chapter 5

Monday morning at eight-thirty, Olivia sat at her desk in the Reed Landscapes company’s office.

The business had begun 30 years ago. It was her father’s creation and over that time had evolved into a company with over 125 employees, many long term. Three men who started with her father were still with her.

Phil Dark, chief designer and draughtsman. Albert Hunter, head of finance and accounting. These two men were her rocks. She knew she could rely on them. Their values were that of her father’s, Honesty, Integrity, Quality, and Teamwork. Graham Styles, was her third rock, he was the companies Operations manager.

Olivia spent much of her childhood in the company’s office, factory and building yards watching men and women create and develop designs that helped make the company the success it is now. The sounds and smells that emanated around her were as familiar to her as her own heartbeat. This business was a part of her, a continuing tribute to the father she’d loved so much.

She