The New Year Resolution Read Free Page A

giving something back to the environment.”
    “How very noble of you,” said Nicole. She now understood why Ryan was so desperate to sit as Vincent’s table tonight.
    “Sylvia was quite the young activist in her day,” piped up Ryan, smiling at Vincent’s wife. Once again Nicole got the impression there was more between them than the pure formality of a previous business arrangement.
    “My daughter tends to exaggerate.” Sylvia smiled, but her eyes were dancing and Nicole could clearly picture the young radical activist she would have been.
    “Daughter?” she asked, turning to Ryan.
    “How is Melanie?” Ryan peered at Vincent over the top of his wine glass. Nicole held her tongue. Obviously Melanie was the connection here.
    “Very well, thank you,” the reformed miner replied with a curt nod. “She got married early last year and we have a grandchild on the way.”
    “Congratulations,” said Ryan, placing his glass carefully on the table. “Please send her my regards.”
    “We will.” Sylvia smiled. “Now why don’t Nicole and I go and freshen up while you boys talk business?” Sylvia got up and nodded to Nicole to follow.
    Nicole took the hint and got to her feet. Excusing herself she followed Sylvia to the ladies room.
     
     
    “Well, let’s hear it, then,” said Vincent to Ryan as soon as the ladies had walked away.
    Ryan took a deep breath. This was the moment he’d been waiting for. He gave silent thanks to Sylvia for her insight and turned to look at Vincent, his one-time mentor and prospective investor.
    “I want to do some testing on a new wind turbine I’ve developed. The prototype is great but the project requires an entire wind farm to record reliable energy output. I’ve found the perfect spot up the west coast, where the wind never stops blowing. The council have approved my application to use the space. All I need is the financing to go ahead.”
    Vincent thoughtfully fingered the stem of his wine glass. Ryan waited patiently. He knew the man well enough to know he didn’t dive into investment schemes without thorough due diligence. If Vincent, by some miracle, did decided to help him, there would be a lengthy period of product reviews, discussion and negotiation before any cheques were signed.
    “Tell me why I should help you, Ryan? You haven’t exactly proved to be a worthy investment in the past.”
    Ryan sighed. He knew this was coming. “I was much younger when I dated your daughter, sir,” he began. “Neither of us was ready to settle down then. I’m truly sorry I hurt her, but it was pointless continuing the relationship. I had a company to build. She was doing her law exams. We both had bigger fish to fry.”
    Vincent studied him, his clear blue eyes missing nothing. Ryan had always liked the old man, even when he had been dating his daughter. He was the kind of father figure Ryan had hoped his dad would be, but never was: successful, fair, wise. It was a shame they’d lost touch over the years.
    If only the mining magnet felt the same way. Ryan knew he wouldn’t be able to set up an experimental wind farm otherwise. There wasn’t anyone else who had the money and vision of Vincent Mahler, or the sympathetic environmentalist wife to encourage him.
    “Okay, I’ll grant you that much, but since then you’ve been in the media constantly with highly publicised relationship dramas. If you can’t look after your private life, how are you able to run a business effectively?”
    “I know it’s a concern. The publicity was unfortunate. The press zoned in on me as an easy target and I’ve been in the papers ever since. My private life has no bearing on my business. I am keeping a low profile now. Not many people know I’ve returned to South Africa.”
    “Keep it that way,” intoned Vincent, seriously. “Nicole is a nice girl. I would hate to see her dragged through the papers. You know how unkind they can be.”
    “I’ll make sure Nicole’s protected,” cut