A former business owner clashes with her new boss when she sells her interior landscape company.
When Fern Tate sold her interior landscape company to a national corporation, she didn’t expect to have a boss like Pendleton Morgenthal, III. Had she made the biggest mistake of her life? Pen never allowed a woman—especially a subordinate—to distract him from his fast-track career. What was it about Fern that made her different?
Excerpt
CHAPTER ONE
Fern's hazel eyes widened as she looked from the calendar on the wall to the message on her computer screen.
Date: August 9, 1997Time: 1645 CDT
To: Fern Tate, San Antonio Branch Manager
From: Pendleton Morgenthal, III, Southwest Regional Manager
Subject: San Antonio inspection visit
Message: As the new Southwest Regional Manager, I will be in San Antonio for an inspection of your branch, August 13-August 28. I'm arriving on American flight 682 at San Antonio International Airport at 2:35 P.M., Tuesday, August 13. Pick me up at the airport, and be prepared to meet with me at any time. The purpose of this visit is to integrate Fern's Fancies into an effective branch of Ultimate Plant Service, Inc.
Today was August 13. She read the e-mail message again and looked at her watch. Almost 1:30—she'd have to hurry. She didn't want to be late and face the wrath of her new boss. His memo made him sound demanding—he'd probably be even worse in person.
After she printed out the message, she hurried into the reception area. "Maria, I just can't get used to having our computer hooked into the one in the main office. I forgot to check my e-mail yesterday, and I almost missed this message. It came in late Friday."
Maria quickly scanned the message. "Oh, Fern, you'd better leave right now. I'll get the warehouse crew to help me straighten up and make sure everything's in good shape around here by the time you get back."
Only a few weeks before, Fern had sold her small interior landscape company, Fern's Fancies, to Ultimate Plant Service, Inc. Since then she had struggled to cope with the change. She'd been so excited and proud when a large and well-respected national corporation approached her to buy her company. She hadn't realized how much her business would change.
Thank goodness, she finally remembered to check her messages. She shuddered to imagine what would happen if she didn't show up at the airport at the appointed time to meet Mr. High and Mighty.
