Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 360: The Hermes Of Dog Food

"If she didn't have this kind of nerve, we wouldn't be in a position to make the rest of the industry look this pathetic."

The other shareholders were quick to agree, and the meeting room was thick with praise for Ginnie. After losing for so long, this was the first time she had actually felt the board's support. It felt like she was floating.

She could do better without Nancy.

Ginnie flipped through a few pages of the contract from the organizers and handed it to her assistant. "A few of these terms need to change. Draft a supplement and tell them they have to follow it."

The assistant bowed immediately. "I'm on it."

...

"Borrowing my dog?"

Inside the RV at Loren Zoo, Barry looked up from the expansion blueprints. He looked suspiciously at Nancy, who was sprawled on the sofa across from him, refusing to let go of his wolfdog.

Nancy rubbed Star’s ears. "I'm launching my Happy Bites line at the Golden Paw Awards. The organizers say everyone coming has to bring a dog for the show."

She nuzzled Star’s head and smiled. "I don't know any other dogs. Star is the best looking dog I know, and we're already friends!"

Star squinted and thumped his tail against the sofa. "Nancy’s dog food smells incredible! It’s better than raw meat! I can smell it from a mile away. I want it!"

Barry watched his usually cold dog acting like a needy shadow. He arched an eyebrow at Nancy. "Are you actually asking me, or is this just for show?"

Nancy blinked, grinning. "I figured I should at least go through the motions."

"The Golden Paw Award?" Barry let out a short breath. "Never heard of it. Star usually only does international circuits or tactical drills. He isn't cheap."

Star immediately threw a front paw up. "I'm free! I'll do it for free! I'll even pay her in dog food!"

Nancy fought back a laugh as she translated. "He says he's happy to do it for free."

Barry looked at the dog's lack of dignity and resisted the urge to hit him. "No."

He kept his face serious. "The owner says no. You're trying to steal my property."

Nancy leaned in. "What’s your price?"

Barry’s finger landed on a spot on the expansion map. He tapped a plot of land Nancy had been keeping as a reserve. "Give me this."

Nancy gasped. "That’s my backup space!"

"You aren't using it anyway," Barry said, his voice flat. "Might as well give it to me."

Nancy looked at the map. It hurt to give it up, but Barry had done a lot for her. She finally nodded.

"Fine. It's a deal. On the second of next month, Star is mine!"

After Nancy left, Star kept staring at the door where she had disappeared. Barry poked him in the head. "Have some self respect."

He looked back at the plot of land he had just taken, and a corner of his mouth ticked up. Living in an RV forever wasn't a real plan anyway.

Star tilted his head and watched him. "What are you smirking at?"

Barry couldn't understand him, but he saw the teasing in the dog's eyes and reached out to mess up his fur.

...

The day of the Golden Paw National Dog Show arrived. Nancy caught a ride on Barry’s private jet to Oceanville.

The second she arrived at the sign in area, she heard people complaining. A group of advertisers were gathered together, looking pissed off.

"This is bullshit. Do they think they own the place?"

"A bag of dog food and they think they're exclusive?"

"Summers Corp is being cutthroat. They aren't leaving anything for anyone else!"

Nancy was surprised. She talked to a few people she knew to figure out what was going on. It turned out Ginnie had given the organizers three demands.

First, Ginnie demanded a standalone glass display for Special Bites right in the center of the venue. She wanted it displayed like jewelry with a sign calling it the Luxury of the Dog Food World.

Next, she demanded that no other dog food brands or ads be allowed within twenty meters of her display. She didn't want anyone else benefiting from the attention her product was getting.

Finally, she demanded to be the only designated dog food for the entire show. No other brands were allowed to even be mentioned as a recommended product.