“Proprietary bottles are expensive.”

“Yes, they are, but in the long haul, a private design-unique to us-more than pays for itself.”

Ira scratched his head, not on firm ground when talking about Dani’s mineral water and natural soda company. “Look,” he said, “you know, I know-pretty soon everyone else will know-you’re stretched thin. Getting the Pembroke ready has cost you. Now that it’s opened, your cash-flow situation should improve, but before it does-”

“If I have to entertain cost-cutting measures, Ira, I will do so.”

“Guess it’s a good thing you pay yourself less than your housekeeping staff.”

“That’s an old rumor, Ira, and not true. I’m not personally extravagant, I’ll admit. I don’t mind making sacrifices in the long-term interests of my businesses. The Pembrokes have a long tradition of losing their shirts. Thank you, I’ll pass.”

“I’m sure your father and all the rest of them said the same thing,” Ira pointed out.

“I won’t compromise on quality. It’s what we sell. The resort and water and natural soda businesses are highly competitive-the big guys swallow up the little guys all the time. I’m not Perrier or Coke or Club Med, and I can’t pretend to be. But I’m not going to get stepped on.”

Ira leaned forward. “Dani, it doesn’t have to be this difficult. You took on a lot at once. You’re practically a kid still. You’ve got a fortune tied up in equipment at the bottling plant-you’ve expanded into natural sodas and flavored mineral water at an incredible pace. The Pembroke is a valuable asset, but right now it burns cash.”

“All to a good end.”

“Ever the optimist. There is one more thing.”

With Ira, there always was.

“There’s a rumor floating around you’re thinking of selling this place.”

Dani stiffened. “Not true.”

“I know, and ordinarily I wouldn’t even bring it up, but, Dani, if people didn’t smell blood-”

“Ira, I’m a Pembroke. There’ll always be talk I’m on the verge of self-destructing. I’ve been listening to it ever since I told my grandfather he could give my Chandler trust to charity.” Actually her words had been far more to the point, but this Ira Bernstein knew. “I’m not selling the Pembroke, I’m not switching to a stock bottle, I was only asking about the glass-making company. I am not going broke. Anything else?”