Chapter 7
SERENA
“Well. Isn’t this…interesting.” Tracy, the chairwoman of the pecan dish contest, takes our entry and eyes it with a curious look.
I can only chortle with an embarrassed smile because it is indeed interesting in the way that you want to stay far away from whatever follows.
In this case I think it will be a puke bucket that tasters run to after having one bite of this monstrosity.
I still cannot believe I let Santi talk me into entering it.
Pecan crusted red chile goat cheese dip. After all of the various recipes we tested, this is the crap we came to an agreement on. I use the term agreement lightly because I in no way wanted to present this to anyone. But yet, somehow, here we are. Handing over food poisoning on a dish.
“If any of these judges end up in the hospital, you’re paying their bill.” I point a finger in Santi’s smiling face as we walk away from what could be the downfall of our company.
Santi smacks my finger away and throws his arm over my shoulder. “Oh ye of little faith. You’ll be singing a different tune when we’re awarded first place and handed one of those giant cardboard checks. You know, like the others we have stored in a closet somewhere.”
My feet skid to a stop and I turn to face him. “I swear to God, Santiago, if this ends horribly and it affects a possible deal with Queen Foods, I will put a curse on you that every hair on your head falls out and you have a lumpy skull.”
His jaw drops and he places his hand lovingly on his hair. “How dare you put that on me, Serena Anita León. That is just cruel.”
I roll my eyes and move through the crowd that is growing bigger by the minute.
The sounds of the festival are all around me.
Kids laughing, bells and whistles ringing from games being played, and music playing from the band on the small stage.
When I was a kid, these were all the things that made me happy.
Santi and I would spend every minute of the three day festival running around and tasting all the food, playing with our friends and enjoying the carnival rides. Those are some of the best memories.
However, things hit differently when you’re an adult and realize there are too many people, too many kids running wild, and it's a wasted day when you can be working. I sigh with how quickly I’ve turned into the person I never wanted to be; a work consumed person who always wears a scowl and has no social life.
“Rena!” My name is shouted from somewhere around me, and I scan the crowd for who it could have been. When I spot a pretty brunette with a wide smile and cute dimple, I suddenly feel less cranky.
Daisy Steele is a delightful young woman, despite who her dad is.
She has been asking me a lot of questions about design and illustration.
She’s a very talented artist and unlike my parents, hers are encouraging her to pursue her passion.
Maybe that’s why I feel like I’ve bonded with her.
It has been really great talking with someone who has the love for art as I do.
“Hi Daisy. How are you?” She skips through the crowd and hugs me.
“Good. I’m so glad I found you. I need to show you something.” She grabs my hand and begins tugging on me.
“Oh-okay. Um, have you met my brother?” I ask as Santi trails behind us.
“We’ve met,” Santi says and I look over my shoulder to find a curious look on his face.
I shuffle behind Daisy as we weave in and out of festival goers until we reach the booth that Steele Nuts has set up.
Thankfully it is on the opposite side of the food alley from our booth.
When we step under the canopy I see Maggie talking with a couple and Burke standing nearby, adjusting a display.
“Look at this.” Daisy grabs the sign near the case Burke is fussing with and hands it to me.
My eyes scan the sign that features the logo of Steele Nuts and Loves Peach Farm along with some information listed below.
In collaboration with Loves Peach Farm, Steele Nuts brings you the first product of their new dessert line,
Nutty Delights.
Our first product, Toasted Pecan Peach Ice Cream, will be a part of the this year’s food contest and soon, you can find it in local stores near you.
You love our nuts, but now you’ll fall for our treats.
I read it over twice and feel my blood begin to slowly simmer.
“You’re starting a dessert line?” I ask with an accusatory look at Santi.
There aren’t many people who know about what I am trying to get started with a new product line through Regal, but my guess would be Santi shared it with him somehow. He’s like an overly happy golden retriever and practically pees himself when he’s excited.
“Yes. Is there a problem with that?” Burke’s voice is deep and agitated.
I direct my attention back at him with a narrowed gaze. “I just didn’t realize your little operation had the capacity to handle something like this.”
His nostrils flare and his jaw clenches. “You don’t need millions of dollars and a twenty thousand square foot warehouse to be successful.”
My teeth chew on the inside of my lip as I try to contain the words that would like to leave my mouth. Self control is difficult but I’m learning now that I’m a CEO, I must work harder at it.
I scan the table with bags of their nuts, samples for people to munch on, and a strange contraption that looks like a science experiment.
A clear glass box fills with smoke from dry ice, and a metal bowl sits atop it, a small glass bowl inside and what looks like a scoop of ice cream topped with chopped pecans and thin slices of peach.
It’s quite beautiful actually, but it’s a must that I remain impassive.
“I designed it,” Maggie says, having finished with her customers. “We needed a way to keep the ice cream cold long enough for people to view and to display for the food contest.” I pass Maggie a small smile and return to inspecting it.
The box is large and accommodates a metal bowl filled with crushed ice.
It acts like a freezer to keep the ice cream chilled.
It’s eye-catching and will definitely draw people in with curiosity.
But moreover, it will have people wanting to try it and buy it.
It makes our plastic covered charcuterie board with the offensive goat cheese and crackers look like a kindergarteners lunch.
“Oh, hey Bob.” The name has me spinning around and now my blood that was simply simmering is now boiling over.
“Burke. Oh, and Miss Leòn. What a surprise to see you here.” Bob, the man from Queen Foods that I met with just a few weeks ago, comes stepping into the tent and joining the five of us. “Did you come to taste the ice cream, as well?”
“N-no. I just…” My eyes wander from face to face as I try to think of a reason why I’m still standing here. “ Simply stopping by to say hello to a fellow farmer.”
Bob smiles and moves closer to the display that we all admire. “Wow. Isn’t this something? If it tastes as good as it looks, we’ll have no problem getting it in stores.”
“Excuse me?” My words are harsher, and louder, than I intend them to be, but what in the actual fuck.
A cocky grin crawls across Burke's face and a glint in his eyes outshines the sun. “I thought Daisy mentioned it. We’ve teamed up with Queen Foods to get this into some local grocery stores. Not bad for a little operation.” He throws my words from moments ago back at me and it makes me want to reach out and throat punch him.
“When Burke approached me with the idea, I thought it was brilliant. Austin Love and Steele Nuts are already in local grocers, so it will be easy to convince them to carry a combined product.” My face grows tight listening to Bob.
This idea was mine. I was supposed to be his priority and he should be pushing our product.
We’re the larger company and while we have relations with plenty of stores in Texas, I really wanted him to market a larger product line using his connections.
Regal Pecans may produce millions of pecans every year, but at the core we keep things small.
Our sales department could never handle such a big campaign, and it’s the reason I sought Bob out.
Clearing my throat, I adjust my sunglasses and try to make my face less…judgy.
“Well I hope things work out well for you, Burke. And Bob,” I continue, addressing him while trying desperately to ignore Burke.
“I guess we can touch base next week about what our next steps are to push the Regal Apps and Sides line.” I throw that little bit out there and watch Burke go from smug to unbelieving.
You’re not the only one with good ideas, Steele.
“We better get back to our booth. It gets so busy that we need all hands on deck. If you girls want to stop by, we have samples you can try.” I begin pushing Santi out of the tent, wanting to get away before my lid blows.
“You’ll like it,” Santi begins. “Goat cheese, red chile, and pecans. Tell me that doesn’t sound delicious.” It doesn’t sound delicious, I think. “We’ve got cold drinks too, so come by before it’s all gone.”
“Haha. Okay, time to go.” My chuckle is forced and so fake.
My hands nudge Santi out and I leave Bob and Burke to discuss their amazing new venture. They didn’t say that per say, but it was implied.
“I wish you would’ve let me taste their ice cream, Rena. It sounds and looks so tempting.”
“Yeah, well I’m tempted to punch you.” I come to halt when we’re far enough for Burke and tug his arm. “Did you tell Burke about our idea? I know you have some mutual friends and run-in to one another quite often.”
“No. I would never share secrets. You know that.” I study his face, looking for signs he’s lying, but find none.
I begin speed walking through the crowd, headed straight for our booth. “Well he found out somehow and now he’s coming for our customers.”
“Couldn’t he have just had the same idea at coincidentally the same time?”
“There are no coincidences in life and you should know that.” I huff and stomp through our neighbors –every one is a friend or neighbor in a small town. “I’m going to find out how he got the information. We’ve got a snitch in-house and I’m going to shut it down.”
Be scared, Burke Steele. I’m coming for you.