Chapter 8

Thursday was a big day. My morning routine with Mum was getting better. I loved eating breakfast with her. She knew I was working hard.

At ten past eight, the architect phoned to say that, with extensions, we could fit twelve family rooms and four suites into the laundry area.

He understood that we’d have to find a suitable commercial property close to the hotel. He told me the market was flooded with commercial property for sale.

He asked if I only wanted it for the hotel’s laundry or if I would be interested in taking other businesses’ laundry.

That got me thinking, given how professional Rose and her team were. A couple of years ago, Tom installed a dry-cleaning machine, which was popular with the hotel’s guests.

I told him if Rose was willing. I was sure she would be. We’d go commercial. He said he’d look for a property. I should keep my eyes open too.

I asked about planning permission. He told me it wouldn’t be a problem, as the mayor was also the convener of the planning committee.

I would be nice to him when he was in for his coffee. I also thought of busty Josie, the mayor’s fiery wife.

She was his second wife. He was in his early seventies; she was in her late forties.

They had an 18-year-old daughter, who I believe was as hot as Josie.

The next time I saw the mayor. I’d explain to him what I was thinking of doing and ask if he had any suggestions.

The problem was that I’d need the new laundry operational before I could close the hotel laundry.

Mum had heard all the conversation.

“Darling, you have so much on your mind, I’ll relax when you get home tonight. I was thinking, when will we move into the penthouse?”

I was thinking of Tuesday’s birthday party, “How about Wednesday of next week? Mum, are you like me? Is it just clothes we have to transfer?”

She laughed, “I’ve been taking a lot of my old clothes to charity shops. When we move, I’ll have an exciting wardrobe.

“I’m so looking forward to it. Barry, pick up your suit today. Please don’t forget to get it, as it’s so important for Saturday.”

I drove to the wine shop. Su had created the logo for The Fine Wine Company in gold letters on a green background.

She had done it so professionally. When I saw it, I knew that’s what we wanted on our stationery and on the van.

I phoned Gary. He told me to send him a copy, which I did. Ten minutes later, he phoned me back to tell me I didn’t need a sign writer as this could all be done digitally.

Giving the letters a 3D effect with the address, phone number, email and website in regular type. He’d attached a copy. It looked impressive. I told him to do it.

He replied, saying the van would be delivered tomorrow afternoon.

The shop was taking shape now. The amount of work Fay and Su were putting into it was incredible. Both their hearts were in it.

I wished the bedroom were ready, as I would have a threesome with Fay and Su. I would have made it special for both of them as a way of saying thank you.

The owner of the old wine company had scheduled a meeting with me in the hotel. I should have advised them we were no longer dealing with them.

I felt a little guilty about this, so I agreed to the meeting. I arrived at the hotel to see a busty woman in her late 30s waiting for me.

When I saw her, I knew immediately why Tom had been dealing with her.

I took her into a lounge. There was something very sexy about her.

“Mr Cooper, my name is Sarah Carter, I’m the owner of Carter wines.

“We haven’t received a wine order from you in 17 days. We usually had orders, every three days.

“I’m so happy you agreed to see me. Have we done something wrong?”

“I’m so sorry about that, but since my grandfather died, I’ve been so busy. Is it Miss or Mrs Carter?”

As she replied, she pushed her massive tits out.

“It’s Miss Carter. I was in a relationship, but I’m single now. Please call me Sarah. Mr Cooper, you’re my biggest customer. That’s why I’m here today.”

I honestly felt sorry for her. She was a well-dressed woman. Sadly, the quality of her wines was low, and her prices were high, not a workable combination.

I wondered what staff she had.

“Sarah, please call me Barry. Is it only wholesale you do? Do you do any retail? Let me be honest with you.

“I’ve just bought two containers of wine as I’m setting up a wine company. I’m doing my best for the hotel.

“I’m sorry to tell you I’m only buying quality wine now. One last question: how many staff do you employ?”

As I said this, I wished I’d spent more time studying Tom’s videos, since I was sure I’d see Sarah perform in some of them.

“Thanks, Barry. Carter Wines has three employees.

“My mother, father and me. Though my father is not well now, he’ll probably retire soon.

“We only do wholesale. We have a wine club with over a hundred members.

“If I lose your business, I’d need to have a serious look at my business.

“I got on well with Tom. I’ve always had a love of wine.

“Is there anything I can do that you’d start buying your wine from me again?”

I felt so sorry for her. As a business owner, I must look after my own business first.

“Sarah, do you buy directly from the vineyards you stock the wines of?”

“I know this is wrong. It will be the reason I have a problem now. I buy from local distributors. If you are going to be a distributor, could I buy from you?”

I then spent a good twenty minutes explaining to Sarah about The Fine Wine Company and how we intended to operate, selling wines of the highest quality at competitive prices.

We both spoke freely and openly. She’d never thought that one day Tom wouldn’t be there. That day had arrived.

She’d started her business when she was twenty-two, seventeen years ago. She was now thirty-nine.

Her mother was fifty-five when she had Sarah, who was sixteen. Her father was seventy-one and had terminal cancer.

He was in a cancer hospital for his last days.

After she’d told me this, Sarah opened up completely.

She had a mortgage on her warehouse. Without the hotel’s business, she would have been insolvent.

She had six pallets of house wine. Her supplier would take this back, as Sarah had explained to them she’d lost her biggest customer.

She’d also had a van with a tailgate, which was used only for my hotel deliveries, as all her other deliveries could be made with her mother’s estate car.

If she could get out of the warehouse, she could survive with her hundred wine club customers.

As that was over a hundred cases a month. She admitted that the hotel was her only customer with credit. Her other customers were cash-on-delivery only.

I asked where her warehouse was. It was close to the hotel. I wondered if I could see it. That wasn’t a problem.

She drove me there so I could see it. It was in a small commercial area two minutes from the hotel.

Her van was also a Mercedes 7.5 ton. She also had a forklift truck in her warehouse.

There was a small office in the warehouse; that’s where I met Doris, Sarah’s Mum. She was busty like Sarah.

They were both lookers. Doris made us coffee, and there was a worried look on both of their faces.

Doris looked more worried when Sarah said, “Mum, Barry has just set up The Fine Wine Company, he’s doing this as an independent wholesaler.”

“Doris, you make a good cappuccino. I never expected to have a day like this today.

You two don’t look like Mum and daughter, you look like two sisters. I may help you.

“Sarah, could you give me a price for the warehouse, van, forklift, and the coffee machine that made this lovely coffee?

“You have a little wine in stock. Will you be able to get rid of the wine yourself?”

Sarah’s face changed to a look of relief.

“Barry, I was at my accountant’s yesterday, and I know exactly what I need for the warehouse.

“I’ll hazard a guess for the van, forklift, and coffeemaker if you could offer me fifty thousand in a written offer with sixty thousand in cash.

“I would accept it. The wines we have in stock, we can get rid of, but I’d like to buy wines from you?”

“Sarah, you’ve got a deal. I hope it helps us. When do you want this to happen? If you want it done quickly, we can do it today or tomorrow?”