change my mind, think of that picture. That’s how I see all of Morgan Enterprises. It literally represents everything I love, and I won’t discount it. My brother and I spent our childhood in that shop. He’s moved on to other things, but I’m not letting it go for anything.”
    She knew that Michael Morgan started the candy company from scratch, but it wasn’t as though he were a bootstrap entrepreneur. The Morgans started out with plenty of money. He just managed to hit on a brilliant business idea at the right time. The family fortune went back much further than Michael. If the entirety of Morgan Enterprises folded, they would likely still be quite comfortable financially. Richard’s