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Chapter One

Joshua Leblanc

I’ve been in Toronto for twoto think it never will I grew up in Napa Valley with my parents Rob and Marcy I was a late-in-life surprise for theain, they finally gave up only to have those two little blue lines pop up years later They wereWe did everything together until they couldn’t any ie, my first job They were here for all of it It breaks et to hold their grandchildren

God, I know they would have been arandparents It’s weird to think that I can’t call them up and ask for advice anymore As an only child of only children, that’s the hardest part No family No one to lean on No built-in friends When I do have children, I’ a whole mess of therown-ass man should never feel lost and alone When I lost o, I knew California couldn’t be home anymore

Then Renaud Capital Asset Management Incorporated offered me a job I couldn’t refuse I had never been headhunted before I did great things at my last job as CEO of Fineman, Hall, and Lochlan, the Wall Street traders; that has to be how they’ve heard of me I took the coned on, they were about to declare bankruptcy, but I sorted it all out and ain

Once Renaud hiredmyself to sell the vineyard my parents started from a hybrid vine La Reine des Vins is world-renowned for its red wines, and no one knows that I am the owner I like it that way I left the day-to-day operations of the coomery, my best friend He’s worked at the vineyard since he was fourteen years old He’s always been fascinated with the grapes, while I wasa lot of it, which I do, but how tofor it until you die I got my MBA at the Marshall School of Business at my alma mater of the University of Southern California, and it paid off big time

As the brand new CEO of the Fortune 500 co the desperately needed changes I have in in was down by several points, which ushered in the change in leaders I barely sit down at my desk when my assistant, Janey, comes in with a cup of coffee, just the way I like it Janey is about a hundred and the sweetest old lady She’s close to retirement, and I need to be on an even keel before that happens

“Mr Leblanc, you have threedepart with Joel, the CFO”

“Sounds good, Janey Thanks”

“Firstis in an hour in the conference room I also emailed you the contact information for the top three interior decorators in Toronto, as requested”

“Thanks,” I say as she leavesthe door behind her I simply can’t live out of boxes forever, and if I don't hire someone, I will be Both my home and office need to be decorated It ain, and I’m way too old for that

At thirty-six, I thought I’d be more settled than I aner and immediately close it It’s too modern for my tastes, and I move to the second link Now, this one I like It’s toned doith lots of dark oaks I click through the online portfolio and a I drop a quick e then I checkdown the hall toI am the first to arrive, just as I like to be It puts others on edge when the boss is there before you I sit at the table and swivel the chair to look out the s I sit with my hands behind my head and look out at the view of the business district of don It’s a lot different than Los Angeles, but the same in many ways