Page 22 of Charm (Billionaire Buck Boys #7)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Greer

I stare at Krista from where I’m standing near a pallet that holds one of our best sellers. We’re in the crowded stock room of our store. This business we’ve built together has been a labor of love, and now my sometimes best friend is telling me she wants to bail on me.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I look right at her. “Repeat that.”

“Howie got a job offer in Los Angeles.” She takes a breath. “He’s going to take it. I’m going with him.”

I heard that part just fine the first time she said it. I panicked slightly because I pictured longer working days and late nights devoted to fulfilling online orders. In addition, someone has to ensure our staff shows up to help cover the duties in our small storefront.

It’s what she said after she announced that she’s moving to California with her soon-to-be husband that knocked the wind out of me. “You said something else, Krista.”

I want to believe that I misheard her, but it was clear as a bell. Still, I need to hear it again.

“We need to sell Sweet Indulgence, Greer.” There’s a tremor in her voice. “I already found a buyer.”

It doesn’t even matter that I’m not in a financial position to buy her out at the moment.

Our business agreement is ironclad. One of us can’t sell their half without the other agreeing to sell theirs as well.

When we launched, we couldn’t picture one of us running it without the other, so we put that sentiment into a legal document and signed it.

We started this business to honor our best friend. All Celia Edlund ever wanted was to run a candy business. It was her dream for years, but she didn’t live long enough to make that a reality, so Krista and I did it.

Sweet Indulgence is built on our shared love for our late friend.

“You’re thinking about Cels,” she says the nickname I bestowed on Celia shortly after we met in third grade.

“Don’t,” I warn with a finger in the air. “Don’t call her that.”

Celia and I were a duo until we met Krista in middle school. From that point on, the three of us were inseparable until we lost Cels.

Her chance to enjoy this business was stolen from her before we even launched. We did that three years ago.

I had a stable and flourishing career in advertising at the time. Krista was floating from one job to another. When she came to me with the concept of our very own candy company, I was skeptical, but I couldn’t shake Celia’s words from my mind.

“ One day we’ll work side by side at a candy counter, Greer ,” she said months before she died.

I took the leap but held onto my job. That only lasted six months, and then I had no choice but to go all in. It was all too much for Krista, and I wanted nothing more than to make it a success.

“I can’t sell,” I whisper. “I just can’t, Krista.”

Her brown eyes well with tears. “Celia would want us to be happy. I’ll be happy in Los Angeles. I’m under consideration for an internship with a fashion designer there. You know how much I’ve always wanted to design dresses.”

I know that she’s wanted many things over the years. Becoming a fashion designer is something I’ve never heard before, even though it’s obvious she’s been thinking about it for some time if she’s applied for an internship in another state.

“I’ll keep running it on my own,” I say, hoping to reach a compromise. “You’ll still reap the rewards financially.”

“I need the lump sum this sale would give me.” She swipes a tear from her cheek. “It will help us really get set up out west, and it’ll allow me the financial freedom I need to focus on the internship. Please, Greer, just give it some thought.”

I don’t need to give it any thought. My answer won’t change.

“You could go back to East Hampton to think it over,” she suggests. “You were so happy after that weekend. You said the time away gave you clarity.”

It did. It was clear to me after my weekend away that I’m a very lucky woman.

I have an amazing daughter, great friends, and family that I love.

Spending time with Joe helped me see that it’s okay for me to carve out moments that are just for me, even though my primary focus for the foreseeable future is raising my daughter and growing this business.

I got back to Manhattan with more determination than ever to make Sweet Indulgence the best it can be.

Krista’s grandma’s candy recipes are what launched us, but our new creations are what have sustained us. Our online presence is growing by the day, thanks to an aggressive social media campaign I developed.

I can’t let it go now. My gut tells me that if we stay on the path we’re on, we’ll see increased sales in no time.

“It’s been over a month since you came back from your trip,” she points out, sticking to the subject of my getaway. “Isn’t it time to go back?”

It’s been precisely thirty-six days since I last saw Joe, but I have no intention of going back to East Hampton. Besides, I have nothing to think about. I’m going to cling to Sweet Indulgence as tightly as I can.

“I set up a tentative meeting next week with the company that wants to buy us.” Her voice cracks. “It’s called…”

“I don’t care what it’s called.” I stop her with a shake of my head. “We’re not selling Sweet Indulgence to a company that won’t honor what it truly means to us.”

“Celia will always be with us.” Tears roll down her cheeks as she pats the center of her chest. “I think it’s okay to hand the reins of what we’ve built to someone else.”

“It’s not,” I say with my own tears welling in my eyes. “I can’t let it go.”

“Please think about it,” she pleads, her hands twisting in the material of the front of her dark green T-shirt.

It doesn’t help that it’s one of the branded shirts that I designed after countless attempts to come up with a logo for Sweet Indulgence. I glance down at the matching shirt I’m wearing.

I even had several made in Olive’s size because my little girl is proud of what her mom has built.

“We can take the meeting without promising them anything.” She exhales loudly. “Can you at least give me that, Greer? If you hate the offer, I won’t press it.”

I don’t believe her, but if this is what it takes to get her to drop the idea of selling our business for now, I nod. “What day and time is this meeting?”

“Next Wednesday morning at ten.” A soft smile spreads over her lips. “Just meet me here at nine. I’ll handle our transportation to and from the meeting. You don’t have to do anything but show up.”

“I won’t agree to sell,” I warn her with a stern look.

Nodding slowly, she tucks a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “You agreeing to go to this meeting means everything to me.”

I glance at the floor and the worn sneakers on my feet. They once belonged to Celia. I borrowed them from her a few weeks before she died. I couldn’t bear to donate them or throw them out, so I wear them to feel closer to her.

“I’m only agreeing to the meeting, Krista,” I say, stressing each word. “I hope you understand that.”

“I do.” She scrubs both hands over her cheeks. “I need to get out to New Jersey.”

Since that’s where our production facilities are, I nod. She has a lot of work to tend to there today. All I hope is that she gives it the attention it needs.

“I love you, Greer,” she whispers. “I truly do.”

I cross the space to wrap my arms around her. “I love you, too.”