Chapter 49: The Unexpected
David had just clocked in and changed into his uniform when he spotted a familiar face amidst the bustling crowd of the grocery store. Harvey Ross, the store owner, was casually strolling down the aisles and talking with customers. Harvey was more of a hands-off person, usually leaving the administrative and managerial parts of the business to Dennis Cameron. It was rare for him to actually come to the grocery store, save for his monthly check-ins.
“David,” Harvey greeted in a warm tone. “Good to see you.”
David smiled and gave a professional bow.
“Harvey, this is a surprise. What brings you here?”
Harvey chuckled, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief.
“Well, I thought I’d come down and see how things are going. Plus, I have something I wanted to discuss with you.”
David’s interest was piqued. He had been hoping to learn more about the operational side of the business and had often wanted to ask Harvey questions about the intricacies of running the store.
“What can I do for you?” David asked.
Harvey took a moment to glance around before leaning in closer, his voice dropping to a more confidential tone.
“I’m meeting with one of our suppliers in the countryside tomorrow. We’re discussing a new line of products and opportunities to partner and expand. I thought you might like to join me.”
David was stunned.
“That would be amazing; I would definitely be interested in coming along,” he replied, barely able to contain the excitement in his voice.
“Excellent,” Harvey said, his smile widening. “I think you’ll find it very insightful. We’ll be meeting the supplier at their farm, so you’ll also get to observe how they run their operations. You’ll see firsthand how we source our products, negotiate contracts, and maintain supplier relationships.”
David felt a surge of excitement. As someone who aspired to one day run his own business, the chance to gain experience and deepen his understanding of how things were done was invaluable. The prospect of meeting the supplier, observing the negotiation process, and possibly even participating in the conversation was something he had never imagined he would get to do so early in his career.
“Thank you for the opportunity, Harvey,” David bowed with a heart full of gratitude. “I really appreciate it.”
Harvey waved off his thanks with a humble smile.
“No need for that, David. I’ve seen your dedication and hard work. You’re a smart kid, and I believe you have the potential to do great things. Consider this as my way of investing in your future.”
David nodded, feeling a sense of pride and anticipation. He was eager to delve into this new learning experience and couldn’t wait for the following day.
“Why don’t you take the day off to pack and prepare yourself?” Harvey continued. “We’ll be staying there for about a week, so make sure you bring enough clothes and that they’re business appropriate attire. We may be going to a farm, but it is a business trip, after all.”
“Thank you very much, sir. I appreciate it,” David replied. “But I’m supposed to continue training my replacement, Donna, today. Unless, is there someone else who can take care of that?”
Harvey laughed and gave David a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry, David. I’ll have Dennis train Donna. It’ll do him good to get away from the screens and staring at numbers for a day.”
“Oh, okay. Well, if it really won’t be too much of an inconvenience, I’ll accept the day off and prepare for the trip. Thank you again for the opportunity, sir; I really appreciate it.”
The chance to learn firsthand about business was an opportunity he never thought he’d get so soon after leaving the Bringer household, and he was eager to make the most of it.
Feeling a sense of renewed purpose, David quickly made his way to the nearby mall. It was the type of place he hadn’t been able to visit before due to his limited savings and the fact that he wasn’t allowed to have personal belongings other than clothes while living under Shiela’s roof.
Back then, Shiela had kept a tight grip on his earnings, only giving him enough to buy clothes from the local thrift store whenever his clothes wore out. Other than anything he managed to hide or pocket from extra jobs, everything else went straight into her pocket, leaving David with very little to call his own. He was only allowed enough to not warrant any unnecessary attention or questions about his living situation.
Now, he found himself in the fortunate position of being able to spend some of his hard-earned money on much-needed clothes for the upcoming business trip. As he walked through the mall, he took his time browsing through the stores, marveling at the quality of the clothes on display. They were leagues beyond anything he had ever found at the thrift store.
David couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction as he made his purchases. He was finally free to do what he wanted. He wasn’t controlled by Shiela Bringer anymore. Now, he was making his own choices, earning his own money, and even investing in his future.
With all the shopping done, David found himself with some time to spare and decided to take the afternoon to explore more of the city. As he walked, he recalled reading some newspaper articles about the Luxe Luminary Gallery and its owner, Horace Lim. Conveniently, it was pretty close to the mall and on the way back to the Rising Phoenix Hotel, so David decided to pay a visit.
The Luxe Luminary Gallery was known for its vast collection of exhibits, showcasing Dalton’s rich history and art. David was eager to see these exhibits up close, especially after reading about Horace’s dedication to preserving and promoting the city’s culture.
As he made his way to the gallery, David grew more and more excited. This was an opportunity to learn more about Dalton, its history, its people, and possibly his parents. The photos and articles in the newspapers clearly showed that they were strong supporters of Mr. Lim and the gallery, so maybe this was an opportunity to learn more about his parents’ legacy.
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