Chapter 19 - The New Contract
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Adrian’s consulting firm, Vanguard Strategies, was expanding rapidly. He was currently reviewing a massive contract proposal from a mid-sized hospitality chain looking to restructure their management hierarchy. It was a lucrative deal, but it required significant travel over the next six months.
He brought the proposal home, leaving it on the kitchen island while he helped Claire chop vegetables for dinner.
"What’s this?" Claire asked, tapping the thick stack of paper with a wet finger.
"The Sterling Hotel group," Adrian replied, scraping carrots into a bowl. "They want us to handle their corporate restructuring."
Claire picked up the executive summary, scanning the requirements.
"This looks like a lot of travel, Adrian."
"It is."
"Four days a week for the next half year?"
Adrian stopped chopping.
"I haven't signed it yet. I wanted to talk to you first."
Claire leaned against the counter, studying his face.
"Do you want to take it?"
"It would solidify the firm’s reputation," he admitted. "It's the kind of contract my mother would have killed for."
"But what do you want?"
Adrian looked out the kitchen window. Miles was in the backyard, attempting to teach their newly adopted golden retriever, Barnaby, how to sit. The dog was currently licking Miles’s face instead.
"I don't want to miss him teaching the dog to sit," Adrian said honestly.
"Then don't sign it."
"It's a lot of money, Claire."
"We have enough money," she reminded him gently. "We have the house. We have our savings. We have enough stored choices."
Adrian looked at the contract again. The numbers were impressive, but the cost was entirely too high.
"I'll tell my partners we're passing on it," he decided, feeling a sudden, immense weight lift from his shoulders.
"They might be disappointed," Claire noted.
May you like
"They might be," Adrian agreed. "But they aren't my family."
He picked up the contract and dropped it into the recycling bin, returning to the carrots with a lighter heart.
