Stealing Her

1. No Deal

Caroline's Office (Present day)

Email: Dear Miss Rodgers, am sorry to report that our offer has once again been rejected. The store owners on the proposed construction block still refuse to sell even with our latest offer double from the first two we sent. Their representative says they shall not sell based on family ownership reasons. I will await your instructions of what our next move will be. 

I stared at the Email for a few minutes, re-reading it twice. "Damn it." I exclaimed loudly. This deal was giving me the kind of frustration I did not need right now. A few months ago my father had a heart attack and had to step down from running the family business. I was set to officially take over at the end of the year but this deal right here was my stumbling block. Getting this account settled meant I would prove to my father, our business partners and employees that I am a powerful businesswoman. Ever since graduating from University, I have been working at RM Franchise headquarters and my father made sure I did not get a free pass. I started at entry level and had to work my way up to Executive Manager on my own merit and I did not drop the ball once. My father now sees the son he always wanted in me. This is why the deal was important, it had been one of my father's failed accounts for years and stupid me, challenged myself to take it on just to keep proving the point that I am worthy of my title. My desk phone rang and looking at the connection number I exhaled and braced myself. "Am guessing you have seen the Email as well" I was reading through the mail one more time. "Do not be too disappointed Caroline, am sure I can find an easier case for you to handle" I could hear his sarcastic smile. "Besides that account has been a problem for years, so a novice like you could not possibly get it" He had some nerve calling me a Novice, I have settled more accounts in my time working here so far more than him. "Thank you Mr Patel, having worked here for so long I would assume you would have learnt a trick or too about never giving up. Novice me knows when not to, especially with deals that strengthen MY FRANCHISE. You should make use of being interim CEO much wisely because Temporary positions end." I ended the call without giving him a chance to respond, I did not need his criticism today. I need to come up with a better strategy. This deal really needs to go through, not just for me to prove that I can do this job but because it will actually help boast our finances. We were not in debt or anything, but our margins were dropping enough to worry me. Maybe I should pay this block a visit personally and talk with this representative about why they were refusing to sell. I needed to find out what they really wanted; at the end of the day everyone has a price or a compromise.

Mccume Household

"It smells amazing Mom, and am so hungry" I said walking into the house. I had closed up the store for today and it was an okay day despite the meeting with the RM marketer than came with an even more ridiculous offer for us to sell the store. I walked into the dinning kitchen area, my parents were placing the last of the food on the table. They loved cooking together, generally they loved doing everything together. I pulled a chair and sat down ready to dig in. "Did the rest of the day go well after we left this morning," My dad asked as he pulled a chair and sat down. "Now honey let Slyver eat before we start that talk," my mom said while passing me some potatoes. " Sorry honey I just want to know if Mrs Kennedy came for her tinned sardines, you know how specific she is." my dad responded before I could say anything. Filling my plate with the potatoes and greens I said, "Its alright mom, Mrs kennedy did come by and she picked up her sardines, I even convinced her to try the canned beef as well and she picked one. It was an okay day." The chicken looked nice and crispy, I took two piece for my plate. I was really hungry, I had not had time to eat today. We ate the rest of the meal with my parents telling me about their afternoon at the Zoo. They always made time to do small things together and today was their Zoo day. After dinner while I helped them clean up, I remembered the marketer visit. "The RM marketer came to the shop this afternoon with another offer for us to sell," I said to them. I saw them freeze for a second, look at each other and the continue with the dishes. My mom spoke first, "What was the offer this time?". "He offered us and the rest of the block double of their last offer. Mr Ching from the sushi place says he will sell because its only him and the shop, so it does not really matter if he sells. His been wanting to retire either way. The pharmacy, Saloon and ice cream place still agree that we should not sell." I said to them. My dad exhaled loudly. "Maybe we should all consider selling." he said quietly. "I know it is right for us to fight this because that block of stores is our legacy, our community's legacy. But maybe it is time for me and your mother to retire as well. You came right back home from your big city job to help out when your mother was sick but she is in remission now and cancer free. You can get another job and put that fancy architect degree to better use." My mom walked over to me and put her hand on my shoulder. "Your father and I talked it through this afternoon. It is unfair that we should be keeping you here when you can go out and live your life, maybe meet someone and start your own family. We could sure use some grandkids around here." We both laughed at her comment. I put my arms around my mom for a light hug. "Look guys I understand what you are saying but the reason I am fighting so hard to keep our block is because I want my kids whenever I will have them mom, to be part of this. Working at the store my teenage years taught me how to value community and family. The memories we have created in that store, the community we have built in this neighborhood, I want my future family to experience that. I know we are up against a big company and their big lawyers but that store is ours and they should not be allowed to take it from us just because they have money." I said this confidently to both of them. My dad walked over to were mom and I were standing and put his hand on my shoulder. "Son am not sure who raised you, but they have raised you to be wise. We will keep fighting." I was so glad to hear him say that. I know how much the store meant to them and after what we had all gone through with mom having cancer, that store kept us going. I was not going to let them lose it.