Free To Dream Again by Laura Lee Guhrke

intend to make this company the most successful toy company in England. To do that, I need hardworking, honest people who aren't afraid to speak their minds. Whatever you want to ask me, just ask."
    "Yes, sir. I was wondering—" He broke off, took a deep breath, and rushed on, "Perhaps you would tell me what you expect of me, sir."
    "Well, I don't expect you to always agree with me. I'd be highly suspicious if you did. I don't expect you to say 'yes, sir,' and 'no, sir,' and, 'whatever you say, sir.' I don't expect you to work long hours just to impress me, but I expect you to do your best. Does that make it clear?"
    "Yes, s—" He swallowed. "Yes, Mr. Chase."
    "Laying down the law already?" a voice asked from the doorway.
    Both men turned as Michael entered the room.
    Nathaniel laughed. "You're late."
    "I don't believe this. You lecturing me on punctuality." Michael looked around. "Not much of an office."
    "Not yet." Nathaniel turned to the secretary. "Percy, this is Michael Lowenstein. I've hired him as my chief engineer. Michael, my secretary, Percy Sandborn."
    Michael tugged at his cap. "Pleasure to meet you." He looked at Nathaniel. "Shall you show me around this place?"
    "Not yet. We're meeting with my new partner this morning." He turned to the secretary. "Percy, downstairs a gentleman named Boggs is waiting with some of my things. Instruct him to bring them up here. Tell Mrs. Elliot that we're ready to begin our meeting. We'll have it here."
    Percy nodded and left.
    Michael waited until the secretary had left the room. "I witnessed your little tête-à-tête with Mrs. Elliot. Your tact and diplomacy never cease to amaze me."
    "Thanks." He sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "I'm afraid I'm running into some resistance from her."
    "Does it matter? It's her husband you have to work with."
    "Not anymore."
    "What do you mean?"
    Nathaniel told him about James's death and the deal he'd made with Mara.
    Michael expressed surprise and sorrow at the news, and then commented, "A beautiful female partner. I should be so lucky."
    "I don't feel lucky at the moment." Nathaniel frowned. "They laughed at her. I don't like to embarrass people in front of others."
    "I know, but what else could you have done?"
    Nathaniel thought about it. "Nothing," he admitted. "I couldn't let her call me on the carpet in front of everyone as if I were a recalcitrant schoolboy." He sighed and turned away, walking to one of the windows. "I want us to work together, but I have the feeling it will be difficult. Bad partnerships are my special gift."
    He thought of all the fights he'd had with Adrian after their father's death, pointless arguments over company policy. It had been inevitable, he supposed, given that their father had made them partners. He and his father had worked side by side for a year while Adrian was finishing at Cambridge, and he'd known that they had reached an understanding of sorts, but he'd never expected to be given nearly half the company.
    It hadn't mattered. Adrian had been given the controlling interest. For two years, Nathaniel had tried. He'd tried to work with his brother, he'd tried to compromise, but with Adrian, there had been no room for compromise.
    For two years, he'd been forced to stand aside, helpless, watching as Adrian made shoddy products and shady deals, firing many of the talented people Nathaniel had brought into the company, including Michael. He could still remember countless nights of pacing across the floor of Mai Lin's rooms in Limehouse, pouring out his frustrations as she'd listened with all the placid decorum of her Chinese heritage, countless hours of losing himself in her arms, turning frustration into passion as she held him with all the sweet warmth a mistress could give.
    But Mai Lin was gone, Adrian had won, and Nathaniel was still reaching for dreams.
    He pushed his memories and regrets away. His brother was just a competitor now, and that was all. He'd asked Finch to make inquiries into