Chapter 72: Unexpected company

The three weeks following the introductory meeting passed in a steady exchange of drafts, conference calls and revisions. Revenir's legal team worked with Vandervoort Technologies to finalize the framework for the North American expansion, while Thomas spent hours reviewing the operational details. Moretti Capital remained involved in the investment structure, which meant Juliano appeared regularly in the larger strategy calls. By the time only a handful of issues remained, Willem Vandervoort suggested they finish the negotiations in person.

Three days later, Catherine and Thomas boarded an overnight flight to Amsterdam. Vandervoort Technologies occupied a modern campus outside Eindhoven, built around the original brick factory where Willem's father had started the company decades earlier. Willem welcomed them in reception.

"I hope you're not expecting another six hours in a conference room."

"That depends. Are you planning to change the contract again?"

He laughed.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you."

A familiar voice came from behind them.

"Careful, Willem. She'll put that in writing."

Catherine turned.

Juliano approached carrying a leather portfolio. She had known he would be there. Moretti Capital had invested in Vandervoort nearly a decade earlier, and Juliano had remained personally involved throughout its European expansion.

"Mr. Moretti."

"Ms. Lane."

Thomas glanced between them.

"Are we really still doing that?"

Catherine smiled.

"Apparently."

"For the moment," Juliano added with an easy smile.

The morning passed quickly. Most contractual issues were settled within the first hour, leaving Thomas with several questions about implementation. Willem looked at the growing list.

"Perhaps we should show you rather than explain it."

The operations director stood.

"Our automation facility is in the next building."

Thomas looked at Catherine.

"You don't need to come. This could take a while."

"I thought I was the CEO."

"Which means you can delegate."

She closed her notebook.

"Fine. Go."

Willem checked his watch.

"I have another meeting. Juliano, take Catherine to lunch before we continue this afternoon."

Juliano looked at her.

"Unless you'd rather stay."

Catherine glanced at the empty conference room.

"Lunch sounds better."

The restaurant Juliano chose was small and quiet, far removed from the formal places Catherine associated with him.

"Surprised?" he asked when he noticed her looking around.

"A little. I expected white tablecloths and a wine list longer than the menu."

"You have developed a very specific picture of me."

"I had help."

The reference to Erik required no explanation.

"I imagine you did."

They started with Vandervoort. The American expansion. Management. The challenges of taking a family company into a market thousands of miles away. By the time their food arrived, however, the contract had disappeared from the conversation.

"Can I ask you something?" Juliano said.

"Sure."

"Why logistics?"

Catherine smiled.

"People normally ask why I started Revenir."

"I already know that answer."

"You know the version I give in interviews."

"Exactly."

Catherine considered the question.

“I didn't grow up dreaming about supply chains, if that's what you're asking.”

“I'm relieved.”

She smiled.

“I ended up working with a logistics company early in my career. Everyone around me was focused on efficiency. Faster routes, lower costs, fewer delays.”

“And you weren't?”

“I was. Until I realized how easy it was to make a spreadsheet look better by making someone's job worse.”

Juliano watched her across the table.

“That bothered you.”

“It still does.”

“Enough to build a company around it?”

“Eventually.”

She took a sip of water.

“Revenir came later. But that was probably the first time I understood what kind of businesses I wanted to work with.”

Juliano was quiet for a moment.

“Was your family entrepreneurial?”

The question changed the direction of the conversation. Catherine set down her glass.

“Not really.”

“Your father?”

“My father left before I turned ten.”

Juliano's expression changed.

“I'm sorry.”

“It was a long time ago.”

She said it easily now. Years had taken the sharpest edges from the words, even if they had never changed the facts.

“He moved away. Remarried. Had another family.”

Juliano didn't offer one of the sympathetic responses people usually reached for.

“And your mother?”

“She stayed.”

Catherine smiled faintly.

“Which probably explains more about me than anything my father ever did.”

She took a sip of water.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"I know surprisingly little about your family."

"My grandfather founded Moretti Capital. My father expanded it across Europe."

"Both of which I could find online."

A faint smile appeared.

"You've done your research."

"Occupational hazard."

He looked toward the window.

"My father believed a company should never become dependent on anyone it couldn't replace."

"People included?"

"Especially people."

"And you agree?"

"I did."

The past tense caught her attention.

"What changed?"

"Experience."

She waited, but he offered nothing more.

"Very informative."

His eyes returned to hers.

"You wanted my entire childhood over lunch?"

"I gave you something personal."

"Fair enough."

Catherine smiled.

"Tell me something I can't find online. What did you want to be before Moretti Capital?"

For the first time, she genuinely surprised him.

"I was an architect."

"Seriously?"

"Why is that difficult to believe?"

"I'm imagining someone telling you a building can't be exactly the way you designed it."

"It would have been exactly the way I designed it."

She laughed.

"Of course."

His smile remained as he continued.

"My grandfather used to take me through Milan and explain why some buildings survived for centuries while others disappeared."

"And you liked that?"

"I liked the idea of creating something that remained useful after you were gone."

Catherine thought about the answer. It explained something about him she had never understood before. His ambition seemed less connected to wealth than she had assumed.

Her phone vibrated.

Thomas.

Done here. Willem wants us back for final review.

Catherine checked the time.

"We've been here almost two hours."

Juliano glanced at his watch.

"So we have."

Neither of them had noticed.

By late afternoon, the remaining issues had been resolved. Willem signed first. Catherine followed. Juliano added his signature to the investment amendment required from Moretti Capital. When Catherine placed her fountain pen beside the contract, she noticed Juliano glance at it. He said nothing. Neither did she.

On the drive to the hotel, Thomas waited until Vandervoort's buildings disappeared behind them.

"That went well."

"It did."

"I wasn't talking about the contract."

Catherine turned toward him.

"Don't."

He smiled.

"I didn't say anything."

She looked back through the window. After a moment, Thomas spoke again.

"He's different from what I expected."

Catherine thought about the man Erik had described to her and the one who had sat across from her at lunch. They weren't entirely the same person.

"No," she said. "He isn't."