Chapter 21: Drop My Name

Eric lost his nerve and shook his head. The fat in his cheeks quivered along with him. For years, he had run the Verdant Group as a one-man show. He called all the shots; what he said went. As he held down the fort in a tough part of Highplain, a rough, lawless place, he hadn't bothered to give Alchemist's Haven a second thought.  So when Laurel walked in today, he still hadn't taken her seriously. Who could have guessed a heavy hitter would come out of nowhere? Laurel frowned deeply. "Eric...