Chapter 19

Finn

I stood by the massive fermentation tank, my heart sinking with every word the repairman said. The bright lights of the brewery seemed to dim as the enormity of the situation hit me. According to the guy there was a microscopic leak somewhere, and the tanks are contaminated with bacteria. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to keep my composure.

"You're looking at around $68,000, minimum," the repairman said, scratching his head. "And that's if we're lucky."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "And if we're not?"

He sighed, his face a picture of sympathy. "Could be upwards of $100,000. Maybe more, depending on what we find once we start the deep cleaning and evaluations."

A wave of nausea washed over me. It felt like I was teetering on the edge of a cliff, looking down into financial ruin.

"I just... I can't believe this," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "This tank is only three years old. How could this happen?"

The repairman shrugged. "Faulty gasket, perhaps? Sometimes these things slip through the cracks. It's rare, but it happens."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My mind raced through the implications. The lost product, the cleaning process, the downtime. All the money we were supposed to make, gone. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

"Is there any way to speed up the process? Get us back up and running faster?" I asked, a note of desperation creeping into my voice. "We only have a little bit of stock left. If I don't repair it ASAP my employees will be out of work."

"We'll do our best," he said. "But we can't cut corners. If we miss even a trace of that bacteria, it'll contaminate future batches. This has to be thorough."

I nodded again, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "Thank you," I said, my voice hoarse. "I'll call the insurance company and see what they can do."

As the repairman walked away, I pulled out my phone, hands shaking. I dialed the number for our insurance agent, praying that we'd be covered. The thought of losing everything I'd worked so hard for was almost too much to bear.

I was about to dial the number when the phone rang. It was Alex, so I immediately answered.

"Hi," I mumbled.

"What did the repairman say?" Alex asked, and I felt pressure behind my eyes.

"Gimme a sec," I sighed, then I went into my office and shut the door. "This is a fucking disaster, Alex. Not only are there physical problems with the tank, but now it's contaminated with some bacteria I can't pronounce the name of."

"Lactobacillus," Alex muttered. "Damn, I'm so sorry. How much will it cost to repair it?"

"It could be up to $100,000 or more," I replied, my voice breaking. "And that's not even counting the lost revenue from being shut down for who knows how long. This could bankrupt me."

There was a beat of silence on the other end of the line before Alex spoke again. "Okay, we'll figure this out. Just take a deep breath and let's tackle this one step at a time."

I closed my eyes, grateful for Alex's steady presence even over the phone. "Thanks, I needed to hear that. I'll call the insurance company now and see what they say."

"Finn, I'll be here for you, but I need you to know that I can help you out if you want me too." Alex sighed heavily. "I'm certain I have a few spare tanks in my warehouse, or I can…"

"No," I interrupted him. "Alex, thank you, but I need to take care of this myself."

"Okay, but I just want you to know that I can help you out if the worst happens. Now," Alex took a deep breath. "Would you like to go out to dinner after you're off work? How about that Chinese place near you on Broad Street, The Joy Garden?"

"I'd love too." Inwardly I sighed with relief. I thought Alex might have pressured me to let him help, but I was stubborn and preferred to do things my way. All I want is for him to be there for me. "I'll text you when I'm about to leave for the day."

I heard Alex breathing, yet he wasn't saying anything. "Are you still there?"

"Oh, yes." Alex replied. "Sorry, my brain wandered. I'll leave my office when you text me. Finn, I, um…"

"Yeah?"

"Nothing, I just want you to know how much I care about you."

"Thanks, Alex." I smiled for the first time since I'd arrived at the brewery. "I needed to hear that."

I sat in my disorganized office, surrounded by chaos. My mind was a storm of worries, from looming financial disaster to the impending fate of my business. I'd already sent an urgent email to the insurance company, but the thought of waiting for their response was suffocating.

With trembling fingers, I dialed the number for Albemarle Mutual, bracing myself for the worst. The phone rang and each ring felt like a beat in my heart, amplifying my anxiety until finally, someone answered.

"Albemarle Mutual, this is Norma speaking. How can I assist you?" Her voice sounded cold and distant.

"Hi, this is Finn McKenna with Fireside Forge Brewery. I emailed earlier today about a claim for our contaminated fermentation tank. We need to know how soon we can get the funds for repairs." I tried to sound composed, but my voice betrayed my nerves.

"Yes, Mr. Malone. I see your claim here. Unfortunately, it may take a few weeks before we can process it," Norma replied coolly, not showing any sympathy.

My forehead broke out into a cold sweat. "A few weeks? That's too long! My business could be ruined by then. Is there anything you can do to expedite this?"

"Mr. Malone, I understand your situation, but our processes are thorough and cannot be rushed under normal circumstances. You'll have to prepare for a delay," she stated firmly.

My grip on the phone tightened. "You don't understand. This isn't just a delay—it's potentially devastating for me. Can't you make an exception? I've been a loyal customer."

"I'm sorry, but our policies exist to ensure fairness and accuracy. You will have to wait like everyone else," Norma replied unflinchingly.

All the frustration and fear boiled over inside me. "I can't believe this. You might as well be signing the death warrant for my business. This is unacceptable!" I shouted, my voice trembling with desperation.

"Mr. Malone, there's no need to raise your voice," Norma said calmly, still unmoved. "We are following our protocol."

"Protocol?" I spat out the word like it was venom. "To hell with your protocol! My livelihood is at stake because of your bureaucracy!"

Without waiting for her response, I slammed the phone down, the sound reverberating in the small office. I cursed under my breath, feeling a surge of helplessness and anger wash through me. I buried my face in my hands, trying to calm down as the walls of my office closed in on me.

"What the fuck am I going to do?"

I leaned back in my chair, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on me. My eyes stung with unshed tears, the frustration and hopelessness nearly overwhelming. I took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to calm the storm inside me.

As I stared blankly at the wall, Alex's words echoed in my mind.

"I need you to know that I can help you out if you want me to."

For the first time, I was genuinely tempted to accept his offer. The thought of selling the brewery to Alex's company was a bitter pill to swallow, but what other choice did I have? If the insurance money didn't come through soon, I'd have to shut down. My employees would be out of work, and everything I'd worked so hard for would be gone.

My gaze wandered to the framed photo on my desk—me, grinning ear to ear, holding up our first bottle of beer. I remembered the pride, the excitement, the sense of accomplishment. Now, the thought of losing it all made me want to cry. Selling to Alex would mean giving up on my dream, but it would also mean saving my employees' jobs and ensuring the brewery's survival, even if it was no longer mine.

A lump formed in my throat as I grappled with the decision. It felt like choosing between two impossible options. Part of me wanted to call Alex right then and there, but the other part clung stubbornly to the hope that somehow, I'd make it through this storm on my own.

I wiped my eyes and took another deep breath. I had to do what was right for my employees and the business, even if it broke my heart in the process. Maybe Alex's offer was the lifeline we needed, and maybe it was time to swallow my pride and accept it.

I picked up my phone again, my fingers trembling as I hovered over Alex's contact. The tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over, but I forced myself to breathe deeply. I couldn't make this decision in the heat of the moment. I needed to think it through, weigh the options, and be sure I was doing the right thing.

But deep down, I knew that if the insurance money didn't come through soon, I might not have a choice. I had to be prepared for the worst, and that meant considering Alex's offer, no matter how much it hurt.

A knock on the door jolted me out of my spiraling thoughts. I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes and tried to steady my voice. "Come in," I called out, struggling to sound composed.

Daniel stepped into the office, his brow furrowed with concern. "Finn, are you okay?" he asked, closing the door behind him.

I took a shaky breath and gestured for him to sit down. "No, Daniel, I'm not. The repairman just left, and the estimate for fixing the fermentation tank is astronomical. The insurance company says it could be weeks before they process the claim. I don't know what to do. I feel so helpless."

As I spoke, the tears I'd been holding back spilled over again, tracing hot paths down my cheeks. Daniel's eyes softened, and he quickly moved around the desk to my side. Without a word, he pulled me into a hug. I clung to him, letting the sobs I had been holding back escape.

"It's going to be okay, Finn," Daniel murmured, rubbing my back. "We'll figure this out. You're not alone in this."

I pulled back slightly, wiping my eyes again. "Thanks, Daniel. I just... I don't know what to do. I was actually considering selling the brewery to Alex's company. The thought of it makes me want to throw myself off the nearest tall building, but I have to think about everyone else too, not just myself."

Daniel looked at me, his expression serious. "Finn, I know how much this place means to you. But you need to prioritize the brewery's survival over personal attachment. Sometimes, the hardest decisions are the ones that are best for everyone in the long run."

I nodded, sniffling. "I know you're right. It's just so hard to let go."

He squeezed my shoulder gently. "I understand. But think about it this way: if selling to Alex's company means saving the jobs of your employees and keeping the brewery alive, isn't that worth it? You built this place from the ground up. You're the heart and soul of it, no matter who owns it."

His words struck a chord deep within me. I knew he was right, but accepting it was a different matter. "I'll think about it," I said softly. "I just need some time to wrap my head around everything."

Daniel nodded, giving my shoulder one last squeeze before stepping back. "Take all the time you need, Finn. Just know that we're all here for you, no matter what."

I managed a small smile, grateful for his support. "Thanks, Daniel. I really appreciate it."

He returned the smile, his eyes filled with understanding. "Anytime, boss. We're in this together." With that, he left the office, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. Could I actually sell my brewery to Alex?