We didn't go to the Winery but rather we drove to "the palace" and parked there. We walked along the path and when we got to the rock I was really tempted to go skinny dipping. There was simply no time for that. We jumped the small fence that separated the properties and started to walk around. All we saw was row after row of grapes and I couldn't imagine the harvest. Jace stopped walking and was looking around and said, MJ these grapes are different and I think they were planted in sections. I wonder how many different types of grapes we have here and if they produce different wines. Jace, just put that on you list of unknowns.
We were finally approaching the store again and had not seen a sole. I was wondering about that and we went inside and Mark said, your back again what's up? Jace introduced himself as Jace McBaine and asked where's Bob? Mike shrugged and said I have no idea, why? Then Jace asked Mark, can you contact him? Mark said, sure in an emergency. Well Mark, please call him and let him know if his ass isn't here in 30 minutes he is fired. Mark dropped the phone and collected himself and asked, so it's true Charlie sold the place. I looked at Jace and said so the McBain's have a temper. Why don't you have a chat with Mark and I'll deal with Bob. Mark picked up the phone and placed the call. All I heard was your presence in requested here in 30 minutes or your fired. Then Mark laughed and said well the new owners combined ages don't add up to Charlie's age, but if I were you I would get here. Once Mark hung up I asked what did he say? Mike that the old fucker can't fire me. Jace and Mark went outside and sat at a table.
I simply wandered around the store and checked the nonexistent inventory and was wondering where the inventory was. I checked the time and good old Bob, still had 10 minutes. Then I found a door and when I opened it, I discovered a warehouse. There was tons of wine all in racks and a number of boxes stacked against the wall. I just wondered around and I heard, Mark, where the hell are you and who is it that dragged me down here? I went back in the store and said, hi Bob, I'm Mike Simmons. He looked at me ands asked, should that mean something to me? I said well I'm one of the new owners. He laughed and said, you mean you are the snot nosed kid of the owner? So where is that old fart Charlie, I don't know anything about a sale. I smiled and said hold on a second and I dialed David. When he got on I told him I needed him to explain who I was. I hit the speaker button as I wanted to hear all of this. I handed Bob the phone and he said, David who is this kid and did you sell the place? David said well that kid is one of the wealthiest teens in the country, owns a number of businesses and as of midnight he owns the Winery. If I were you, I would drop the act and be very polite. In case you forgot, the sale voids your contract, should that young punk, as you put it choose to exercise that option. I took the phone back and thanked David who asked me to call him tonight, once I was finished at the winery.
Once I hung up I simply stood there and looked at Bob and waited for him to speak. Jace and Mark appeared and I introduced Jace and said Bob, you need to have a conversation with Jace and I will continue the conversation with Mike. Bob looked at Jace and said well at least you are old enough to drink the crap we make. I said Bob, I give everyone three chances before I react, to use a sports analogy that's strike one. So go meet with Jace. Jace and a grumbling Bob went outside. I tried not to watch but the body language was interesting. I looked at Mark and asked if he would show me where the wine is made. We went to the warehouse and Mark said when I started here there was twice the inventory. Now sales are down and jelly is made. I asked why is that and he said no marketing and neglect. Once we were a good sized regional Winery. I laughed and said, so I have been led to believe. We went into another building and saw a production facility. I got wine making 101 and appreciated the Cliff Notes version. He looked at me and said Bob is right about an upgrade but his rough approach pisses Charlie off. Mark is it simply a personality issue? Mark said Mike, I discussed all this with Jace, who I like a lot, so could you please not make me go through all that again? I said sure, but what else? Mike, this place can be easily revived and the updates can wait till we are making money again and we could start to make ice wine. It is complicated and risky but very profitable. He explained the process and I said well, like everything else, I need to talk with Jace about that. Mark smiled and asked, will Jace be here a lot? I said well there are a number of investors but directly and with a proxy, I control the majority of the company. This is very much a job interview for Jace.
Back in the shop, Jace said MJ, it's your turn with Bob. I went outside and sat down and asked, so Bob how you holding up? He said, confused as I thought we would bury the old man with his grapes. So after talking with Jace, I see him running the place and if I stay it is with a much decreased position. I said well Bob, I haven't talked with Jace and I didn't buy this place to have people make jelly. Bob laughed and said well this year you are as a lot of grapes are contracted out. Something has to pay the bills. Ok, why not make wine? Well it's too hard with the current and ancient equipment. I said well what else? Mike, at this point in my life I'm not making less money and I'm not likely to accept less responsibility. Do you two even know what you are doing? I said well we are taking stock of the current situation and will be making an informed decision very soon. However, we are making wine here not simply selling grapes. For now it's business as usual.
Back in the store I asked Jace if he was ready and I asked Mark if he would please drive us to the cottage. Jace asked if we could please walk? I said sure and we started off and I was wondering about the conversation between Mark and Bob. While we walked through the vines, Jace talked and talked and I mostly listened. When we climbed over the fence I stopped at the rock and simply looked at the lake. It was a warm late afternoon day and I simply sat down, stripped and without giving it another thought, I jumped into the water. When I popped to the surface Jace was standing there mostly nude and as soon as he was naked he jumped in. He swam the few feet to me and hugged me and I reached down and grabbed his cock and said, I bet you thinks I'm nuts for doing this whole project. He laughed and said well not at all but you never take chances like this. That place is a mess and I win that bet, so you are in for a very interesting night. We climbed out of the water and were laying on the giant rock and I asked so what's the next step? He said, well there are two stories and opinions about the place and we need an objective opinion on the equipment. Ok Jace, how do we do that quickly? MJ, would you please stop conducting a job interview and be helpful? I simply asked, so how? Well we go directly to the local Winery association, which we are no longer a member and ask for a review. Explain our situation, rejoin the association and see if they can provide help tomorrow.
We had dried off, so we quickly dressed and drove to the Association office. Inside Jace asked if we could meet with someone about redoing our membership. The cute blond looked a Jace and said, I get the director please have a seat. She looked back and smiled as she walked away. A few minutes later the director came out and I decided to give Jace a break and introduced Jace and my self. I said, we just closed on C & J Winery and are looking for some help. For some reason the membership was permitted to expire and we would like to apply for membership. Rob, the director asked son, who is the owner ? Jace laughed and said, please don't make us call David Cummings again Mike here heads a group of investors and he controls 60% of the shares. He said well I heard a sale was pending and I will need verification soon but membership is $5,000 a year. I took out my wallet and handed him my Enterprise credit card and asked if this would do? He smiled and picked up the phone and said Jane would you please come in here? When she arrived Jace got a smile and she was asked to run the card for membership fees. When we were alone again I said we need a big favor? Rob smiled and said of course you do, what do you need? I said an honest assessment of the place, we are getting two sides to the same story. Just then Jane appeared and asked to please sign the card receipt. Mike, that was well stated and the issue is complicated because of the relationships. Charlie is getting up there and doesn't stay focused, Bob, spends as much time away from the place as he does there, David is way to busy but tries and Charlie controls him. Then there is Mike who simply works his ass off and navigates the political storms. The paperwork isn't done and there is our membership and a number of licenses that have been left to expire.
Then he said the equipment is old and yet in perfect condition and can produce as much wine as needed but the process is cumbersome but functional. Charlie is a nut on maintenance and no one has fought him on that. Before you walked in here today I figured the place had 2 years left as a Winery. That would be a shame as Charlie has the best vines and plants in the region and Mark is obsessed with their maintain economic. Jace then asked, what's the outlook now that we have walked in? Rob said well much better until you lose interest. Then you will know enough to sell the plants for a lot of money and build condos. Jace just sat silently and I thanked him for his time.
As he was walking us out he asked about Charlie? I said a minority owner and he keeps the house as long as the family wants it. He stopped and just looked at me and asked, you did that for him? I said well it was hard as I was buying a business and he was selling his life's work. We simply worked it out. By the way I was glad to do that and he will help us city folks make wine.
Once we were outside I tossed Jace the keys and said, let's visit Charlie. Oh, by the way that chick Jane thinks you are hot. He laughed and said well I have your ass tonight. We were quiet after that and when we pulled up to the house Charlie and Mark were on the porch drinking a beer. I said hi guys, what's happening? Charlie said well Mark here was just telling he how he was just fired. I asked well Mark why was that? He said foul language, disrespect, insubordination and general principles and the simple fact that he could. I got real serious and asked, any of that true? Mark shrugged and said yup, all of it. I laughed and looked at Jace and asked, so what do you think? Jace shrugged and asked is there a severance package? Poor Mark just looked and I said ok that's enough. You are not fired, but I need you to take a weeks paid vacation, while we sort the damn mess out. I looked at Charlie and said and as for you are you ready to start to pay attention again and stop letting shit to others? Charlie, Bob stays where he is for a week, you are acting general manager until I get the membership to appoint Jace here GM. Mark, your position will change and be more interesting but while you are on paid vacation you need to get the fucking paperwork in line, I just rejoined the Association. The PA license is important to me as I want to sell that damn wine I'm taking back tomorrow afternoon. Simply work around Bob, unless Jace fires him tomorrow? Charlie do we have workers for the harvest? He said yes as I deal with that not Bob. Everyone good? I got affirmatives all around and I asked Charlie for a beer.
We talked for a while and finally I was tired and hungry and asked Jace if he was ready to go? I told Charlie we would see him tomorrow but we would be heading back as soon as we finished up. Jace was driving again and I said find us a place to eat I'm starved. We found a different place also situated with a view of the lake and again I ordered an ice tea and this time Jace ordered a beer and I laughed when he was carded. I ordered a burger and a salad and Jace ordered a small Pizza. We spent the entire meal talking about business and it was interesting what Jace had figured out already. He thought I was a little tough on Charlie and I didn't disagree. We drove to the motel and once inside Jace hugged me and said we both need a shower after that swim and there will be no clothes till morning. I'm fucking horny and you lost a bet. I said well I get that, I'm just hoping I didn't lose a 600 k bet that I placed on the fucking grapes. This isn't easy and I want out of the jelly contract. Jace looked at me and said we are done with business get you fucking clothes off and let's start in the shower.
Once we were naked he said I've changed my mind, suck my cock? I pushed him on the bed and looked at his cock and asked what's that strange looking thing between your legs? He laughed and stood up put me on the bed on my back he sat on my chest and started slapping my face with his cock and as it got hard he asked, you recognized it now? When I opened my mouth to answer he leaned in and his cock was shoved balls deep in my mouth and I gagged and chocked. He was relentless until he shot a massive load in my mouth. He was so far in my mouth I didn't have to swallow. I sat up and asked, so why is yours different than Jack's? Well as a high school jock he wanted to please some chick so he got cut. He said I actually laughed for a couple of week because of how much it hurt. So is the chick someone I know? He laughed and said yup, the wife to be? He said enough about big brother in the shower, I'm far from done. It was a long hot shower and we soaped each other and dried each other off and I ran the towel over my head and Jace laughed saying damn I need a haircut like that. We simply laid on the bed naked and chatted about sports and then he asked, condoms? I said yes, he smiled and said lucky for me I expected that, get me hard, I want your ass. Before I knew it his soft uncut cock was at my lips and he said, either get me hard or I'll do it like the last time and I took his soft cock in my mouth and it slowly started to get hard. He pulled out of my mouth and said well if you want a condominium, put it on. I quickly complies and I was flipped over and two pillows were but under me to raise my ass and then I felt a glob of something wet and slimy and that was immediately followed by Jace's cock and it was a slow build up to a hard ass fucking and I was loving every minute of it. It took a while as it was the second time in an hour. But he pushed in and kept it there as he filled the condom. He stayed inn until he started to get soft and plopped out and he flipped me over and said, remove the raincoat and no hands. I thought shit but simply open my mouth and removed the condom. Keeping it in my mouth I kissed him and snuck it in his mouth. I simply pulled away and laughed. He responded to that by spitting it on my face. I got up flushed it in the toilet and said, I need a beer. He said well there is a six pack in the car, you can get it if you go nude. Jace, well I guess it is simply water, besides I am flying tomorrow.
The conversation turned to business again and he said MJ, I'm going in there tomorrow and tell Bob, we are exercising the option not to renew his contract. I asked and then what? Well I will offer him a choice of 3 months pay and benefits of 5 months pay no benefits. I shrugged and said that's fair. While you are doing that I am going to talk with the people about the workers. Jace you should let the local authorities know you terminated Bob and ask them to keep an eye on things? Tell them we will make a $2,000 donation to the force for whatever they want to use it for. Then I said Jace, I'm sure we are good but I need to ask Tim something. I called Tim and thankfully he answered saying now what? I laughed and asked do we have insurance in place on the Winery. He said really, I would forget something like that, oh course, liability, fire and a couple of other things. So how is it going? I said not great but Jace will work out. I'll call tomorrow and thanks.
I looked at Jace and he was already asleep, I simply turned out the lights and was instantly asleep. I was up early and went downstairs to the free breakfast buffet and grabbed two pastries and 4 coffees and went up stairs tot he room. I was reading a local paper and Jace work up and thanked me for the coffee. We were both startled by a loud knock on the door. I had jeans and a tee on and Jace ducked into the bathroom when I answered the door I simply blinked. I said, hi officer how can I help you? He said I was wondering if that was your grey van parked outside? I said yes, is there a problem? Well it seems to have a couple of flat tires. To be more precise the valves have been removed. I said well of course they have. I introduced my self and said my buddy Jace and I own a controlling interest in C & J winery and we just closed and came up to check the place out. Well Mr.Simmons have you made any changes yesterday? I said nope, just some interesting conversations. Some went well and some didn't. Would you please come to the office there is something I would like to show you. I said sure let me get something on my feet and Jace as well. We will be right down. I yelled for Jace and put on a pair of shoes and went to the office.we were shown a security video and watched as gold old Bob flattened out front tires.
The officer said well we are picking him up but he will post bail as soon as he sees a magistrate. You should increase security at the Winery. I was told that they called for service for the tires and they would be easily fixed. Jace said, please charge him with whatever you can and I will be back mid next week. I'll be staying. I asked if there were any off duty officers who might like to provide security. I was told it was a small force and that was unlikely. Then he said with all the rental property here we have a great security company, call them and he handed me a card. Once we were finished Jace dealt with the service of the tires. I called the security company and when I said who I was, the guy said Mike you sound different. I laughed and said this is Junior. He laughed and said what do you need? Well we just bought C & J Winery and a dismissed employee damaged my rented vehicle. So I need big time security there for a while. Mike we will have 2 people there all night and one car. I asked if that could start immediately and he said yes and I said please send me the bill and I gave him the information for Enterprises. I didn't even asked the cost as dad dealt with him. I asked them to check with Charlie the former owner and he said fine but we will be changing all the locks and we will be there before noon. I said thanks and hung up.
There were two very quick separate showers and we were off to to the Winery. We were in the driveway and there was a truck there and Bob came out put something in his car and went back inside. I immediately called the police and when I told them Bob was at the Winery store, I was am immediate response wilts lights and sirens. Two cars and 4 officers went inside and Bob emerged in cuffs. Once Bob and one car and 2 officers were gone, I asked for the items Bob had placed in his car. That was no problem and I asked for the car to be towed. That was arranged and Bob would be charged the fee. I dropped Jace off at Charlie's. Then I drove back to the winery and found some stationary and fired Bob for cause, which was attempted theft of priority property. I the made a copy and had it notarized and took it to the police station. I showed it to the Sargent and asked for a witness. All of which was easily accomplished. When I handed it to Bob. He looked at it and said well this isn't over, it will be more that a couple of flat tires. I looked at the officer and asked can the threat and the confession be noted. He laughed and said well it's all on tape.
I drove to Charlie's and found Mark, Jace and Charlie all on the porch talking and drinking coffee. I was quickly given a cup and we discussed things going forward. I told them about the added security. Once things were settled, Jace said please call me if there is an issue and I'll be back Tuesday and it will be for a while. I asked if I could talk with the guy who arranges the work force. I made that call and said there were changes here and I asked the hourly rate and it was higher than I expected and I offered an additional ten cents an hour, which more that insured the labor force. With all that done Jace, Mark and I drove to the store and we loaded the wine in the van and Jace and I were off.
It was a much easier flight back and we were back earlier than I had planned. I wanted to go to the office but settled on going home put the knee in the garage and went to my room and there was a long very long conversation with Tim and then Major Jim. Needing a break, I called Mary Ann and asked if I could pick her up at 5:00 for a very upscale dinner? She asked so how upscale and I said I'm wearing a jacket and tie. She said damn I'll be ready but thanks for the notice. With that she hung up.
I called Oakmont and got dinner reservations for 6:15 and I knew this was a big step but I needed that atmosphere as the Winery mess had me really unhappy with the decision to get involved. Besides it would be quieter than South Hills. I took a quick shower dressed in a grey suit and blue shirt and a grey and blue tie. I was realizing why she was stressed time wise. I was adjusting to the ride to her place but it made the trip to the club longer. I was shocked when she was ready and damn was she hot all dressed up. It was a long drive and she never asked where we were going. We talked about her day and I told her some of the Winery shit and listened saying damn you live a complicated life. Once we got off or Route 28 and we were crossing the river on the Hilton bridge she laughed and said, I knew it Oakmont. I figured you were stressed and this place relaxes you. I said yes it does.
As we entered the Manager Clark said, well good evening Mr. Simmons, you have not been here for dinner in a while, please follow me. We were taken to a table by a window and I fixed the seating so she had a view of the course and I could see the room. Drinks were iced tea and I ordered a zucchini appetizer. Then I said I'm sorry would you like something else? She said that fine but I'll order my own dinner if you don't mind. I laughed and said well I'll make an exception for you. We chatted and the place filled up and Clark appeared and said Mike this is strange and I know you are here with a very pretty guest but there is an important guest who want to join you. Normally I would have said no but this unusual that he would ask. I looked at Mary Ann and asked are you game? It the price one pays for being with me. I looked at Clark and said the honor is all mine. Clark went away and AP appeared with Winnie. I laughed and asked Mrs. Palmer why do you put up with him. I stood while she was seated and then introduced Mary Ann. AP said well you are certainly more attractive that the twins. The stories flew and the ladies were getting along. Then as we were eating desert I was asked if I had heard anything from the USGA? I said yes, I got a very nice Blazer. AP laughed and said seriously? I said no I have not. Well they want you to be co-chair of the open? I asked with Carole, that would be fun. Micheal the Men's Open. You will be representing the USGA as a reward for selling tickets to the Woman's Open. It will be the first time members from the same club are co-chairs. I asked is that a parting gift as it might be our last one. He laughed and said well we will see, let's start by getting some trees down.
We all chatted a while and then the check came and I quickly grabbed it and scribbled my number and handed it to the waiter. AP simply smiled and said thanks. Once we were alone I said, honest that wasn't planned. She laughed and said it was but not by you. Oh, you passed the test. I asked so what test was that? That you would interrupt a private dinner for an unknown special person and then pay the bill. Mary Ann, I had an idea who it was and besides that guy relaxes me. I asked if she wanted a cappuccino and she said sure. That was quickly ordered and we sat there talking. Finally I said well I have practice tomorrow morning and need to spend time with Sam tomorrow afternoon. We drove to her place and I kissed her good night and I asked, that she share the twins reaction with me and I'll call tomorrow.
At home I simply went to my room, stripped and set the alarm and jumped into bed.
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