Chapter 39
CHAPTER
Cruz hated social media—more so after his unexpected viral moment that had cost the farm a major client—but it came in handy at times. Like now.
The moment he hung up from chatting with his mother, he did an online search for Jesse Lee.
The guy had a Facebook and Instagram profile, both set to private, and his profile pics were the restaurant logo for Lee’s House of Fusion.
Their website featured the usual generic photos of menu dishes and a brief spiel about cooking being in the Lee family for generations, but no pictures of staff.
Not that Cruz needed to see yet more proof of his father’s double life, but curiosity got the better of him.
What he couldn’t fathom was how a sombre man like his father had charmed two men into wanting him.
With Roger, it may have been convenience, because Cruz could imagine how difficult it might be to find a hook-up in a small country town. And with the two of them being best mates, nobody would question them spending time together.
But Jesse lived in Melbourne and Mac must’ve made an effort to see him, which meant the cook meant a lot to him. More than his own family. The thought that his father had cheated on his mother with not just one man but two gutted him. She didn’t deserve that.
He’d order her some flowers to be delivered; as a cheer-up for her ankle too. She’d left the apartment’s address on a notepad in the study, along with careful instructions for every software app she used to manage the farm.
His phone rang as he sat at his desk. Unknown number.
‘Cruz Wardlow,’ he said, his usual perfunctory greeting when he didn’t know the caller.
‘Cruz, Larry Ludwig.’
Cruz sat up straighter. Larry didn’t need an introduction. He owned one of the largest fruit and vegetable distributors on the east coast.
‘Hi, Larry. What can I do for you?’
‘How about supply me with quality avocados I can distribute around the country?’
Cruz gaped. A contract with the Ludwigs would be worth millions. His father had tried courting them several times to little avail, and now he had Larry reaching out?
‘Absolutely,’ Cruz said. ‘If you email me your requirements and delivery dates, I can put together a quote.’
‘Done.’
Stunned by this fortuitous call, he said, ‘Can I ask why you want Kinstead Avocados to become a new supplier?’
‘You can thank my wife for that.’ Larry chuckled. ‘She saw that video of you online and thought that any grower brave enough to do that for his business deserves a chance. I’ll email you through our requirements now. Chat soon.’
Larry hung up, leaving Cruz staring at his phone in bewilderment. Had that just happened? El’s ridiculous video had cost him one client but had landed him a much bigger one?
The email icon on his phone pinged and he tapped on it, relieved to see Larry had been true to his word. When he saw how many tonnes of avocados Larry needed, Cruz almost fell off his chair.
Then he spied another email and his shock intensified.
Green Thumbz, a nationwide market franchise, also wanted him to supply avocados all around Australia.
They would absorb the freight costs and suggested a six-month contract to begin with, which would net the farm more than they’d earned in the last two years, according to the figures he’d gone over.
Lois, the CFO who’d emailed, mentioned they’d discovered Kinstead Avocados from the viral video, and reiterated what Larry had said: a ballsy move like that deserved a chance.
Stunned, Cruz laid his phone on his desk and rubbed his temples. He’d been so caught up in losing George as a client that he’d ignored what El had said about the video potentially bringing in new clients. Turns out, that’s exactly what had happened, which meant he owed her an apology.
Though he had a feeling nothing less than grovelling would do.