Free STAY THE NIGHT (The Phillips Family Book 1) by Vicki Keener Page A

Mona said.  “ I got a FAX:  Offer to buy rejected.  That's all it said.  Did you want me to call Grayson? ”
        Cray walked to the kitchen, retrieved three beers and handed Mona and Angelica each one and slumped down on the sofa.  Mona winked at Angelica and she grinned.  Cray said, “ They're fools  They can either pay their suppliers or their employees for one more month and then it falls apart like a house of cards.  They're broke, finished and there goes another textile mill down the tube.  How can they be so blind?  We promised to keep the employees on for a guarantee of one year minimum and that includes their incompetent accounting staff, although we'll whip them in shape.  Mona, I don't get it.  Give me your thoughts. ”
           “ Cray the business goes back five or six generations.  Southern pride?  Heads in the sand?  I don't know.  When we left there a week ago tomorrow, I thought it was a done deal. ”
        “ Do you think they have another offer? ”
        “ You offered them seventy-five cents on the dollar.  It's not worth forty cents on the dollar.  I doubt there's another offer in the pipeline. ”
        “ We can afford it and we can turn it around to be profitable in less than a year.  Why kick a guy when he's down? ”
        Angelica listened and fell more in love with Cray.
        “ What do you want to do? ” Mona asked.
        Cray stood and paced.  “ I'm so damn sick and tired of America's textile mills closing and those jobs going overseas.  It's been happening for decades now. Whole towns are suffering here because of it.  Call a meeting for nine tomorrow morning with the managers and I want the bean counters there.  I want a complete accounting of where we stand regarding this company.  Mona, you sit in and figure out a way we can make this a win-win for Grayson and us. ”
        “ That means upping the ante.  I understand you're not the type to want to win at any costs so what's the motive? ”
        “ This country needs to be more than a service industry and that's what we've become.  We need to include manufacturing and heavy industrial plants to grow back to the country we once were.  We used to produce the world's steel, now we import the majority we use.  It sickens me. ”
        “ Labor got greedy, ” Mona said.
        “ Yeah and management didn't help and unemployment grew.  People's thinking is so skewed. ”
        “ Cray, make the meeting for one tomorrow.  Give our people a chance to get their ducks in a row, or it'll be a waste of time.  I'll blast an email to them tonight so they see it first thing tomorrow and can prepare. ”
        “ Okay.  Thanks, Mona.  I'm sorry I ignored your calls and I enjoy our inane conversations. ”
        Mona said, “ Angelica, I'm sorry to interrupt your evening.  Are you joining us for Christmas? ”
        “ Yes, I am and I'm looking forward to it. ”
        Mona faced Cray and said,  “ Am I to assume I'm losing a roommate before I even get one? ”
        “ You assume correctly.  Now please leave. ”
        When Mona left, Angelica said, “ You and Mona are good together. ”
        “ Yes.  Let's see how good we are together, honey. ”
        “ Cray, will you give me a few minutes alone in the bedroom? ”
        “ All right, ” he said, drawing out the words.  “ I'll get rid of the beer bottles.  Is there anything you want? ”
        “ Just you.  It won't take me long. ”
        Cray dumped the bottles in the trash.  He'd removed his suit jacket, loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves as he talked with Mona.  Now he took off his belt and removed his shoes and socks.  By the time he finished, Angelica floated to the room where he sat in the diaphanous nightgown and matching robe that he watched her pack earlier that day.
        His breath caught in his throat as he stood and approached her.  “ Angelica, you