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Lucas Broussard
This quarter’s sales are profitable Da into Lovibond Brewery as a partner four years ago has proven to be a wise decision Oliver Thorn, Porter Beckly wealthy men
The opportunity to financially back this co its infancy couldn’t have presented itself at a better time My life had been in a shambles
Miserable in my business
A failed e
My wife and my business partner in lovewith each other
My world was a complete clusterfuck
A knock on my office door steals ot a minute?”
“Sure”
Stout enters, shutting the door behind him He never does that
Oliver Thorn, aka Stout and my business partner, shrinks into the chair across frohs His face is nearly hidden in his palms This isn’t the typical carefree Stout who launches himself into the chair opposite e of uy in front of me looksdefeated
I’m silent as I wait for him to look up at me But he doesn’t This is weird Stout never acts like this
Maybe I should pro over the nuain This time by thirteen point nine percent That’s almost two times what they were last quarter” Unbelievable how quickly this co
It began with two college guys brewing beer in their apart their hobby into a multimillion-dollar company I was taken aback when Porter approached h I wasn’t much older, he and Stout had seeraduates with zero business experience Dreauys had so marketable on their hands
That was four years and several o
The founding fathers of Lovibond Brewery have been called s Lords of the hops Masters of the craft Top hops Brew brothers Boot keggers The list is endless The pair know and understand the science and production behindbeer Interesting direction given their backgrounds in chen And that’s where I couy Supply and demand Nus I know and understand They need me And I need them
I trust Stout and Porter to produce a top quality product They have confidence in e all business and financial aspects Each of us does his part That’s e reat trio
Stout still isn’t talking Guess I’ll have to probe “I’ you shut the door because you want to speak privately”
“Yeah I’ve been having a hard tis ended with Eden” No shit He’s been on a three-month party streak Booze and women
“The last few months haven’t been your finest” I’m pretty sure Stout has partied harder the last few e career at Alabama
“I have a problem”
Stout turned to the party life to nuuys have done that at one ti considered reasonable Not the best way to deal when you have beer within your reach at any given tie before it spirals out of control”
“Got a little out of control already I spent the night in the slammer last weekend Got a DUI”
Oh, hell A DUI conviction stays on your record for five years in the state of Alabama “I can’t believe this shit, Stout You’re a partner in a conated driver Do you understand how that looks?”
“Trust hs “I’ with an attorney He’s alet me out of it”
“Avoiding a conviction only fixes part of the problem” This could mean bad publicity for Lovibond
if word gets out
“My attorney says he’s certain we can divert my case out of the court systeh a rehabilitation program”
“That’s your only option?”
“I can fight it Maybe I win Maybe I don’t But one thing’s for sure if I don’t do the prograood for anyone involved
“Then you don’t have a choice” Stout is going to rehab Probably not a bad place for hi He’ll have time to dry out
“There’s a hitch” Isn’t there always? “There isn’t a place for raram”
“Inpatient for thirty days?” Fuck
Porter will have to pick up Stout’s load I’m not sure how he’ll handle more work at this point; he’s already snowed under with his own responsibilities We all are “You think Porter can take on your work load as well?”
Southern Taste Beer Festival is just around the corner, and we’re in charge of hosting the event this year Sixteen breweries will be traveling to our hoham for the festivities It’s a ton of preparation even e join forces Being short a partner won’t be helpful
“I’ve arranged to hire an assistant for hi with a temp service to line up interviews”
At least he’spreparations for his absence “We’ll do what it takes to etting your shit together”
“That’s the plan”
I’er to how a s together”
“I have to If not for myself, I have to do it for Lawrence”
I try to place who he’s talking about but I’m stumped “Lawrence?”
“My sister, Lawry”
Lawrence Lawry I should have been able to ht I’m sure you don’t want to disappoint her”
“I don’t And that’s why I’ram She’d freak if she knew” I’ve always been under the impression he was close to his sister I’ like this from her
All this time as his partner and I’ve not met his sister Never even spoken to her “You don’t have to worry abouteither”
“I know neither of you will rat me out, but I have a kink in my plan I can only have outside contact on visitation day so the progra my phone into the facility That’s a problem because I text or talk to o radio silent”
“What kind of shit program cuts you off from your friends and family?” That’s his support system
“They don’t cut you off I can make calls from the pay phone and have visitors on Sundays” I can see how that’s going to be an issue if they have daily contact
“Have you come up with an explanation to explain your disappearance?”
“I have but I’ to like it” Stout closes his eyes and peeks at one”
Well, that’s just duh aloud because the idea is so idiotic
“You want ht now because that makes zero sense No way I could pass myself off as you to your sister” She knows his voice Plus, I’m Cajun She’d hear one word out of me and immediately know I’m not him
“You won’t have to talk to Lawry I just need you to pacify her with daily texts”