The Widows Harem

Chapter 13 - Mr. Tucker

Jocelyn

Monday couldn't come fast enough.

It was pathetic, but I was already missing Vincent's company.

"Hey beautiful, I'm headed on in to the shop. Would you like a coffee?" Vince texted.

I couldn't help but grin at my phone like an i***t. He called me beautiful. The girl inside was screaming in excitement and joy. "Yes please!"

"See you soon, beautiful."

It felt like eons had gone by before Vincent walked through the door to our joint office at the back of our shop. "Hi handsome," I greeted, instantly on my feet. I strode over to him, took my coffee and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Thank you! I really needed this." I said, taking a sip and humming my instant approval.

Vincent's gaze darkened and I knew exactly where his mind went. "I may have to bring you coffee more often if those are the sounds you make."

My cheeks flamed red and I ducked away from him. Before I could go scampering back to my desk, he caught my chin and turned me back around to face him.

"That's not something to be embarrassed about, baby," he whispered. "It's a damn superpower that only you hold. The sounds you make... They turn me on."

"Okay." I wasn't sure what else to say. I did, however, tuck that information away for future use.

Right as we were going to sit down and work out some of the details of the other shop, Eva came back and announced someone was here to talk business.

Vince and I shared a curious look with each other. There had been no mention of someone coming over today. It was beyond rare for someone to just pop by like this.

"I'll come get him in a moment, Eva. Thank you," Vince dismissed gently. "Do you think we have time to talk to him today?"

I shrugged. "Can't hurt to see what he has to say. We can keep it short today and schedule a better time to go over more things in detail if we are interested in whatever he has to offer."

"Okay."

He left the office and, in the lobby down the hall, I heard Vince greet this guest. When I heard them coming down the hallway, I stood up and got ready to greet him. Vince came through first, the businessman following. I couldn't get a good read on Vincent's first impression, his expression carefully controlled and neutral.

"Ms. Marie," he addressed me by my last name, which sent red alarms going off. He never addressed me as such unless there was a problem. "This is Mr. Tucker. Mr. Tucker, my business partner, Ms. Marie."

Mr. Tucker was average height, a bit heavy set and probably mid to late forties. He was clean shaven, had salt and pepper hair and wore a button down tucked into pressed jeans with expensive boots.

"Ms....?" Mr. Tucker's voice faded away, seeming a bit taken aback by my gender. I tried to keep my expression neutral and not roll my eyes. "I thought Caleb was your business partner."

How did he know Caleb?

"Unfortunately, he passed away. His widow has stepped into his role," Vincent supplied.

I stepped around my desk, a fake smile plastered on my face, my hand extended. I prayed he didn't see through the facade.

Mr. Tucker looked disappointed. "Right." He looked down his nose at my proffered hand and slowly took it, as if he was shaking the hand of a poor peasant that was obviously below his class. I tried to school my features and calm my anger. When he took my hand, he squeezed hard. I matched his firmness with an even brighter smile gracing my face as he caught my gaze with shock. He hadn't expected me to be so strong. Good. I played one more on him by placing my other hand over his, in a move of dominance.

It was one of those, if you know, you know moves.

And he knew.

His scowl was instantaneous.

Vincent noted my body language and shifted so he was standing next to me as I retracted my hands from Mr. Tucker, not giving him a chance to right the slight I so obviously made. Vincent's silent stance was a loud statement.

I could see Mr. Tucker's instant disapproval, but he quickly hid it behind his businessman's expression.

"Please, have a seat," Vincent motioned to the chairs in front of my desk intentionally. It was a move to keep me in the power position, to continue to press all of Mr. Tucker's buttons.

I was not impressed by him so far and already knew I did not want to do any sort of business with him. I would at least allow him to give us his pitch out of politeness, but that was it.

Mr. Tucker spoke mainly to Vincent, which gave me the opportunity to do some digging on this guy. He threw out a bunch of pretty things, huge numbers, and promises of working together. He wanted to put together a contract that would work for everyone. But, behind all of the pretty language, what he was trying to get us to do was sell our business to him. He assured us nothing would change, and it would give all of us better profits since he would help us expand.

"Mr. Tucker," I interrupted before Vincent could get a word in edgewise. "Thank you for stopping by, but we are not interested in selling our business to you." I stood up, and held out my hand once again, silently indicating this meeting was over and he was dismissed.

His brows furrowed in frustration and anger at my continued show of control over this meeting. He slowly stood up and faced me. "I have entertained this madness long enough, young lady," he snapped. "This is a man's business and talk. You clearly do not understand the entire picture and cannot see the future potential if we combine our businesses. Now, if you would so kindly leave it to us men to handle," he dismissed, turning to look at Vincent.

Vincent, sill remaining in his seat despite this obvious slight to me, just smirked knowingly and shook his head at Mr. Tucker. "You have gone and done it now," he chuckled, making Mr. Tucker shift a bit nervously on his feet. Vince knew I was about to wipe the floor clean with this man's arrogance, especially when my smile deepened wickedly.

"Oh? A lady doesn't understand?" I started. "Then explain to me what exactly you bring to the table when your business is on the brink of bankruptcy? You want to buy our business to save yours and leech whatever you can out of us before back stabbing us as you have done to the last business you took over," I stated calmly and decisively.

"That are all lies!" He sputtered, his face starting to turn red.

"Hmm," I grunted, staring at him in silence, allowing him to squirm. Waiting, watching... And then I decided to make the final boss move. Reaching for my phone, I called our foreman's number in the shop. "Hey Jo, what can I do for you?"

"Can you come to our office please. Now." I responded evenly.

"I'll be right there."

"Thank you." I looked back up at Mr. Tucker and said, "Tell me what lies I have spoken, please."

As he was huffing and puffing, trying to come up with something, Peter, the foreman, walked in.

"You rang, Jo?" He asked, stopping short when he saw Mr. Tucker in our office. "You!" He spat, instantly on the defensive.

Vincent looked at me curiously before looking back at Peter. He was usually so quiet and reserved.

Mr. Tucker looked a bit panicked the moment he saw and recognized Peter.

"I know what you have done," I told Mr. Tucker calmly. "Thank you for stopping by. We are not interested in doing business with you."

"You are going to regret this," Mr. Tucker growled, glaring at me for a moment before stomping out of the building.

"Have the day you deserve!" I called out after him cheerfully. "And good luck with hunting down another cash cow!" When the front door slammed shut, I turned my gaze to Peter. "Thank you for swinging in."

"You need to watch your back with him, Ms. Jo," he said, leveling me with a serious gaze. "That one gets even if he thinks he's been slighted or embarrassed. And you have done both." Peter worked for the last business Mr. Tucker had taken over. I remembered the business name and had correlated it to Mr. Tucker when I had looked him up. Peter had said the original owner of the business had been canned after 6 months of making the deal with Tucker. Not long after, Tucker laid off Peter.

"Thank you for the warning, Peter."

When Vincent stood up and nodded to Peter, he left. Vince closed the office door and turned to me, pulling me into him. I could feel his desire pressing into my hip. "That was sexy as f*ck," he smirked, planting a lingering kiss on my lips.