The old madam decided what to do with the money. She wrapped six hundred in oilcloth and hid it away, gave Verna Golding fifty for household expenses, and let Clayton Xavier carry the remaining several dozen.
"You have a social circle now, and a man can't be stingy. You have to be willing to spend money when the occasion calls for it, even if it means taking a small loss. In business, your network is everything, and building a network costs money."
Clayton Xavier nodded. He understood these principles; his grandma had told him them many times before.
The old madam smiled, pleased. "What are your plans for the future?" she asked.
"I'll keep contacting factories and spend less time on retail. I want to focus on securing large orders. That way, I'll have more time to study."
The old madam nodded. She wasn't worried about her grandson's studies. It was other matters that concerned her.
"And between you and Adrian Hawthorne... have you thought about the future?"
