Chapter 49: His Brother
Rain’s smile tightened, but she maintained her composure. "Sometimes a fresh perspective can bring fast solutions," she replied calmly, her eyes meeting him with quiet determination. "Besides, Mr. Rock seems to think I’m up to the standards to tackle this task."
She was relieved when Mario excused himself, which seemed to ease the tension in the air caused by Lucian’s comment.
Turning to Lucian, Rain said, "I like to start my work with the tour around the facility. Do you have time to give me a tour of the facility? It would help me to understand the process, requirements, and the environment of the employees and also any potential issues that might not come up in formal conversations."
"Sure," Lucian replied with a sigh. As they walked through the winery, he suddenly added, "I apologize if I was a bit harsh earlier. I tend to speak directly without thinking."
"It’s fine," Rain answered with a smile. His apology put her more at ease, and the tension between them loosened.
"I’m just a bit on edge," Lucian admitted. "Uncle Rock suddenly informed us out of the blue that he’d be taking legal consultation for the issues with the winery and vineyards. It makes me feel like I’m not managing things well if it has come to this."
"Don’t worry," Rain reassured him. "We’ll get to the bottom of this, and I’ll do everything I can to help." She then shifted the conversation to ask Lucian about the day-to-day operations, wanting to get a clearer picture of how things ran.
Lucian explained the production process, from grape harvesting to bottling, but Rain could sense his defensiveness, particularly when she inquired about recent management changes.
"We’ve had to make some adjustments," Lucian admitted, avoiding eye contact. "But I assure you, everything we’re doing is in the best interest of the business."