Page 17 of The Meeting
Kailynn waited for a response while she changed into a deep purple summer dress before giving herself approval in the mirror. A reply never came, so she dropped her phone into her purse and drove over to the small coffee shop down the street. Growing up in Modesto, Kailynn knew the owner, Linda, who had inherited the shop from relatives.
Kailynn stepped into the small shop and looked around for Chase. Not seeing him, she walked up to the counter and smiled at the barista.
“Hi, could I get a caramel latte, please?”
“Is that you, Kailynn?” Linda asked, popping her head out from the back.
“Sure is!”
“It’s good to see you!” Linda came around the counter and gave her a hug.
“Good to see you, too. It’s been a while.”
“I know! Where have you been hiding?”
At that moment, Chase walked in and came straight to the counter after spotting Kailynn.
“Oh, forget I asked. Is this a new boyfriend? I’m glad. I always hated that Drew guy. He was never right for you—always looking at other women when they walked by, when he should only have eyes on you. What’s your name, honey? You’re a handsome one. Your coffee is on the house. You treat her good, you hear?” Linda spoke without letting Chase get a word in.
Chase sputtered and looked back and forth between them as Kailynn’s cheeks flamed.
“Um, my name is Chase,” he finally managed.
“Chase! What a great name.”
“Linda, Chase isn’t my boyfriend. He’s my lawyer.”
“Oh dear.” She swiped some hair off her forehead. “Are you still with that Drew guy? I’m sorry if I offended you, but everything I said was true.”
Kailynn let out a laugh. Suddenly, this situation was hilarious. Tears sprang to her eyes. Apparently everyone could see what a piece of crap he was except for her… or she was just great at putting the blinders on.
“I’m not with Drew. Chase is actually helping me split ways with Drew since we run the company together.”
“That’s great news! You don’t need him.”
Linda had the barista make up their orders free of charge and then went back to the kitchen. They settled into a booth near the window.
“I’m sorry about that. I’ve known her a long time.”
“I gathered. And it’s okay. She meant no harm.”
Kailynn took in Chase. He wore dark blue jeans and a button down maroon short-sleeved shirt. His hair was mussed and his face was clean shaven. Overall, he looked good.
She caught herself staring and shifted her gaze down to her drink, swirling a spoon in the liquid. “So, what did you want to tell me?”
“Oh, right.” He leaned forward on the table and rested his elbows on it and then lowered his voice. “He wants fifty percent of the business, which isn’t a surprise.”
She nodded.
“I told his lawyer that based on your work history, you aren’t willing to work together any longer. The lawyer agreed. Overall, you have three options: one person needs to buy out the other, you need to sell to an outside party, or the company needs to be dissolved.”
Kailynn’s heart sank. “I don’t think I can afford to buy him out.”
“You could take out a business loan.”
“We already have one. We make enough at the moment to pay the bills, but I don’t know that I could afford to take out another one. Plus the fact that I have no idea how to do the business side. That’s his job. I would be taking on more responsibilities. And if I hire someone, I have to pay them.”
He took a sip of his cappuccino. “Right. But you also wouldn’t have his pay coming out. And since the new person wouldn’t be an owner, you could essentially pay them less to save money.”
