Moving Forward

Chapter 22: Harry Johnson

I was finally back home after a long 1 week and a half in Japan. I closed on one more store, but Robert kept calling me about our deal. I was really pissed at him just by what Chris told me but on the other hand he was still one of the biggest designers in fashion right now. I was conflicted, especially since he will be gone after the show this weekend. Johnathan has been on my ass about this too. Even in Japan he kept trying to see if I was going to take the deal or not. I could avoid him because there was plenty of work and at night, Chris was the only thing on my mind. We had been texting each other and got on the topic of clothes, even though he was just getting up for school.

He had sent me a few pictures from his design book that looked amazing. I was still going through them again before Johnathan walked in with an urgency. He stopped, looking at me with his arms crossed and a tight glare.

As if that ever worked.

"What do you want?" I asked him, sitting down my phone.

"He is going to be gone this weekend Harry," He stated leaning over my desk, "We need to jump on this deal."

I sighed leaning back against my chair. If Johnathan knew what I knew he would be more considerate of why I'm taking so long to decide. However, he already made it clear about separating personal from business. All he was worried about was the money aspect, but he still was my partner. He had to know the information and I'll let him infer what he wanted to.

I placed my elbows on the desk looking Johnathan in his eyes and said, "I have something to tell you. Pull up a chair man."

He squinted before pulling up a white chair to sit in. Once he sat down and leaned forward again, I spoke, "Now I don't know if it is true or not but I have gotten information about our friend Robert Norway."

He took a deep breath before moving back in his chair waiting for me to continue, "There is talk that he steals clothing ideas and clothes from lesser known designers."

Johnathan's eyebrows came together as he frowned and asked, "Who said this?"

This was the hard thing to answer. I couldn't tell him that Chris had personal experience because he was going to think I was handling things with my dick. So I just said, "A young designer emailed me before we left."

"Why didn't you tell me this in Japan?"

"Because I had to really think about if what he was saying was true. I still don't know if it is yet."

I leaned back again and really processed what I just said. I wasn't sure if what Chris was saying was true or not but I wanted to trust him. However, my business was still going to be standing if Chris and I don't work out and I can't risk losing out on a potential big deal like this. I was caught between my business and someone I just said I love you to. I groaned in frustration as Johnathan looked at me suspicious.

"If it's just some random guy," He begin playing with the loose paper clips on my desk, "Why does his one opinion matter so much to the point we can't make this deal?"

Johnathan wasn't stupid and I wasn't sure if he was catching on but I wasn't about to just say his son told me. I just answered, "Because if it's one person, there is going to be more that come out the woods. I don't want to be a part of a deal with someone who may be a fraud. But I see what you are saying that it's not enough but it's enough for me to look into it."

He groaned before saying, "Fine! Just don't wait until the last minute. We got until Saturday."

"You have until now," A voice came from the door, making us turn. Robert was standing there as my assistant hung her head low. He was wearing a plain shirt with khakis along with Gucci slide ins. His face told me how upset he was at the missed calls and obvious dismissal anytime he bought up a deal.