company.
And so we made it happen.
“ The Atwoods and Bennetts are united in marriage.” The artificial cheer forced through her words. “ It’s time we extend that unity beyond our families and into a mutually beneficial business plan. It’s no secret that I am now a large stockholder in the Bennett Corporation. Like my step-father and step-brothers, I am committed to ensuring continued profits for both our companies.”
Bryant snorted. “What the fuck is she doing?”
Stanly waved a wrinkled hand. “Hush.”
“ I am pleased to announce, for the first time since the founding of Atwood Industries, we will be using Bennett agrochemical products in all of our fields and for all of our crops.”
My father paused the recording. The board erupted into a rage.
“Why would the little whore want our products now ?” Bryant swore. “Her family has consistently slandered our company.”
“She’s doing it for the money.” Peter Hannigan was the least likely of the board members to be an accessory to murder. He shrugged. “She has her investments in the Bennett Corporation, and she’ll do whatever she can to maximize profits.”
“That’s not it,” Bryant said. “The Atwoods valued their feud over money. Mark Atwood spent millions to sabotage us.”
“Mark Atwood is dead.” Jacob Fisher heaved his bulk into his seat as he poured another cup of coffee. He added too many sugars for a man already diabetic. “And his troublemaking sons are also dead. This girl has their spirit, but she’s foolish and impulsive. A liability to the Bennett Corporation and Atwood Industries.”
“Screw her farm.” Bryant slammed a hand against the table. “Nick, what the hell is your whore doing? Why does she want our products?”
My father waited in silence. I offered him nothing. “It’s a sound business decision.”
“Bullshit,” Bryant scoffed.
“And it’s a great deal for us.”
I measured my voice with talk of profits and fortunes. My father passed a proposal to me, dragging his fingers across the table as though he’d claw through the wood like her flesh.
“Atwood Industries owns hundreds of thousands of acres,” I said. “Her proposal names us sole agrochemical supplier for the entirety of her farms—corn, alfalfa, almonds, plus the rest of their cash crops.” I paused, waiting for their full attention. “Tens of millions of dollars every harvest, and an end to the slander. It’d be an entirely new facet to the Bennett/Atwood relationship. We’ll earn more customers and money than if we had simply taken over Atwood Industries.”
“You’re not seriously considering this proposal, Nick,” Bryant said.
“Atwood Industries has always been the dream customer. We built this company to capitalize on the mega-conglomerate farms, and now we might take on the biggest in the country.” Christ, I hoped Sarah understood how much she risked making this offer. “If you want her to give the accounts to Montgomery Petrochemicals again…”
The board grumbled. Now they understood.
I continued. “If you want to secure our stocks, forge a profit, and open the company to more customers by virtue of the Atwood name, then you see the opportunity we have here.”
Bryant practically snarled. “What’s her real plan?”
Jacob chuckled. “She thinks she can buy us off.”
“That time is passed.”
Stanley coughed, his frail form wavering under the weight of his amusement. “The girl is bargaining her farm for her life. She won’t give up the land or her body, but she’ll insult the memory of her family to save her own hide.”
Peter took the proposal from my hand and whistled. “This is…substantial. We can’t afford not to bid on this project.”
“No,” Bryant said. “Absolutely not. The little whore is wasting our time. We should have found her the day after she skipped town and ended this. I don’t want her as a customer, I want her dead.”
“Easy.” Stanley tisked his tongue and
And so we made it happen.
“ The Atwoods and Bennetts are united in marriage.” The artificial cheer forced through her words. “ It’s time we extend that unity beyond our families and into a mutually beneficial business plan. It’s no secret that I am now a large stockholder in the Bennett Corporation. Like my step-father and step-brothers, I am committed to ensuring continued profits for both our companies.”
Bryant snorted. “What the fuck is she doing?”
Stanly waved a wrinkled hand. “Hush.”
“ I am pleased to announce, for the first time since the founding of Atwood Industries, we will be using Bennett agrochemical products in all of our fields and for all of our crops.”
My father paused the recording. The board erupted into a rage.
“Why would the little whore want our products now ?” Bryant swore. “Her family has consistently slandered our company.”
“She’s doing it for the money.” Peter Hannigan was the least likely of the board members to be an accessory to murder. He shrugged. “She has her investments in the Bennett Corporation, and she’ll do whatever she can to maximize profits.”
“That’s not it,” Bryant said. “The Atwoods valued their feud over money. Mark Atwood spent millions to sabotage us.”
“Mark Atwood is dead.” Jacob Fisher heaved his bulk into his seat as he poured another cup of coffee. He added too many sugars for a man already diabetic. “And his troublemaking sons are also dead. This girl has their spirit, but she’s foolish and impulsive. A liability to the Bennett Corporation and Atwood Industries.”
“Screw her farm.” Bryant slammed a hand against the table. “Nick, what the hell is your whore doing? Why does she want our products?”
My father waited in silence. I offered him nothing. “It’s a sound business decision.”
“Bullshit,” Bryant scoffed.
“And it’s a great deal for us.”
I measured my voice with talk of profits and fortunes. My father passed a proposal to me, dragging his fingers across the table as though he’d claw through the wood like her flesh.
“Atwood Industries owns hundreds of thousands of acres,” I said. “Her proposal names us sole agrochemical supplier for the entirety of her farms—corn, alfalfa, almonds, plus the rest of their cash crops.” I paused, waiting for their full attention. “Tens of millions of dollars every harvest, and an end to the slander. It’d be an entirely new facet to the Bennett/Atwood relationship. We’ll earn more customers and money than if we had simply taken over Atwood Industries.”
“You’re not seriously considering this proposal, Nick,” Bryant said.
“Atwood Industries has always been the dream customer. We built this company to capitalize on the mega-conglomerate farms, and now we might take on the biggest in the country.” Christ, I hoped Sarah understood how much she risked making this offer. “If you want her to give the accounts to Montgomery Petrochemicals again…”
The board grumbled. Now they understood.
I continued. “If you want to secure our stocks, forge a profit, and open the company to more customers by virtue of the Atwood name, then you see the opportunity we have here.”
Bryant practically snarled. “What’s her real plan?”
Jacob chuckled. “She thinks she can buy us off.”
“That time is passed.”
Stanley coughed, his frail form wavering under the weight of his amusement. “The girl is bargaining her farm for her life. She won’t give up the land or her body, but she’ll insult the memory of her family to save her own hide.”
Peter took the proposal from my hand and whistled. “This is…substantial. We can’t afford not to bid on this project.”
“No,” Bryant said. “Absolutely not. The little whore is wasting our time. We should have found her the day after she skipped town and ended this. I don’t want her as a customer, I want her dead.”
“Easy.” Stanley tisked his tongue and
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