Free Daring Confessions (Bend To My Will #10) by Emily Jane Trent

could ruin the industry. “The authorities try to dictate too much of what goes on, which puts a crimp in the free market.”
    “True, and it’s to the point that the importers are afraid of Rosen and his heavy hand. I mean, how do you not allow beer and wine in the same warehouse? They are both alcohol .”
    “There’s no logic to it.”
    “But here’s the thing: a very minor infraction can be heavily fined. And it has been.” Walsh threw up his hands. “One the larger importers was fined for having a can of beer in his wine storage unit. And it was a significant fine.”
    “That’s vindictive.”
    “Exactly,” Walsh said. “If you cross Rosen, he can come back at you with fines that can put you out of business…if he wants to take it that far.”
    “Some say these new rules are threatening to drive business out of the state,” Jacob said.
    “It has created a culture of fear; the licensees are hesitant to speak out for fear of retribution. It’s easy to feel panic-stricken about doing anything, but follow some very difficult to understand and implement regulations.”
    Jacob nodded. “It’s like Big Brother is watching you. And everyone is afraid to talk, because then the regulatory body will watch you like a hawk, and for every little infraction, they’ll nab you.”
    Walsh narrowed his eyes. “There is one person who is not afraid to talk.”
    “Let me guess. Daniel Kenyon.”
    “That is what he’s doing…talking,” Walsh said. “He’s in this with the rest of us. But he has seen fit to report infractions by other importers, usually minor stuff. Yet it does result in some serious fines, and it brings down the wrath of the state on his fellow importers. I believe he intends to see his competition fined and regulated out of business.”
    “The man has delusions of grandeur,” Jacob said. “He is cozying up to Rosen by reporting the violations of others. So I suppose he thinks that Williamson Imports will be immune, that the chairman will favor him.”
    “I wouldn’t be surprised.”
    Jacob shook his head. “Kenyon is annoying, and he wouldn’t be worth bothering about, but his petty jealousy compels him to act negligently. It will end up doing damage.”
    “There haven’t been any reports filed on Rinaldi Imports yet,” Walsh said. “But I’m sure Kenyon is burning the midnight oil to find something on us.”
    Jacob pondered the situation. “This is disconcerting. I studied the reports you’ve been sending. Daniel Kenyon was disowned by his own father for delinquent behavior. The details made for quite interesting reading.”
    “Not a guy you want as a friend .”
    “Then when his mother remarried, the man wasn’t really accepted by Sam. I know he gave him a job out of consideration for his wife, not because he thinks much of his stepson.” Jacob paused.
    “The way I see it, Kenyon gets no respect, and now he’s out to make a place for himself. He has an overblown ego, and thinks more of himself than the facts dictate, or circumstances warrant,” Jacob said. “I’m guessing he is a bit paranoid, and feels like he’s been done in, when he is really his own worst enemy.”
    “And while he’s pointing the finger at the rest of us, it only makes me wonder if he has something to hide,” Walsh said.
    “I’m sure he does,” Jacob said. “The question is: what is it?” He sighed. “Okay, I’ll get with my team and hash this out. It’s not enough to take measures to ensure we don’t commit even the most minor infractions, because that is just a defensive strategy.”
    Jacob stood up. “We also need to go on the offensive, and knock Kenyon off his game. He’s not the tough guy he wants us all to believe. We just need to find his Achilles heel.”
    When Jacob left, he returned to his office and organized a meeting with his team. He met them in the conference room. He invited his president, the general manager, and his tech division supervisor, as they comprised senior