Page 11 of Sunset Tides
One day, they’d be one of the big players. Rob would make sure of it. He’d been with OSS for years, but he was only now being entrusted with a project of his own.
He was the one who had discovered Grindstone Farm, and he was leading the charge. This was his baby. He wasn’t going to let the farm’s failure go to waste.
The information about the trailer park proved to be invaluable. Once Rob knew what Carriageway was after, he was able to change his tactics. He talked to his boss and the lawyers at OSS to make sure the deal they gave Carriageway was better than whatever bankrupting the farm at auction could provide.
They were walking a fine line, but by Friday, it seemed like Carriageway was ready to get serious. There was a lot to prepare before he could strike up the formal deal with OSS’s attorneys, not the least of which included Fiona’s buy-in. Getting the farm staff on board would make things easier.
He flew back to Orcas Island that night and found his car waiting at the little airport just as he’d left it. It was odd being back on the quiet island after such a hectic week. He could see why some people liked the calm – for them it must be a sort of retreat.
Rob didn’t need the calm. He had a busy weekend of work ahead of him, and that was just the way he liked it.
His first stop was the apartment he’d rented near Eastsound. Despite being the lower level of a house, it felt secluded and private. It was small, but quiet – perfect for focusing on work.
Though he fully intended to get right down to business, he first peeked into the fridge. He opened the door and was disappointed to find nothing but a small wheel of cheese and half a pint of milk staring back at him.
Not ideal. Abandoning the apartment for a week would do that to a fridge, though, and he couldn’t be at his most productive if he was hungry.
He decided to make the short trip into town to get dinner. He’d bring his work with him and go over some figures while having a sort of miniature celebration for himself. He’d never handled such a major deal on his own, and it was coming together perfectly. He deserved more than an old piece of cheese and questionable milk.
The first restaurant he walked into told him they were full for the night.
That was annoying, but he chalked it up to bad timing. He strolled into the place next door, only to get the same result.
He couldn’t believe his bad luck. The restaurant didn’t look like it was full, either.
“Can I take a seat at the bar?” he asked.
The hostess shrugged. “No. I’m sorry.”
He started to wonder if the townspeople had a habit of shunning outsiders, but he was finally seated at the third restaurant he tried, a baroque-looking Asian fusion place.
Rob placed his order and settled in, spreading documents and folders around the table. It was a pleasant environment, cozy with peaceful music, and he could feel himself getting into the groove after finishing his first bowl of miso soup.
His peace was short-lived, however, broken by a familiar voice over his shoulder.
“Dinner for one?”
He turned to see Lucy standing behind him and he tucked the papers away before standing to greet her. “Guilty as charged. Unless you’d like to join me?”
“I would rather spend my evening digging oysters out of the mud,” she said airily.
He wasn’t sure what that meant, but it sounded like a no.
“We might be working together soon,” he said.
“Actually, I don’t think we’ll be needing your services.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
She was trying to rattle him, but it wasn’t going to work. Lucy had no idea what was coming. How could she? She was a nobody from an island in the middle of nowhere. She couldn’t spot a multi-million-dollar deal if it were about to hit her in the face – which it was.
Lucy flashed a tight smile. “I just stopped by to talk to the owners of the restaurant. They’re excited about a new partnership with the farm. I’m sure it’s different in New York City, but in small towns like ours, relationships are important.”
Rob motioned for her to take a seat. “Please, I’d love to learn more.”
“No thanks.”
“I’ll buy you a drink.”
