Lauren leaned back in her chair. The man had changed the way the entire world shopped. She’d used Globalgoods.com to purchase books, but that had been a few years ago. As a biographer of giants in the business world, she knew a bit of Giampalo’s story, but she hadn’t realized how much of the retail world he now controlled.

And this is what bothered her. It was his displacement of retail stores across the globe that had forced many small businesses either to come aboard or close up shop.

While Globalgoods.com wasn’t entirely at fault for Razzle Dazzle’s losses, it was somewhat responsible. She thought of her father’s complete and total refusal to step into the twenty-first century and, in all honesty, knew that, in reality, it was his decision that was the main reason the business was failing. Many retail stores that had created online venues were thriving, and Razzle Dazzle Décor, with its unique set of products, could do so also. She knew it.

She skimmed through the lengthy list of retailers that had climbed on board with Globalgoods.com and their unmitigated successes, and weighed the pros and cons of what she’d just read.

Angela was wrong to assume she would jump on this assignment, but she’d also planted the seed of a new idea that just might change her family’s situation. Before she convinced herself to ditch the entire idea, she picked up her cell phone and called Angela back.

“I’m in,” she said the second Angela picked up the phone. “There is a condition, however,” she added.

“That was fast; I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon. What’s changed your mind? And what condition?”

For the next fifteen minutes, Lauren discussed the details of the assignment but added a new twist that was not part of the contract.

“If you can’t add this in, then I am going to pass on the deal,” she said, convinced she was making the right decision.

“I’ll call Mr. Giampalo now and get back to you. Give me an hour or two,” Angela said.

Lauren heard the renewed enthusiasm in her agent’s voice. Maybe this wasn’t the right way to approach this project, but all she had to lose was $3.5 million, minus Angela’s ten percent fee. Yes, this was a fortune, but Lauren had scruples and wasn’t going to toss them aside, even for a gigantic paycheck. If it was a mistake, then she had only herself to blame.

Right after she disconnected from Angela, she heard the bell ring and realized that, no matter what was going on with her writing career, she still had a business to run. She left the office and greeted an elderly couple. Both were white-headed with rosy cheeks, and each wore a smile as bright as sunshine.

“If I can help you find something, please let me know; otherwise, please feel free to browse.”

“Thank you,” the elderly man said. “We’ve been invited to a Christmas-tree-trimming party. We have to bring an ornament, and your place was recommended by our neighbors. We drove from Asheville, so I’m hoping you have just what we’re looking for.”