‘I realise this is not going to be pleasant for everyone,’ he said calmly. ‘But it can’t be helped. We shall therefore not be accepting any more orders, but will naturally honour those already in hand.’
He paused, noting that her hands trembled slightly, and that a deep, rosy blush had begun to sweep over her features. But her green eyes were bright and candid, and she returned his gaze unflinchingly.
‘I think that the orders should be finalised by March or April, and I envisage a complete shutdown by June. All the staff will be paid up to then, with final redundancy bonuses added at the end.’ His tone was clipped and formal. ‘In the meantime, everyone will be entitled to look around for other employment. And there will be some opportunities in the new place. I’ll help where I can.’
He picked up his pen again and twirled it between his fingers.
‘I’m relying on the co-operation and goodwill of the staff—yours, too, Cryssie. You’re obviously a very popular member of the team, so perhaps you can help there. Pour oil on troubled waters.’
Huh! So he thought she’d try and make things easy for him, did he? Bail him out! Cryssie felt almost frozen to the spot, but she finally found her voice again. ‘So. We’re all finished, then. Redundant. And you’re going to kill off a family firm that’s traded happily for almost half a century.’
He nodded. ‘That’s about it,’ he said, unperturbed. ‘And I can assure you that the new enterprise will be very good for the town. Good for the local economy.’
For a long, timeless moment complete silence reigned.
‘You unspeakable pig,’ she said, her voice deadly quiet.
‘I beg your pardon?’ His tone was equally deadly, and there was no hint of warmth in those dangerously seductive eyes as he returned her gaze.
‘What an absolutely vile, horrible thing to do! To wipe us off the face of the earth to satisfy your materialistic lust! Who says the town needs another hotel? There are two already!’
‘Yes, and they’re as out-of-date as Hydebound is,’ he replied curtly. ‘Visitors are always complaining that there’s nowhere decent to stay. So I’ll put that right. It’ll be upmarket, with a swimming pool and other leisure facilities. In just the right place—here, on the outskirts of town, with plenty of space for car parking, countryside all around. It couldn’t be better!’
‘Oh, yes—for you, perhaps!’ Cryssie almost shouted at him. ‘But do you realise how many lives you’re affecting—what this will mean to us?’
‘Don’t be so dramatic, Cryssie,’ he said firmly. ‘Those young enough and able enough will find other work—and, as I said, I’ll do all I can to help. There will be hotel jobs going when the time comes—and that’ll be sooner than you think.’
‘But many of the staff here are craftsmen—not hotel workers! What sort of a deal would that be to them?’
‘In today’s world we must all be flexible,’ he countered. ‘And if they apply to Latimer’s I’ll see they’re given every consideration. People can’t expect to have a job for life, for heaven’s sake!’
Cryssie was finding difficulty keeping herself under control. Any liking she might have had for the man had completely disappeared.
‘People have mortgages to pay!’ she flared, her eyes bright with indignation. ‘How dare you take it upon yourself to decide whether they might or might not be able to keep roofs over their heads! They are expert at their jobs, and—’
‘So why, then, has Hydebound been running at considerable loss for years?’ He paused, and looked down at her for a second or two. ‘No firm can sustain itself on good workmanship alone. Many other things have to be considered. Just look at the distance from town, for a start…there’s no passing trade, and passing trade is vital. Yes, there is a certain client base, but that’s diminishing rapidly because everyone, everyone, likes a bargain. People are shopping where it’s cheaper. And don’t forget the mail-order problem…just another headache for retailers.’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I know that this has been a wonderful family firm, and has done well in its day, but that day has passed. You can’t survive on love, luck and thin air. Which has been what the Lewises have done for too long. Business is business, Cryssie. Dog eats dog in this world, and profit is what the world exists on!’
By now he was nearly as worked up as Cryssie, his voice rising sharply, and he turned away from her, irritated at her angry response and his own reaction to it. Of course he’d known from their very first encounter that she was intensely loyal to Hydebound, and to her colleagues, but if she thought that anything she said now would make him change his mind, she was fooling herself. When he set out to get his way he always succeeded, and nothing and no one would change that!