Tinderella (11 page)

"Right, if it was good for you, then I'd make you see reason."

"As long as we're straight on that."

"I gotta run, I have that meeting with his mother."

"Yep, can't be late for that. I was going to head out anyway, call me on your way home."

Cyndi drove to the center of town and found her way to the address that Jane had provided. She was a little surprised that Jane had an office at all. It was a nondescript office building, starkly empty on a weekend morning.
 

She felt weird, she had just slept with, well not so much slept as had crazy sex with, this nice lady's son. She felt like this was the last place she should be this morning. Although to be fair, when she had accepted the invite she had been celibate for quite some time.
 

She felt kind of glowy though, she was hopeful that it didn't show.

"Good morning, dear, thank you for coming. You got plenty of rest I trust, you look lovely today."

"I did, thanks, I've had my ups and downs in that house, but it is home and I uh, usually sleep well there." Not a lie. Close, but not a lie.

"It was a lovely party, I understand we have you to thank for the baked goods?"

"Oh, yes, it's a hobby of mine."

"They were fabulous, you've got some talent."

"Thank you, my mom was a really amazing baker and we used to work in that very kitchen together, so..."

"Right, I understand. So you're probably wondering why I've asked you to meet me here?"

"Yes, kind of. What is it that you do?"

"I manage my own money. It's not Clark money, it's Wemberly money, my money. MAs I have gotten older I've inherited some, and always invested it. I think that's what it's for, to help others do well," she smiled. "Anyway I like to invest and I have the liberty of investing creatively."

"What do you mean creatively?"

"Well, any way I want, really. I've invested in a few clunkers over the years, but mostly not, and I've grown my portfolio. I'm an angel investor, really."

"I see," said Cyndi, although she didn't.

"At first when my husband talked about buying you out, I thought it was an interesting idea, but I was mad that he wanted to put you out of business. I'm a business woman after all, and I've helped launch a lot of start-ups. I love the passion and drive that comes with entrepreneurs. And I figured you had it."

Cyndi blushed, and nodded " I do," she said quietly.

"I can see that. So, at the time, I sort of thought I'd talk him out of this. Buying your little company so he could have a bigger one. I thought it was kind of, well, unpleasant," she said, picking imaginary lint off of her immaculate pink business suit. "But then I spoke to him about it and he pointed out that, in all likelihood if he didn't do it someone else would and they wouldn't be as fair. He is making a very fair and generous offer."

"I know but--"
 

Jane held up her hand "Let me go on," she paused and smiled, "I'll give you time for rebuttal in a few minutes, okay?"

"Sure," Cyndi couldn't imagine where this was going.

"And then I talked to my son, he's quite smitten, you could do worse you know."

"I do know, he's been very kind."

"He's a good man, Cyndi. Anyway, he spoke of your baked goods, and then I tasted them yesterday. He wasn't misleading me, they are out of this world. So, what I'd like you to do is to consider this. You sell the company to my husband's company. As I said, someone will buy you out even if he doesn't. Or drive you out, and then you'll get nothing," she paused, "I don't mean to be cruel, but you know it's not a unique business model, and you know it makes good money. Some shark is going to come after you, better the devil you know than the devil you don't, right?"

Cyndi nodded her head tentatively. "But--"

"There's more. I'd like to fund your next enterprise. A food truck. Bakery items, to be exact," she paused, "I can tell by the look on your face this is all a surprise. It's a growing industry, and the unique take on baking is you. It's all you. Any signature baked goods you want to offer, cookies every day, you can offer breakfast rolls, treats at lunch. And no one can buy you out, because you're the secret ingredient."

"I don't, I just, I..."

"Right, it's a lot to take in, I understand. Here's the thing. I've done this before. I'll be there for you, as a backer, and, I hope, as a friend. We can do this together. You'll have support, you won't have to start on a shoestring, and you'll enjoy your work at least as much as you do now. At least I believe you will."

"I don't know what to say, except, well thank you. Thank you for the offer. Do I have some time? This is a shock, a good shock, but a shock."

"Of course, you can have until tomorrow afternoon, I believe that's when my husband's offer is to be met. He doesn't know I'm doing this, it's none of his business really. But Pearson does."

"He didn't..."

"Put me up to this?' she completed Cyndi's thought, "no, he didn't. This one is, as the kids say, all me."

"Well, thank you," Cyndi stood. "This has been a really interesting weekend all around. You just have no idea. I'll be in touch tomorrow, what number should I use?"

"The one on the card is fine, I'll be expecting your call."

Cyndi's head was spinning as she left the building, what the hell had just happened to her? In the space of 24 hours she had slept with Pearson and been offered a business proposition from his mother. She had no idea what to do with this. Except call Gooch. She slid her finger across the screen of her replacement phone and placed the call.

"So, let me get this straight. She wants to back you? In a baking business?"

"Yeah, a food truck."

"Like a roach coach?"

"No, I think we're talking something a little more sophisticated than that. A food truck that's a bakery. I'll have...well I'm not sure yet. Maybe cookies, cakes, donuts? I haven't really thought about it. And I'm not sure I'll do it..."

"What?! Why not? You're nuts if you don't do this. In the cleaning business you're a guppy in a pond of sharks..."

"That's a terrible metaphor."

"Fine, but, still, you get my point.
 
This would be just you."

"No, no it wouldn't, she'd be a sort of partner/backer. She'd have some say."

"How much?"

"I'm not sure, and I"m not sure I want that, I mean, I like being my own boss."

"Right, I know, it's the dream. But it's not like you'd have to answer to her every day or anything. And even better, you'd have some help from someone who knows the ropes. Do you remember how hard it was to start this business? How you struggled?"

"Yeah," Cyndi nodded slowly, "I do, and that's one of the reasons I'd consider it, actually. For the support. Of course I don't really know her."

"You know her son. Pretty well as I recall."
 

"Stop that, god, you're making me blush."

"I know, I can see it right through the phone! Anyway, I vote yes, you have until tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah, I think I'm gonna go make a list of the positives and negatives."

"I'm gonna hit the sack, I have to be up early tomorrow. See ya in the morning, kid. Sleep good."

"Thanks."

When Cyndi got back to the apartment, she got out some lined paper and sat at the table. She drew a line down the center and started her list of good and bad. When she was done there was one word circled at the bottom of the page.
 

As she was shuffling her papers, and rinsing her wine glass there was a knock at the door. She crossed the apartment and looked through the peephole. All she could see was a coat, her coat. Laughing she opened the door, and let Pearson inside.

"I kept forgetting to give this to you," he said, as he leaned down to kiss her.
 

There it was again, the magic, she saw stars when he kissed her, every time. He released her and she was breathless.
 

"I hear you talked to mom."

"Yeah, she's something."

"She is. She's formidable, and some would say she wears the pants in the family. I wouldn't go that far, but let's just say she knows where the pants are kept in case she needs them. She has a lot of influence is what I'm saying."

"Yeah, she said she was going to try to talk your dad out of buying me out."

"But that would have been silly, right? Either someone else would buy you out, or you'd have been forced out, or gotten a less attractive offer. This way is better."

"This way? Did I say yes?"

"Not yet," he said, sliding closer to her and looking down into her eyes, "but you will."

She laughed and looked up at him, "Oh really, and what makes you so sure?"

"I feel pretty confident," he said as he touched his lips to hers.
 

There it was again, that feeling, like butterflies, and that warmth that started between her legs and moved up until she was warm and tingly all over. She put her arms around him and leaned into the kiss, his hands came up to her hair and tangled there. He pulled back for a minute "I can't get enough of you," and then he kissed her again.

It was going to be a long night, she decided. She looked up at him, "That's a wicked smile," he said.

"I'm a wicked girl, come this way..." she said leading him to her bedroom. "These are not part of the negotiations, are they," she teased.

"No, I'm only representing my own interests here," he smiled as he tiptoed along behind her.

As soon as the bedroom door was closed she turned and pressed him against the wall, kissing him feverishly. Fumbling with his belt, she unbuckled it and dragged his zipper down.
 

"What is it you want?" he asked.

"You, I want you."

"Be specific," he whispered.

"I want to suck you, may I?"

"That's better, yes, suck me, ahhhh," he sighed as she pulled him free from the constraint of his jeans. He was fully hard in a matter of minutes and she leaned in to lick the pre-cum from the tip. As her tongue touched him, he flinched, "God, that's good, baby, do that again."

She did, only she did it slowly and deliberately, running her tongue from the base to the tip and back down again. She cupped his balls with her hand and tugged softly enjoying the feeling of them tensing under her ministrations. His hand was tangled in her hair again, this time he was pulling her away and then thrusting her forward, and she looked up and met his eyes and he groaned.
 

"I'm not going to last too long if you do that," he warned her.

She grinned up at him, then went back to what she had been doing. He pulled her head forward and back and she nearly choked on his length, and girth. Putting her hands on his butt cheeks, she buried her head in his abdomen and smelled cologne mixed with his own spicy smell.
 

As he rocked back and forth into her mouth he said through clenched teeth, "I warned you, I'm not going to last this way, if you're going to stop you'd better do it now, or...Oh God. Oh baby, I'm coming, oh Jesus, Cyndi..." and he clutched her head close. She felt the warmth of his cum in her throat, and his cock spasmed as he met his release. Gently she suckled as he finished, and at last she released him with a gentle pop, as he relaxed against the wall.

"Do you have a bed in here, because I need to lie down."

"Oh yeah, there's a bed, and we'll be using it...Here you won't need these," she said as she removed the rest of his clothing, I've got plans for you.

"Mercy!"

Breakfast the next day wasn't as weird as it could have been. Gooch was totally cool with Pearson being there, she even made eggs for everyone before she left for her first appointment.

"So..?" Pearson asked Cyndi.

"So, what?"

"What's the plan, what are you going to do with the next chapter kid?"

"I don't know," suddenly shy she looked up at him, "will you be in it?"

"No place else I'd rather be. In fact, I wondered if you thought you'd need help on the food truck? Maybe on weekends? Holidays?"

"I might," she teased, "what can you do? I mean I know some of your talents," she grinned "but none of the ones in the kitchen."

"Oh no, the kitchen is up to you, I can schmooze with your customers though, and I can count back change. It's a lost art you know?"

"It is a lost art. You'll probably have to prove yourself first."

"And what about you, what bakery items will you have on the truck?"

"I don't know, cookies are easy. We can put those in glass jars, muffins maybe, banana bread, at least enough for you, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls. There are a lot of things that are portable."

He pulled her on to his lap, "What about cakes?" he asked.

"Cakes, hmmmm, yeah," she said as she put her arms around his neck "I guess we can do cakes. Did you have something in mind?"

"I was wondering specifically about wedding cakes, could you do those?"