by Tina Martin
“Yeah. Sure. Whatever.”
Candice frowned, but she quickly straightened her face when she saw the men approaching the door.
She stood up, so did Barringer, but when her eyes caught sight of one of the men, Kurt Hempstead, she felt the blood completely drain out of her face. Before she could stop herself, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
Desmond looked at Candice, then glanced at Kurt.
Barringer looked at Candice.
Kurt’s lips curved into a smile when he asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I take it you two know each other,” Desmond said.
“Uh…n-no. Not really,” Candice stammered.
Kurt cracked a half smile.
“Well, just for formalities, hi, I’m Desmond Champion, director of marketing and business relations at The Champion Corporation.” He extended his hand to Candice.
“Nice to meet you Mr. Champion,” she said, accepting his hand. “I’m Candice Blackstone, customer relations manager at BFSG.”
“Pleased to meet you, and please call me Desmond.”
“And I’m Kurt Hempstead, marketing manager at The Champion Corporation.” He reached to shake Candice’s hand. She welcomed his hand into hers, squeezing hard, giving him a good business handshake. Now she knew what the letters TCC, on the business card he’d given her, stood for.
Barringer introduced himself as BFSG’s CEO, greeting the men with a handshake. “Have a seat, gentleman,” he told them.
The men sat down, Kurt taking the seat directly across from Candice.
“I have to say I was a little surprised you agreed to take a flight here to meet with us,” Barringer said, looking at Desmond.
“Actually, I didn’t fly,” Desmond said. “I drove. Just so happens me and my wife are on a little vacation getaway from the kids. Twins. Girl and a boy.”
“Aw…how old,” Candice asked.
“They’re three months.” He fished his wallet from his back pocket and took out a family picture.
Candice’s mouth fell open. “Oh my goodness…it’s a small world.” She looked up at Desmond. “Sherita’s your wife?”
Desmond smiled. “Yes. You know her?”
“Do I know her? We used to cheer together in high school! And look at these beautiful little babies. They are adorable.”
“Thank you.”
Candice glanced over at Barringer, seeing his straight, annoyed face. She handed the picture back to Desmond.
“And how do you and Kurt know each other?” Desmond asked.
“We don’t know each other,” Kurt said. “Just bumped into one another on the Riverwalk a while ago.”
“Interesting,” Desmond said. “Well, since the ice has been broken, I guess we can get down to business.”
“Yes,” Barringer said. “Let’s talk Blakeney.”
“Actually, that’s not the reason I’m here.”
“It’s not?”
“No. While BFSG used to handle the financial services for The Blakeney Agency, now they’re our client. Therefore, I cannot discuss privileged information with you.”
Barringer leaned back in his seat, annoyed. “The Blakeney Agency has been with BFSG for over two decades.”
“Yes, thank you for that, but I’ve done my research. I’m aware The Blakeney Agency was a deal your father, Mr. Theodore Blackstone, secured. Times have changed, Barringer. More and more companies are looking for ways to streamline their financial services under one umbrella. One company. That’s what we do at The Champion Corporation. We take care of all of our client’s financial services from payroll to forecasting, and when the financial outlook of one of our clients seems bleak, we offer marketing services to help them boost their bottom line.”
“Wait,” Candice said. “So let me understand.”
“Sure,” Desmond said, interlocking his fingers, resting his hands on the table.
“So you provide payroll services to all of your clients?”
“Yes. We have a payroll division within our accounting and finance department, headed up by my brother, Dimitrius Champion. He’s constantly developing new technologies to assist our clients with their financial needs.”
“And you handle books, taxes, forecasting…?”
“We do. We see a client’s profit margin slipping, we immediately call a meeting to notify them. If it becomes a trend, we devise marketing plans to reverse the downward spiral and increase profits to where it should be, even beyond where they were. That’s where Kurt is usually focusing all of his time.”
Candice glanced at Kurt, then back over to Desmond.
“So if you don’t want to discuss The Blakeney Agency today, why did you agree to meet with us?” Barringer asked.
“Good question,” Desmond said. “First, I want to say, despite whatever rumors you’ve heard, The Champion Corporation is not in the business of stealing our competitor’s clients. It’s only when clients come to us that we inform them what we have to offer. With that being said, I admire BFSG and the work you do. Your profits have been consistent year after year, but after losing a client as big as Blakeney, I’m sure that’s going to change for you. So I have a proposition.”
Barringer’s brows snapped together. “A proposition?”
“Yes,” Kurt said. He took out a manila folder from his briefcase and handed everyone a pamphlet. “We’ve done a preliminary work-up on BFSG. Thirty-five percent of your client base is coming up on contract renewals within the next two years. Since most of them probably already know you lost The Blakeney Agency to TCC, we’ve been receiving quite a number of calls from your clients already, requesting information.”
Desmond nodded. “We have meetings lined up all next week.”
Barringer crossed his arms. Could things get any worse for him?
“But, we don’t want to take your clients, Barringer,” Desmond said. “We see this as an opportunity to work together.”
“How’s that?” Candice asked, sounding as confused as she looked.
“Presently, BFSG does something TCC does not.”
“Which is?” Barringer said, sitting up straight again.
“Investment services. Believe it or not, it was the only reason The Blakeney Agency didn’t want to leave BFSG, but after much negotiating, they reluctantly agreed to go without it. Since TCC doesn’t have an investment division, we thought we could work together.”
“How’s that?” Candice inquired.
“Well, we’re looking to expand in the next few years. As you know, we’re based out of Asheville, but it would be of much benefit to have a branch office in Wilmington.”
“Okay, hold it right there,” Barringer said. “If you’re talking about trying to buy us out—”
“No, not at all, Barringer,” Desmond said. “We want to work with you. We want to bring BFSG under the Champion brand. Now, it—”
“No way,” Barringer interjected.
“Now, before you make a decision, I think it would be best if you read through the pamphlet.”
“No. My father built this company from the ground up. I’ll be a fool to let you and your brothers try to take it from me.”
“Barringer, hold on a sec,” Candice said.
“No. I’m not entertaining anymore of this.” Barringer stood up. “This meeting is over.”
Barringer stormed out of the room, pushing the door to the conference room to a slam.
“I’m sorry about that fellas,” Candice said.
“No apology necessary. It was a pleasure to meet you, Candice. I’ll be sure to tell my wife I ran into you.” Desmond stood up.
“Please do,” Candice said.
“Ready Kurt?” Desmond asked, when he noticed Kurt wasn’t making an effort to get up. He was caught in a trance with Candice.
“Yeah,” Kurt said, “But give me a minute.”
“All right.” Desmond exited the room, making his way down to the lobby.
“Is your brother always so hotheaded?�
� Kurt asked Candice.
“When he feels like he’s being backed into a corner, he is. This company means the world to him.”
“Which is the very reason he should take the deal. He should view this as a courtesy. The Champion brothers are usually more aggressive. I’ve seen them swallow up companies, their divisions and subsidiaries. This is the first time they’ve made an offer to make a company a division of TCC.”
“Well, Barringer’s the CEO. He makes the final decision, so—”
“How about we talk about this over drinks?” Kurt asked.
“How long are you in town?”
“How long do you need me to be in town?”
Candice failed to withhold a smile. She took a business card from the jacket of a blazer, scribbled her cell phone number on it before handing it to him. “Call me.”
“Will do.” He stood up and said, “It was nice seeing you again, by the way.”
She smiled. “You as well. Have a good day, Kurt.”
“Trust me. I will.”
Chapter 26
“I think it’s really over, Kalina,” Calista said, holding a fresh cup of coffee. She took a sip.
“Why?”
“Because he’s not himself anymore. I talked to him last night.”
“Okay, and what happened?”
“The man I was on the phone with last night, briefly might I add, is not the man I married. He’s insolent…we can’t talk without arguing. I can’t handle that.”
“People handle stress in different ways. Bryson tells me Barringer has always been an overachiever.”
Calista nodded. “He has. He likes a certain lifestyle, you know.”
“Then he must be under a lot of stress right now.”
“I’m sure he is, but that’s no reason to throw things at me and think I should be okay with it.”
Kalina frowned.
“I don’t mean literally throw things at me, Kalina.” Calista grinned.
“Oh. Shrew. You had me worried for a minute there.”
“Barry would never hurt me, physically that is. What I mean is, he gives me things, hoping they will somehow compensate for him not being there for me. The first two years of our marriage, I thought it was his way of being generous and appreciative, you know, trying to be a good husband. Later, I realized I didn’t have a husband. He was always gone.”
Calista took a sip of coffee.
“Last night, he asked me where we go from here, and honestly, Kalina, I didn’t know what to tell him. I feel like, if I move back home, everything will go right back to the way it was, and I don’t want that anymore.”
“What do you want?”
“I want a family man…a man who values his wife more than he does his work.”
“But let’s look at this realistically, Cali. A man has to work to take care of his family.”
Calista nodded. “True. I definitely didn’t want a non-working man, but when a man is more dedicated to his job than he is to his family, that’s a problem. Look at you and Bryson. He owns a business. You own a business. Yet, you guys are happy. You make time for each other. I doubt if Bryson spends his nights at the office.”
Kalina smiled. “No, he does not.”
“Exactly,” Calista said. “He makes time for you because he values you. Barringer doesn’t value me. If he did, he would’ve told me he was sterile before we married, right?”
“Maybe, but men are some prideful individuals. It has to be doing a number on him to know that the one thing you want, he can’t give you. So in my mind, I’m thinking he has the right to ask you where the relationship is going, simply because the ball is in your court, sweetie.”
“How’s that?”
Kalina set her cup down in front of her and said, “Now that you know he can’t have children, are you willing to love him anyway?”
Calista nodded, eyes flooded with tears. “Yes. Better or worse, right?”
Calista placed her cup on the table before quickly hiding her face with her hands.
“Oh, Cali, don’t cry,” Kalina said, standing up and pulling a chair next to Calista. She sat down, threw an arm around her. “It’s going to be okay. Issues like this take a little more time to iron out, but it’s going to be okay.”
Calista’s hands trembled as she cried. She moved them away from her face, then took a napkin to dab the corners of her eyes. “All I ever wanted was a simple, normal life. I don’t ask for much. I hardly ask for anything.” She sniffled, dabbed her nose. “I don’t know what to do, Kalina.”
“Well, first, you need to calm down a bit. I know what stress can do to a person, Calista. Please, just calm down and take some deep breaths.”
“I’ll try.”
“I know this is stressful, but you need to take some time for yourself. I’m worried about you.”
“I’ll be okay. I’ve been feigning happiness for years.”
“But—”
“I’ll be fine.” Calista sniffled, dabbing at her nose again. “I need to go.” She stood up.
“Are you coming to the dinner tomorrow evening at June’s?” Kalina asked.
“I don’t know yet. I thought about it, but not sure if I can deal with Barringer right now.”
“Okay.” Kalina hugged Calista tight and held on. “Love you, sis.”
“Love you, too, and don’t worry about me, Kalina. I’ll be fine. Okay.”
“Okay. Just call me if you need me.”
“I will.”
Chapter 27
“Come on in, son,” Theodore said after greeting Barringer with a hug. “Looks like we’re getting all kind of surprises today, dear.”
Elowyn came walking out of the kitchen with little Junior in her arms. “Well hello there, stranger.”
Barringer cracked a smile. “Hello, mother.” He walked up to her, leaned down to leave a kiss at her cheek. “How have you been, Barringer?”
“I’m okay.”
“You look good,” Elowyn said looking him up and down. “Dressed sharp.”
“Thanks. I see Garrison has been by.”
“Yes. He finally came to drop off little Junior. Finally! My prayers have been answered.”
Barringer smirked. He knew how happy his parents were when they learned their first grandbaby was on the way. Too bad he wouldn’t be able to give them any grandchildren.
“So what brings you by?” Theodore asked.
“I actually need to talk to you for a moment, Dad.”
“Okay.” He followed his father to the study, taking a seat in an old antique style chair. His father sat in the chair next to him.
“So, ah…I’m not sure how to say this so—”
“You want to talk to me about Blakeney. Am I right?” Theodore asked.
A look of surprise flushed over Barringer’s face. “You know?”
The old man let out a rough chuckle. “Of course I know. I knew the same day it happened.”
Confused, Barringer asked, “How?”
“Son, I still have eyes and ears all through the company. And I have a little secret weapon I like to refer to as daddy’s angel.”
“Candice.”
Theodore laughed. “That Candice is something else. And you know what she said that really bothered me?”
“What’s that?”
“She said, she wasn’t worried about the company. She was worried about you.”
“Dad—”
“Listen, Barry…I put in a few calls around to different companies. Blackstone Financial Services can’t survive the loss of Blakeney. It just can’t. Now, I heard about the meeting you had with The Champion Corporation, and after looking them up, son, the deal doesn’t sound half bad.”
Barringer frowned. “So you’re giving up? Is that it? Or do you not have any faith in me to turn this company around?”
“I’m not giving up on you, Barringer, but it could take years to get a client like Blakeney. What’s going to happen to the employees who depend on a paycheck week after
week? I heard you were thinking about layoffs, but that’s out of the question. Now, let’s talk realistically here for a minute. I started this company. If I didn’t have faith in you to run it, I wouldn’t have made you CEO, son. I have faith in you, Barringer, to do the right thing, not for me. Not for your pride. Do it for the greater good…for the employees who are counting on you.”
Barringer hung his head. His father was right. He couldn’t dispute that.
“Who did you speak with from The Champion Corporation?”
“I had a meeting yesterday with Desmond Champion. Sounds like Candice has already filled you in, but anyway, he offered to make BFSG a division of their company. I told him I wouldn’t do it. I’m not giving this company away.”
“Who said anything about giving it away?”
“They’re asking to make BFSG a part of The Champion Corporation which means they have to acquire BFSG,” Barringer explained.
“Which, in turn, means they acquire debts and legal obligations and in most cases, all the employees. It’s worth a real conversation, Barringer. One you should have with Candice and Garrison.”
“Garrison,” Barringer hissed. He stood up. “You know he quit. Did Candice tell you that?”
“No. Garrison told me he was thinking about taking a leave from the position. He had to get a lot of things in order in his life. Still doesn’t mean he can’t be a part of this conversation you need to have with Mr. Champion.”
Barringer slid his hands in his pockets, pacing the floor in front of the bookshelves. “All right, Dad. I guess I have a lot of decisions ahead of me.”
“You do, but take your time. Like I said, talk it over with Candice and Garrison.”
“All right. I have to get back to the office.”
“Okay. I’ll see you at Everson’s place tomorrow for dinner, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll be there. Barringer left his father in the study and walked back to the living room where his mother looked like she’d been waiting for him. She was still holding a wide-awake Junior.
“Before you go, I want to ask you something, Barringer,” Elowyn said.
He already knew what this would be about. “Yes, mother.”
“What are you going to do to get Calista back?”
