Free A Little Wild by Kate St. James Page B

depending on the situation, Zach swapped between metric and the old Imperial system his parents had grown up with. When it came to housing and office space, Imperial measurements ruled.
    “You mean one of those places where people who rock climb outdoors go when it’s raining or after work?” Tess asked.
    “In a nutshell.” He itched to tack on “babe”, but didn’t.
    She scribbled a few sentences on a notepad. “I agree that a climbing center doesn’t sound like something your father generally invests in. Although he might if you asked him, Zach.”
    “Except I don’t want to ask him.”
    “I can see that.” She wrote on the pad again. “What about financing?”
    “Already taken care of. I still need to work out specifics for the first months of operation, but I’m coasting easy for the start-up.” Thanks to squeaking out of several volatile markets before they crashed.
    “All right,” she said, surprising him with her quick acceptance of the financing issue. Usually, curiosity about how he earned his money inspired a slough of questions. But Teresa Sheridan, LLB, merely returned her attention to her notes.
    “Fifteen thousand square feet?” she read, then glanced up. “That’s huge.”
    “Not really. Granted, it’s larger than some climbing gyms, but I want to offer enough rock surfaces to suit everyone, not just advanced climbers.”
    “You’ll construct walls for beginners, too?”
    “Yes. For all ranges of experience.” Excitement infused him, as it did whenever he spoke of his vision, which wasn’t often. The fewer people acquainted with his plans for now, the better. He placed his coffee mug on the desk. “The idea is to provide annual memberships and hourly rates, climbing courses with certified instructors, guided outdoor excursions, and summer programs for kids.”
    Her eyebrows lifted. “That’s ambitious. What about equipment? Don’t you need special shoes? Does it work like a bowling alley? You bring your own shoes or rent them?”
    “Please, no comparisons to bowling alleys, although in essence you’re right. I’ll offer both options. However, eventually, I’d also like to open an adjoining retail space stocking the latest in high-quality outdoor climbing gear. With all that square footage, there’s room for a juice bar and childcare area. If I’m going to do this, I want to do it right, Tess. No halfway measures. I’m committed.” He waited a beat. “Or perhaps I should be.”
    She smiled. “Do you have a location in mind?”
    “Yes, although it’s not leased yet. I checked out a space this morning that looks perfect. That’s why I was late to the meeting.”
    Her fountain pen scratched along the notepad, her ease apparent now that they were immersed in legal details. “Your customers would need to sign waivers of liability.”
    “That’s another reason I need a good lawyer. I’ve put a lot of thought into this. Rock climbing is one of my passions. Considering how many new ventures fail, a rule of thumb for starting a business is to choose something you feel passionate about, right?”
    “To develop a hobby into a business, yes. It’s not the only way, but it’s doable.”
    “Okay. Well, I don’t feel passionate about grocery stores, I can tell you that much. I don’t feel passionate about dry cleaners or car dealerships or strip malls. Don’t get me wrong. Halliday Enterprises has been good to me. As a teenager, I never had to look for a summer job. My father expected me to work for the company in whatever manner he deemed appropriate at the time, and I did. Thanks to Halliday, I earned enough to finance my university degree and travel. But I’ve never felt satisfied working for my father, and that’s what needs to change.”
    And it would change, regardless of his father’s eventual reaction. Zach might have slack-assed his way through his twenties, but his thirties would be different. It was time to stand up for what he believed in, live his life