One Night With The Boss

CHAPTER 16

“Because I didn't give you an advantage. Because ..." Kate stopped to think for a moment. "Did you tell me that your decision not to extend the loan was based on the price we paid for the coffee? If that is the case then you have made a mistake. I believe in paying a good price for quality stuff."

"But to whom?"

Kate looked at Elgort. "I don't understand what you're saying."

"Over the last few years, Cafe Bz has gradually pushed down its price until the coffee garden is barely able to operate. Without subsidies, this farm is no longer a viable business and therefore cannot meet the needs of this entire family." Voice exploded. "You're looking at the consequences of your greed. Do you understand what I'm saying now?"

Kate sat, frozen in silence. The greed?

As she looked at the couple's wrinkled and worried face, Kate's heart started pounding on her chest. He doesn't understand what he's done wrong, but it's clear from Elgort's grim countenance that he really believes Kate is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.

"We paid a lot for his coffee" he said in a hoarse voice, saying one of the few things he knew as fact. "That's one of the reasons why it took us so long to see a profit from the business."

“Your company account states otherwise.” Elgort turned his attention back to Camila, who spoke again. "She says they can no longer sell to you at the price you pay. They're looking for an alternative buyer."

"NO! He can't do that. The coffee is very special, I know that and so are the customers. Wait a minute.." Trying to think, Kate leaned forward and extended her hand to the woman with a gesture of peace. The woman did not want peace, she wanted money and obviously she did not accept it.

"Please let him know that there is a mistake. I don't know all the facts, yet, but I will, I promise. I'll check it out. I'll find out what's wrong. But don't stop supplying for us."

"You're gonna check it out?" Elgort's voice was filled with sarcasm. ''What needs to be checked?"

"You've seen his account. You know that we pay a lot of money for coffee." Kate's palms were sweaty and she rubbed them on her pants. "That's one of the reasons why our overhead costs are so high."

"I've seen that you pay a lot of money to a dealer who imports coffee for you."

Kate looked at Elgort. "You're saying that our money wasn't passed on? That the dealer my dad used was too expensive? That he's not being honest?"

Elgort smiled faintly. "Oh, I don't think the dealer is the only dishonest one here. The money you pay is too high. Far more than the price of coffee. I'm sure there are some beneficiaries. Unfortunately, this coffee garden is not one of them."

Kate's mouth was suddenly dry. "You think we have some sort of fraudulent agreement with the importer? That he charges us too much and then we split it?"

"It looks like that."

"You're accusing me of fraud."

Kate looked at him, trying to understand his accusations. "And it didn't occur to you that there might be another explanation for those numbers?"

"Give me an explanation."

Kate bit her lip. "I can't. Haven't. But I'll do it."

"When do you have a chance to think about it?"

"No, it's not that." Kate circled around her angrily, panic piercing her normally flat emotions. "When I find out what's going on."

"Maybe you just really like the dealer." Elgort's eyes fell into Kate's mouth and then down.

Her barely veiled allusion to their steamy encounter in the woods made Kate's cheeks flushed red, but the girl did not respond. Kate opens her mouth to defend herself and then closes it again.

What use? that guy won't believe it. And he could hardly blame her for that, in this situation.

"Obviously something happened, I agree. And I don't blame you for thinking I was involved because all the evidence suggests that I was involved. I should call." Kate muttered those words, almost speaking to herself. "I need some information."

"Don't bother with calls. Your Business is done but you don't have to worry. I'm sure you can make a reasonable living as an actress. You are very convincing.” Elgort held back and stood up. “We must return to the inn before dark. And it darkens very quickly in the tropical forest."

Kate doesn't care about the darkness and she doesn't care about the dangers lurking in the tropical jungle.

Something is wrong with the business. If Elgort is right, and Kate has no reason to doubt him, then someone has tampered with the book to make money.

But how could they just get away with it? And who's in charge?

Kate intends to find answers to both questions as soon as she convinces Elgort Downey that she is innocent.

But does it really matter what Elgort thinks of him?

What is more important than anything is that those people, those gentle and friendly people, consider them guilty. And maybe, on the one hand, she's guilty, Kate thought sadly as she sorted through the facts she had.