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“I assu?”

The words hit uage

Taylor Logging As in, the “Josh Taylor” Taylor Logging My stomach went ice cold, and it took all the restraint I had to not letout of my head with surprise

“One of the largest natural resource industries in the country,” said Sarah “And they want a dedicateddepartment—they want us”

“As of next year, we’ll be working exclusively with Taylor Logging And if any of you are worried about this, lete for us still, the only difference being that we’ll be working for the Taylor family”

Whichfor the Taylor family

Josh Taylor was about to becoarded each other with the sae

I didas the two of them went over the finer points of the buyout But there was only one detail I cared about—in afor none other than Josh Taylor

When thewas done, Bethany and I went back in the break roo at the bit to flip out

“You’re kiddingus?”

I shook my head “The whole reason I’m here is because we’re an independent outfit What the hell’s going to happen once we’re basically owned by a Fortune 500 company?”

“They say it’s going to be the same,” she said “But no way Whatever creativity this place could et corporate-ified like crazy”

As much as I wanted to pretend I was only concerned about that part,back to the Josh factor

“I can tell what’s on yourand sympathetic all at once

“It’s so stupid,” I said, frustrated with myself “I know I shouldn’t be bothered by it But what the hell is this going to be like? I’o?”

“It won’t be that bad I mean, maybe it’ll even be kind of funny”

My fingertips began to hurt, and I glanced down to see that I was gripping the edge of the counter I let go, trying to calm my ass down