Page 47 of Stranded with the Billionaire
“It’s not like you to quit,” her mom remarked.
She shrugged. “Everyone knows Jake has a temper. He has a reputation for squashing people in business if they go up against him. He probably regarded this as business. He believes I lied and manipulated him to get a story.”
“You did,” Paisley commented. “That doesn’t excuse his behavior either. He went overboard by making you unemployable in your field.”
“We were both wrong,” Sterling had another spoonful of vanilla pudding with chocolate chips. “However, I was just doing my job. If I’d announced that I was a reporter from Dubious he would never have talked to me.”
“Are you going to let him get away with this?” Paisley asked. She felt that Sterling and Jake had unfinished business.
“Right now, I want to concentrate on dealing with things here,” Sterling said firmly. “If I have the opportunity to see Jake Ramesly ever again, I’ll deal with him then.”
After cleaning up their impromptu snack, Sterling climbed the stairs to her childhood room. It held all her trophies, old uniforms, and some clothes that she had left behind after her move to New York. Yearbooks were there, along with childhood favorite books and a teddy bear. Taking the teddy down from the shelf, Sterling decided to let her childhood friend spend the night with her since she wanted some comfort.
The next morning dawned bright and sunny much to Sterling’s dismay. She felt like it should be raining to accompany the sadness that her family was facing.
Her brother Brant gave her a hug, somber as always. The family managed a light breakfast, no one having much appetite, before heading to the factory. Sterling and Brant spent a little time wandering the floor, reminiscing about the summers she’d worked there. She breathed in the aroma of different sawdust from different woods, looking affectionately at machines she had helped to run, quietly remembering.
Now it would all be gone.
Brant gave her a one-armed hug then went to help their father. Owen was finishing up at his desk in the office, getting any important items and paperwork that would be needed before the bank took possession of the property.
It was almost time, so Sterling went to wait patiently beside her mother. They’d spent yesterday calling each employee at the company. They’d fended off questions and statements about the end of Hawkins Fine Furniture Company, instead setting up a time to meet with all employees in the plant cafeteria. At it’s prime, the company had employed nearly six hundred people. Now the town was only just over seven hundred strong, with more families leaving every week.
Hawkins Fine Furniture Company was the town’s major employer, still providing for two hundred employees. Only now it was closing its doors. As people gathered, they greeted Sterling, many not having seen her for years while she had worked on her career. Sterling was happy to renew old acquaintances. From her summers working at the family factory, she knew many of the employees well. It was bitter sweet to see so many familiar faces and know that their livelihood was now gone.
Brant and their father entered. Owen Hawkins was red-rimmed around his eyes. It was obvious that he’d been crying but no one remarked on it, letting him save his pride. He wrapped an arm around Paisley and the other around Sterling, surprising her. Somehow, she had thought that her father would be the one to make the announcement. Instead, the burden had fallen to Brant who stepped forward, clearing his throat.
“Most of you have heard the rumors by now. We all knew this day was coming, it was just a matter of when. Hawkins’ hasn’t been solvent in a long time, nor has it been able to compete in this market. As of today, we are out of business,” Brant paused. “I’d like to thank all of you for being the outstanding employees that you are. We never would have made it this long without all of you.”
There was a murmur from the crowd but most remained respectfully silent.
“As a thank you for your service,” Brant continued. “We’ve scraped together a small bonus to go with each of your final pay. We cannot afford severance packages. No one is more sorry about that than our family.”
“Can’t afford severance packages while they go on living on that great big farm of theirs?” a grumbling voice came from the back of the room.
“The bank will be seizing the farm tomorrow,” Brant replied baldly. His voice was matter of fact even as several people, including Sterling gasped.
Owen’s hand squeezed Sterling’s shoulder. She hadn’t known it was this bad. She hadn’t known they were going to lose the farm.
“Mr. Moncton, the manager was kind enough to allow us until then to get our personal effects out of the house before he will be claiming the property. We’ve been underwater in our mortgage for some time. Mom and Dad took out the second mortgage years ago to keep the company afloat so that the town could survive a little while longer. The Hawkins family has done our best to serve Pendle and its citizens since the town came into existence. It has been our honor to do so and we apologize deeply for our failure to continue in this role.”
Brant reached for a box that Paisley held, setting it on a table before him, he plucked out an envelope. “In each envelope is your last pay, a bonus and a letter of reference.”
He called out names, shaking each man and woman’s hand as he gave them the envelope, wishing them all the best. Before long, the rest of the family were shaking hands with employees as well. Most wished them well, with tearful hugs. Very few were upset since everyone had known this was coming for a long time.
Finally, the last employee was given their envelope. People filed out of the cafeteria, emptying their lockers, milling about and talking. It was perhaps an hour later before Brant was able to go around the factory, shutting off lights, locking doors and making sure the place was clear.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the farm?” Sterling asked quietly. It had been an emotional day and she felt the weight of it pressing on her. She’d known that the farm was heavily mortgaged but hadn’t realized that they would lose it as well as the factory.
“It was hard to talk about,” Owen stated. “I suppose we weren’t ready to face up to the fact that we’ve lost a home that the Hawkins family has lived in for generations.”
“Where are we going to go?” she questioned.
“Mable Talbot has offered us Ma Benson’s old farmstead free of rent for the next three months to help us get on our feet. It works since they’re just farming the land and the house is vacant,” Paisley said with a quiet dignity. “There are no jobs in the community, so I expect we’ll end up moving.”
They’d lived here all their lives. Sterling frowned. “What about your retirement savings? Surely you should both be able to retire?”
“We put them into the factory,” Owen replied. “It kept the doors open for all those families for a little while longer.”
