Page 62 of Degrees of Acceptance
“Mom, he and Chase are working on a plan to keep us safe,” I say trying my best to reassure her, although now I am having second thoughts.
“Katie, you’re as stubborn as he is. I should have never told you!”
“Mom, you know that’s not true. I’m glad you shared it with me. We just have to work things out,” I say, trying to reason with her.
“I have his personal phone number if you want it, Mom,” I say.
“I’ll think about it, Katarina,” she says, ignoring my attempts to engage her in a walk down memory lane. We talk for a few more moments before I hang up and go in search of Chase. The dining room is empty, but his Mac and the newspaper are lying open on the table.
Chicago Midwestern
Prestian Corporation files for national expansion
Nate Collins Freelance Journalist
The Prestian Medical Facility has filed plans for state approval to embark on a multi- facility building project in the state of Illinois with two facilities in the inner city of Chicago and one in the southern part of the state. Plans for future expansions include national coverage in thirty-one states without union representation.
“Oh, shit, what the hell.”
Message:Chase where are you?
Reply:In the gym, Baby.
Message:I saw the paper.
Reply: Be down in fifteen minutes.
I am having coffee, and Gaby has made omelets for breakfast when Chase gets finished working out. He pours himself a cup of coffee and sits down beside me at the kitchen table.
How did the press know about the expansions, Chase?” I ask.
“We are looking into it, but unfortunately, it appears the information was leaked by someone close to us,” he says.
“I don’t understand, Chase. How do you know that?”
“Baby, we still have a lot of work to do to confirm, but it would appear that one of your emails to Jenny was used as the platform for the story,” he says.
“You don’t think that Jenny had anything to do with it, Chase? She would never do anything like this.”
“Katarina, it’s not Jenny. She would have nothing to gain by having the national expansion placed in jeopardy. In fact, if we don’t expand the model on a national level, she will lose the ability to triple her company and everything we just talked about last week. Someone who has access to her email leaked the story, and we’re looking into who and why. Until we find out I don’t want you to mention this to Jenny,” he says.
“Chase, surely she’s going to see the newspaper.”
“I’m sure she will, but I don’t want to tip our hand to whoever did this by having her act suspiciously. I just need a little time, Katarina.”
“Okay, but I hate not being able to talk to Jenny about it. On a different note, I did talk to Mom this morning and told her that I met my dad,” I say.
“Oh,” he says eyebrows raised. “How did she take that?”
“Well, she wasn’t exactly pleased if you can imagine her wrath, but I asked her to take his number.”
“At least, that’s something,” he says.
“Jenny and I have been working on the structure proposal for the Prestian Corp division of Torzial on email,” I say.
“Glad to hear it. I’m anxious to see it,” he says.
“We have a little more work to do, and then we’ll show you. In fact, we’re meeting for lunch today to review it,” I say.
