Chapter 5: Report to Her Father

One point of Rose's meeting with her father was to give a verbal report of what had been happening at her branch. Having signed Cade, who wanted all of the extras, was a coup to Rose. Maybe her father would reconsider giving the company over to her.

She pondered what her conversation would be as Cade left the coffee shop.

Jill settled on the chair he’d just occupied. “That was a surprise.”

“It was. He wants the full deal, too.”

“Oh,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “You get to shape and mold him into a better client.”

“Yes, I do.”

Rose was already making plans in her mind. “Can I get a refill to go?”

“You seem energized now.”

“I think this client will be in my favor. My father can’t refuse me the company now when I can bring in such clients,” Rose said.

Jill brought her a to-go coffee cup and then Rose drove to her office. She had a smaller one than her parents in a smaller town twenty miles outside of the city. She liked the autonomy and thought she did a good job. At least she thought she did her job well enough to take over the company.

She’d miss this office as her commute was short and she could drop off her son Keegan at daycare easily on her way. She might have to move his daycare when she took over, but that wasn’t a concern for now.

As soon as she was settled at her desk, her phone rang. Her father. She groaned not wanting to talk to him, but then again, she’d signed a new client. He should be happy about that.

“Dad.”

“Rose.”

“I have some good news.”

“You got engaged?” he asked.

“No, Dad. I signed a new client. He’s taking most of the packages we have to offer.”

“That works for your bottom line,” he said. “Tell me more.”

She launched into what exactly Cade had signed up for. “I’m going to confirm our meeting dates and then put a call out for what he might be looking for.”

“Who is this man? He must have a lot of money if you can pay for all of our services.”

The agency, besides matching people, would also help a client with his or her wardrobe and role-playing dates before anyone went on a first one. Some clients were rougher than others. Since Rose had only seen Cade in the coffee shop, she had no idea what he had to wear besides the jeans and t-shirts.

“His name is Cade McHenry. He lives on the edge of town though I haven’t looked up his address on the map program.”

There was an unusual silence on the other end of the phone. “Cade McHenry?”

“Yes. Do you know him?”

Her father cleared his throat. “Call him and tell him that we won’t be able to help him.”

She stared at her phone for a moment. “What?”

“We can’t work with him.”

“I’ve just signed him. I’m not going to tell him I can’t help him because I can. What is going on?”

She’d never heard of him. She only knew Cade from the coffee shop. How could her father have such a reaction to Cade?

“Refund him any money.”

“Dad, you aren’t making sense. He’s a client who is willing to pay for all of our services. Why would you turn him down?”

“He’s bad news, Rose.”

“I checked out his credit rating. The card he put on file for us is good. I don’t see the problem. He’s a gentleman by my estimation and he needs help. I’m willing to give it to him.”

Her father had never been this irrational about any client she’d signed on. There had been a lot of scrutiny when she first opened this office, but that had been years ago.

“Rose,” her father said in his “dad” voice.

“No, Dad. I’m not giving up on this client. I think I can help him and he’s eager to listen to what I have to say so he can find a wife. This is a huge win for me and I won’t let you take it away.”

“Cade McHenry is bad news.”

“Is he a criminal?” Rose asked.

Her father sighed. “Not that it has been proven, but he lives out in the woods.”

“So because he isn’t a city person you suspect him?” Rose asked.

“It’s not that, Rose. I need you to trust me on this.”

“Well, I don’t. I’m just as good a judge of character as you are, Dad. I’m not letting him go. I’m excited to take Cade on as a client.”

Even if it was going to be challenging to see him with someone else. He was the hottest client she’d ever had. Looks didn’t often matter to her, but there was something about Cade that drew her to him.

“I can’t talk you out of this?”

“No. You haven’t given me any valid reasons to tear up the contract,” Rose said.

“You won’t do it on my advice?”

“No. I run this office, remember. I asked for autonomy and agreed to give you reports. It’s worked so far for us.”

Was this about her refusing to marry? Was her father going to hold that over her for the rest of her life? She didn’t need a man to complicate things right now.

“Well, maybe I’ve given you too much of a free reign.”

“Dad, stop. The business is fine. The office is doing well and I’m taking on Cade McHenry.”

There was no way she was giving back the giant deposit he’d given her. This might be the one client that would finally prove to her parents that she had what it took to be a world-class matchmaker. She’d been proving herself over and over and maybe now they would trust her.

“I’m not changing my mind.”

Rose did something she’d never done before in her life, but her father was making her angry. She hung up on him then stared at the phone for a few minutes.

He didn’t call back.