Three

He sat across me, old and wrinkled in age, with one of his sons. Stone Culturist needed him to sell his bakery to us, from the information provided from the files Cassidy had found. We had been trying to convince him for over a month now and yet he was not willing to sell. 

"Mr. Hatcher, this would benefit both you and your family. We will pay you well," I tried persuading the eighty year old man. 

The man looked at his son, who leered at me. The man turned back to me slowly. 

"No. I have always said no. Why do you still persist?" He chafed. 

I shifted in my seat, Cassidy quietly standing by me and typing away on her tab. "Because we need you. It is very important. Not just for us but for the world."

"My answer is still a no," he dismissed. 

I looked at his son, who was still gazing at me. I winked at him and he grinned.

"I would like to speak to your son in private then." I told the old man. "Cassidy, escort him out."

Cassidy led the man out and returned. 

I stretched my arm and placed it on the young man's palm. My skin crawled at the contact. "We really need your bakery."

He looked down at my palm sadly. "The old man can be stubborn. Because it is the family's heirloom that has been handed down for decades. He does not wish to disappoint the family by selling it out. But we are crashing and we need to revive it by selling it off before it folds. The old man does not seem to understand." 

I pouted and gave him my best puppy dog eyes. "Then make him understand. You all will be settled in a twinkle of an eye. And I would ensure to double the offer if you can do it by the end of the week."

He looked up at me in determination. "I will do my best. But maybe if you give me an advance, I could be faster."

I turned to Cassidy. "Wire ten thousand dollars to his account asap." I then smiled at him, "So we have a deal." I stood and stretched my palm for a handshake. 

He beamed and took my palm, standing up, "We sure do."

Once he left, Cassidy ticked that activity off the schedule and told me it was my break time. We had spent three hours in the meeting with Mr. Hatcher. I was exhausted mentally. My office phone rung then and Cassidy answered. 

She placed a palm over the speaker and informed me, "The Director of Constructions is here to see you."

"Does he not know it is my recess? Is it urgent?" I grumbled, tapping my fingers on the conference table. 

"Is it urgent?" She spoke into the speaker. "Yes," she replied me. 

"Send him in. And order tacos for me," I said. 

She nodded and began to make calls. The Director showed himself into my office. 

"Do you not knock?" I asked him irritated. 

He was a man of over fifty but I did not give a fuck. Grandma always told me I was above others in my company.

He looked between me and the door, confused. "I am sorry." He apologized. 

I would have insisted he went out to knock but I just wanted to get over with whatever he wanted and so he could leave. 

"Come in and sit down," I grunted. 

"Thank you," he said and sat.

"What do you want?" I cut to the chase.

The man fidgeted with the file in his hand opening to a page and handing it over to me. I scanned it immediately. 

"The factory in Florida is almost completed. It took less than three months," he said proudly. 

"I hope the materials are of good quality?" I enquired. 

He nodded, "I have been with this company for close to ten years now. I cannot deceive you. You could ask your grandmother. My services are top-notch." 

I cringed at his gloating. "Okay. Anything else?"

He nodded again, his mood turning very serious. "We still need to expand. There was a land your father bought some years ago in the suburbs. We could build a warehouse there."

"You could go ahead with it," I snapped my fingers. 

He looked uncertain but he told me anyways. "There is a motherless baby's home there."

I shrugged unconcerned. "And what is my business? Get on with it. If we bring that non-profit-making building down and erect a rather profiting structure, not only for ourselves and the people, it would be a whole lot better."

He nodded approvingly, "I like you. Your mind is zeroed in on business. Your father bought that land and even when we wanted to begin construction on it, he told us to wait till they vacated. And even when we kept bugging them to leave and find somewhere else, they always fail to."

"I think their time is up. I need good news as soon as possible. Do you understand?" I dismissed him. 

"Of course," he assured and left. 

I looked at Cassidy to find her gawking at me. I did not want to know whatever her problem was. 

"My tacos?" I questioned. 

"I will go get it. It has been in the reception a while," she responded and exited. 

The rest of the day, I worked on some files and papers and even shifted some to Cassidy since I thought she was less busy. I finished up around eight pm and dismissed Cassidy. She looked exhausted. 

I exited the car and handed my purse and shoes to the maid at the door, who took it up to my room. 

"Dinner is ready, Miss. Mrs. Stone is already at the table," another maid informed me and I nodded, going up to my room to freshen up. 

I returned to the dining with a lighted cigarette and a strapless nightgown. Grandma and Aunt Joan were already halfway through their meal. 

"Good evening, Grandma. Good evening, Aunt Joan," I greeted. 

Grandma nodded, still staring at her food and eating. 

Aunt Joan smiled at me. "How was today?" She tried to make convo. 

I nodded, dropping my cigarette in an ashtray and drinking some wine from my glass. A maid ladened my plate with my choice of food and I began munching on it. 

"Wanna talk about it?" She asked. 

"After dinner," I replied. 

After dinner, Grandma led us to her study and we sat for a brief convo. 

"So, how was today?" Grandma inquired. 

"It was exhausting," I replied.

She shook her head in disapproval, "Business can never be exhausting."

I instantly remembered the word she always taught me to use. "It was fulfilling."

She nodded, "Good. You should never be pessimistic. That is the beginning of your downfall."

I hummed in reply. Aunt Joan quietly studied me. 

"What did you learn?" She probed. 

"People are like puzzles that needs extreme wisdom to be followed and solved."

She bobbed her head in approval, "Good. Any complications?"

As far as I was concerned, I would not call anything a complication. Well, except Mr. Hatcher. Three hours of my precious time was wasted on him. That was a complication. 

"Mr. Hatcher. I am sure you know him," I divulged. 

She looked annoyed. "That stubborn old man. Should have taken care of him weeks ago."

"How can I conquer him?" I asked her, ready to tap from her wisdom. 

She smiled taut. "Do not worry. I will take care of him."

The next morning, I had heard on the news that the old man was found dead in his car.