Page 27 of Rumors in Bayberry
“Even if he does, we’ll be fine,” Sadie said.
“Reed?”Samuel sent him an expectant look.
“I can’t say, sir.”Reed shifted in the chair.“I would need to do some more research.”
“What sort of research?”Samuel asked.
“There are a number of factors such as how long ago the social media accounts were started, the rate of growth, and the number of trending stories.”
“I’m afraid my father changed his mind.”Sadie turned and looked directly at him.
“Sadie, stop.”Samuel’s voice had an admonishing tone.“You know that’s not true.”
Sadie looked at her father.“This is wrong.”
“Not now, Sadie.”Samuel turned Reed.“What else do you need?”
Reed’s gaze moved between father and daughter.He thought all of the anger and frustration would be aimed at him.Instead, it seemed to be coursing between those two.
“I would like to speak with each of your staff,” Reed said.“I would like to learn about each of their duties.If this deal were to move forward, it would mean restructuring and possibly reducing your staff.”He’d already informed Samuel about this, but he wanted to make sure to remind him of the stakes.Nothing would stay the same.
“You can’t do that.”At last, Sadie was looking at him and not in a good way.If looks could kill, there would be nothing left of him but scorched earth.
Okay.So, Sadie was opposed to this sale.Her father appeared to be anxious to be rid of the paper.If that were the case, why didn’t Samuel give the paper to Sadie?
They continued to talk about what to expect if this deal went through.All the while, Reed could feel Sadie frowning at him.He couldn’t wait until this meeting was over, because he had a hundred questions for her.
But when the meeting ended, he didn’t get a chance to speak to her privately.She opened the door and left without another word to him.
“I’m sorry about my daughter.”Samuel walked over to him.“She just learned about the potential sale this weekend.”
“She doesn’t appear pleased about it.”
Samuel sighed.“She isn’t.”
“But I thought she was a foreign correspondent.”
Samuel nodded.“She is.And she’s a really good one.But I’ve had some health problems lately.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”He didn’t recall Sadie mentioning it.
“While I was dealing with my health, Sadie moved home to keep the newspaper running.Now it’s time for her to get back to her life, and I don’t have what it takes to keep this place going.”
And now it made sense why Samuel was in a hurry to sell theGazette.But it didn’t explain Sadie’s resistance to the sale.
Sure, the paper was owned outright by Samuel, but Reed had been around long enough to know the pull family had over the sales.If Sadie didn’t want this sale to go through, she’d find a way to stop it.Even if she didn’t, it would be messy.He could imagine the town getting involved.
He didn’t do messy.If this was any other town, he’d have already thanked Samuel for his time, and he’d be making tracks out of town.But this was Bayberry, Sadie’s hometown, and he couldn’t leave.Not yet.
“Why do you think Sadie is resistant to the sale?”Reed wanted to know what he was up against.
“The paper has always been owned by someone in the Plummer family.This is where Sadie learned to love the written word.I think she’s torn over her love for chasing the story and her sense of obligation to this paper.”He let out a heavy sigh.“I didn’t want her to stay here these past several months, but she wouldn’t listen to me.My daughter has a strong sense of loyalty.I won’t be responsible for her giving up on her dreams.It’s time she leaves and chases her next big story.”
Reed looked toward the door that Sadie had exited.“It appears your daughter doesn’t agree with you.”
Samuel let out a chuckle for the first time.“It isn’t the first time we’ve butted heads, and it won’t be the last.Don’t worry about my daughter.I’ll deal with her.”
Reed wanted to tell him that whatever he’d done so far wasn’t working.Although, at this moment, Reed would be willing to bet most of her anger was probably aimed directly at him.
