Chapter 2

Jack seized the moment and stepped forward. "There we go! I knew you'd understand! You're the best!"

He tipped his head back and drained his glass, his face flushing even redder as his words came more easily. "But here's the thing, Noah. Look, our farm has really broken through now.

"We've made a name for ourselves, and orders are pouring in like crazy! At this rate, doubling our business next year won't be a problem at all!"

He paused and looked at me with keen eyes."That's why this premium feed is our lifeline, our core competitive advantage! Noah, you're our technical backbone!

"Going forward, upgrading and optimizing the feed formula, and all the ongoing research and development, we're still going to need you for that! When we work together as brothers, nothing can stop us! Don't worry, I'd never shortchange my own brother!"

Uncle Luke nodded vigorously beside him, chiming in. "Exactly! Noah, you're a specialist. We can't do the technical stuff without you. Just focus on your work at the research institute and your research.

"Whenever we need new ideas or adjustments on this end, we'll count on you. With Jack leading the charge up front and you providing the core technical support from behind, our family business is only going to grow bigger!"

"That's right, sweetheart," Aunt Louise added.

"Look at it this way, you've got yourself a steady income stream now, haven't you? You're helping the family and earning a little extra for yourself.

"As the formula keeps improving and Jack's operation gets more profitable, he certainly won't forget how much you've done. This is the smart long-term approach. Everyone wins!"

They took turns speaking, their tones earnest and faces full of smiles. It was as if they weren't the same people who had just used 40 thousand dollars to buy out and belittle a year's worth of my contributions.

I listened quietly, my face still wearing that calm, compliant smile.

After dinner, Jack and his family cheerfully saw my parents and me to the door. The moment I reached the car, my phone rang.

It was Frank Morris, the technical supervisor from the farm. He was probably calling about the feed, so I answered.

Frank's apologetic voice came through the speaker.

"Noah, sorry to bother you so late. That new batch of ingredients that arrived today seems to be reacting oddly after mixing.

"A few pens of livestock are looking pretty listless when they eat. Do you think we need to fine-tune the formula ratios? Or maybe we messed up somewhere in the process?"

I opened the car door and got in. Inside, it was quiet. I could hear my own steady breathing.

I looked out at the heavy darkness beyond the window and cut him off. "Frank."

"Yes, go ahead." Frank responded immediately.

"Don't bother asking me about the formula anymore."

There was an obvious pause on the other end, as if he didn't understand what I meant.

"What? Noah, do you mean... Did we do something wrong? Just tell us and we'll fix it right away! We can't lose this formula. The whole operation depends on it!"

I interrupted him, speaking slowly, clearly, enunciating each word. "What I mean is, you don't need to worry about the formula anymore. That farm is going to shut down tomorrow. You should start looking for your next job."

"What? Shut down?" Frank's voice shot up, filled with disbelief and shock.

"Noah, you're... you're not serious! How is that possible? Everything was fine just a few days ago. We've got orders lined up through next month!

"The boss was just saying today that we're expanding next year! How could it suddenly shut down? We stayed here because business is good, the pay is high, and they actually pay on time. Other farms don't offer that kind of deal—

"Did something happen? Is there a problem with the formula? Noah, what's going on? You have to explain this to us. My whole family is counting on this job!"

His voice shifted from shock to panic, even taking on a pleading edge. I could imagine him on the other end, confused and terrified. But I had no obligation to explain.

"There's no why," I said, my voice still flat and devoid of emotion. "I've said what I needed to say."

Then, without waiting for more frantic questions or pleas from the other end, I pressed the end call button. The dial tone sounded, cutting off all the noise.

I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat and started the car.