I spent an uncomfortable night after Lucia’s revelations. The visions of me looking like one of the girls from the Benny Hill show running around a house using a pink hoover while Scamp looked on looking bored would not go away. It both attracted me and appalled me at the same time.

It was well after midnight when I finally admitted to myself that I had very much lusted after Lucia when I came home and discovered her cleaning outfit. Once I'd done that, I did manage to get some sleep once the feelings of guilt had subsided.

Over breakfast the following morning, Lucia tried to apologise for her behaviour the previous evening.

“Think nothing of it, Lucia. It was all rather new to me.”

She took my hand.
“Take your time and do the right thing with your company. Then we can talk about us again.”

This time, she followed me to the front door and made a point of kissing me as I left for work. That told me that she was ready to go public with whatever it was that we had going on between us. While it was pleasurable, it was also very unnerving.

---

Sue noticed that there was something different about me within two minutes of arriving at the office. She could hardly miss the traces of Lucia’s lipstick.

After being the good woman that she was and wiping it off with a tissue she said,
“Is there something I should know?”

“There is and there isn’t. The first is that we have had another bid for the company and the second is that nothing has been decided.”

“Ok boss, you can pull the other one this time but that lippy on the cheek does not appear out of thin air now does it?”

“It does not but I’m not saying anything at the moment.”
As soon as I said it, I knew that it would not work.

Her look told me that I was right on the nail.

---

There were three emails from Rona waiting for me as if being caught with lipstick on my cheek was not enough... It was the second of the three that piqued my interest. Finally, we had the details of who was behind the bid. Of all the possibilities I had weighed up, the name OFW had not even appeared in the top ten. Osnabruck Fabric Werke was a minor player in our business sector. The email contained a link to their company website. Google translate told me that they were looking to expand into parts of the business sectors that they had ignored for years.

I knew of at least one company that bought our product and had used their components in the past. I could not understand why they'd been so secretive about it in the first place. That was a question for another time. The fact that was a German company also explained why the bid was not for a round number of pounds.

Rona had clearly been working overtime and had ascertained that their chairman was willing to meet me face-to-face to discuss the bid.

Her last email contained three separate letters. They were all slightly different in content. The last one suggested a premium if I was to agree to the no-compete clause. I had to do a double-take when I saw the number. It made me smile when I remembered how much capital I had when I started the company. That three grand had multiplied many, many times.

I was under no illusion that the figure mentioned as a premium was an opening gambit. Even half of that would be good.

As soon as I thought that I mentally gave my back a thrashing when I realised what I’d done. With everything going on in my private life, was I softening towards selling my baby? I honestly didn’t know one way or the other.

My deliberations were interrupted by Joe Edwards, who ran the Production Department. He had an issue with the newly installed flow solder machine that needed my attention.
I welcomed the diversion that this would give my mind for an hour or so at least.

---

If Lucia noticed how preoccupied I was that evening, she didn’t comment or even do anything different around the home. For that, I was very relieved indeed.

I had to think carefully about what I did next and for. that I didn't need any distractions. Lucia played her part by not dressing provocatively although I knew that deep down, she loved doing it, and by god, she had the figure and looks for it.

To sell or not to sell. that was the question I had to answer. Now that I knew who was behind the offer, I was more hopeful about the long-term viability of the company. We had a very good product line, that was not only up-to-date but profitable. The order pipeline was good and the products we have in development were cutting-edge in our industry. I had worked hard to get us into that position and… I was loathe to give it all up. It was that very hard work that had made us a target for a takeover. There was a word for that but I could not recall it and it bothered me for a while.

Two days of prevarication and being an obnoxious prick to everyone around me, especially Lucia and Scamp, was what it took me to make a decision. I didn't broadcast it right away but slept on it. In the morning, things were just the same so I fired off an email to Rona that explained my decision.

With that off my back, I went into work in a much better mood after a grovelling apology to Lucia for my behaviour.

She smiled back at me before saying,
“You had your own gremlins to defeat. You came out on top and for that we can all be very thankful.”

“Don’t you want to know what I have decided?”

“You will tell me in your own time. I have come to know about a distinct pecking order of importance since I came here. Your employees are more important to you than I am when it comes to this particular topic.”

I went to speak, but she glared at me so I shut up.

“That is understandable. They depend on you for a living. I don’t. That’s why I hope that you do sell because I want to be with you… for a long time but that is just me being selfish. Do the right thing for your people. Scamp and I can wait.”

Her words took me by surprise. No woman had ever said anything remotely like that before.

“I don’t get it?”

Lucia grinned and took my hand in hers.
“Anthony, I’ve grown to love being with you.”

She paused for a second before saying,
“Damm it Ant, I’m in love with you. I know that I’ve said it before but every day here makes it harder to not say anything even though I appreciate your mind is on your company.”

Then some tears welled up in her eyes.
“Get off to your other baby and tell them what you are going to do. I’ll be here for you when you return. Then you can tell me all about it.”

Before I could argue, she gave me a brief kiss and sent me on my way. Scamp gave me a little yelp as I left my home.

---

My assistant Sue was waiting for me when I arrived at work.

“A woman was on the phone just now. She told me to look after you.”

I was momentarily stunned.
“She didn’t leave her name but I’m guessing that it was your housekeeper?”

I shook my head.
“Probably.”

“So? What have you decided?”

“It is complicated but in general, yes, I have agreed to sell provided some conditions are met. I’ll tell everyone at three this afternoon.”

“Conditions?”

“I have to open my books to the bidder to do their due diligence. In order to test the seriousness of the bidder, I’m going to ask them to put down a non-refundable deposit as a goodwill gesture. That deposit will be distributed to everyone regardless of what happens with the bid. That will be a nice Christmas bonus.”

Sue smiled at me.
“You are much too soft to be a hard-nosed businessman.”

I grinned.
“I’m starting to learn that very thing.”

---

Rona had replied to my earlier email. She agreed with my plan to get them to show some sort of commitment towards the company. We have nothing to hide other than our R&D team. I would make it clear that the R&D team were off-limits to the people involved with the due diligence work. The last thing we could afford would be for our product secrets to get out before a financial deal had been agreed upon.

Rona had attached a draft letter of response that outlined the limits of the due diligence. I read it and replied to her with a couple of suggested changes. Then I forwarded the letter and suggested changes to the lawyers.

The biggest change that I wanted was to have a meeting with the boss of the German company before any deal was struck. I wanted to know what his plans were for the company.

Rona replied just after lunch agreeing to the changes. The legal people added a couple of wording changes and just before the time I was due to address the workforce, the email was sent.

---

I walked into the dispatch area at 3 pm. The whole workforce was waiting for me.

“Thanks for waiting for me. The last time I addressed you all, I said that I would update you on developments with the proposed bid for the company.”

I looked at the sea of faces. I never really wanted this level of responsibility when I started the company.

“I’ll not beat about the bush with this. We have received a substantial bid for the company from a German Engineering Company. I have not said yes but have agreed to open the books and the company to a process called ‘due diligence’. Representatives from their company will inspect the books and how we operate. That could lead to another formal bid or it may not. I have made it clear that the one area that is off limits to all inspection, is Geoff’s R&D department. When I have reached agreement over the dates, I will let you all know so that we can make sure that what we have in development is kept away from prying eyes.”

I swallowed hard.

“I have also laid down a condition whereby a sizeable deposit is paid to us in return for opening our books. Call it goodwill or something like that. That sum of money is non-refundable. In the event of a bid not materialising after the due diligence, I will divide up that money and distribute it to each and everyone of you on an equal share basis. I will not be taking any of the money should it come to that.”

That caused a good deal of murmuring amongst my employees.

“Naturally, I expect all courtesy and assistance that our visitors might want. We are all adults here so no little tricks eh? And please, I don't want to find a few Enderby's Smokies strategically placed on the radiators in the conference room! [1]”

That received a good laugh.
“Lastly… Please do not think that I’m going to sell out and leave you all high and dry. I can’t say any more at the moment but it is a promise I will keep.”

“Right, I’ll do my best to answer your questions but please bear in mind, there is a lot that I simply can’t divulge at the moment. Most of that is because I don’t know myself.”

[fifty minutes later]

“If there are no more questions then please go home and tell your families about what I’ve told you today. Remember that we are a profitable company and if I am not happy about their future plans for the company, I will not sell.”

---

I returned to my office exhausted. I was not used to that part of being a boss. It never seemed to get any easier.

Sue followed me and sat across my desk from me.

“That was some performance,” she said.

“Performance? Do you think that I am lying? Or that I will be pulling a fast one?”

Sue shook her head.
“Sorry. That was a bad choice of words. You handled that very well. Is that better?”

I smiled.
“Lots… And thanks. It was hard. So many people depend on me for a living.”

“Has the success of what we do here got to you?”

“It has a bit. I never thought that it would turn out like this when I started out on my own.”

“And you are not the hard-nosed businessman that people think you are?”

I smiled.
“I’m not that sort of person. This whole bid thing has put in all into perspective.”

She took a deep breath before saying,
“You have decided to sell, haven’t you?”

“Eh?”

“Who knows you better than anyone else around here? Me that’s who. Your whole attitude has changed this past week. It is either the bid, your housekeeper or both.”

Not for the first time, her observational powers astounded me.

“Ok. Guilty as charged. I am having a bit of a rethink about my life which if I am right, you have been suggesting since my divorce became final?”

“I have that, but I never thought that you’d actually do it.”

“I haven’t done it… I’m doing it.”

“Ok but don’t give up.”

“I don’t intend to.”

---

When I arrived home that evening, Lucia had decided that the solution to what was ailing me was a culinary feast. The smell that reached me as I opened the front door was alluring.

“Welcome home darling,” she said as she greeted me with a kiss on the cheek and a glass of wine.

“What did I do to deserve this?”

She grinned
“Sue phoned me and told me what you were doing and that you needed cheering up.”

I shook my head as I saw what was waiting for me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… that is the problem, nothing is wrong. I just don’t deserve this.”

Before she could answer, Scamp came padding along the corridor from the kitchen with a bone in her mouth. She dropped the bone at my feet and sat down and looked at me with dopey eyes. She let out a tiny whimper. Lucia laughed.

“Scamp is happy to see you.”

“I can see that,” I said as I knelt down and tickled Scamp under her chin. She loved that.

I put down my briefcase and picked up the bone.
“Thank you, Scamp.”

Scamp went padding back into the kitchen and laid down in her basket.

“Here, give me that,” said Lucia pointing at the bone.
“Take the wine and go upstairs. Have a shower and I’ve put something out on your bed to wear.”

For a moment, I was thankful then I understood what she was talking about. I climbed the stairs with a sense of my impending doom.

---

Lucia's 'put out something on your bed' turned out to be a black full-length pleated skirt. A plum-coloured top and a red and green scarf waited for me. A pair of 'flats' sat on the floor.

At least I wasn't going to be humiliated with a totally inappropriate outfit, but I was certain that it was only a matter of time. My ex didn't leave behind a host of sexually explicit novels for me not to read a few of them before I took them to the recycling centre. Humiliation, was a central tenet of many stories where the one who strayed was publicly shamed into submission or worse. If she, my ex had wanted to do that with me I didn't know as I was so busy building my business that I never thought about looking at another woman. Lucia, was the first woman I'd been even been friendly with outside of a work environment since I started dating my ex-wife an aeon ago.

I spent a lot of time, how much I didn't know, looking that the clothes lying on my bed. They were not going anywhere, so I ended up delaying my decision by taking a shower.

To my eternal relief, my clothes were where I’d left them before the shower. I blamed those books for even thinking those thoughts.

“Sod it,” I said to myself.
Then I put on the outfit that Lucia had laid out for me. I looked awful, but it had to be done.

I went downstairs and found Lucia looking anxious at several steaming pots. I guessed that we were having pasta but with what I could not decide.

I went over and tried to peek into one of the pots.
“Shoo!” said Lucia.
“If you want to make yourself useful then you can open that bottle of Classico that is on the table.”

“Ok,” I replied feeling slightly hurt that she had not commented on how awful I looked.

---

“Here we go, Pasta a la Lucia,” she said as she brought two plates into the dining room.

“It smells delicious.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about Enderby’s? It fell to Sue to tip me off about their fish.”

I looked at the steaming plate. I could see Haddock, Prawns and… Salmon.

“Prawns and Salmon as well?”

“Not Salmon but Sea Trout. Lots more flavour, and homemade pasta.”

“Lucia, you are a marvel.”

She picked up the class of Chianti and we chinked them.

---

Lucia only commented on how I looked after we’d eaten and cleared away.

"You look good for a first attempt. The scarf needs work but Roma was not built in a day. Plus we need to find a proper wig for you. Once you have found a style, we can get you three or four to wear on rotation."

"Lucia, come on admit it, I look terrible."

“Really? Think about how you were sitting all through dinner especially, your legs.”

Lucia was right as always. I'd wrapped my legs around each other just like a woman. It was so easy because of the skirt.

“That is just one thing? Above the waist? I look terrible.”

She smiled.
“As I said, a work in progress.”

She reached over and took my hands in hers.

“I’m with you all the way and that is because I want to be here… with you.”

“And if I don’t go through with it?”

“I will still be here. Scamp likes you and that is more than enough to want to make me stay. Besides, you are a good person and believe me, they are in short supply. Once you get beyond the gigolos and grifters and those who just want a bit on the side, there are not many of you left.”

“That’s nice to know.”

“I’m being serious. You saw those men at the hotel in Cannes. If I go into any decent hotel in Rome, Florence or even Venice on my own, they appear out of the ether like flies are attracted to dead meat. They only have one thing on their minds… Make that two and one of them is robbing me blind when they find out my name.”

She was right.
“And to appear with another woman on your arm would keep them at bay?”

She giggled.
“It would be different and honestly, I don’t know. At least here, I don’t get ogled in the street when I go shopping.”

Then she kissed me.

---

“If the sale goes through what then? What are you going to do then?” asked Lucia over breakfast the following day.

“I don’t know and I’m not going to give it any thought until the deal is done and dusted.”

She smiled back at me.
“Did I succeed last night?”

“Eh? Succeed in what?”

“In making you forget about the bid and the company for a few hours at least?”

I held up my hand while I munched on a piece of toast. When I’d finished, I smiled.
“Ok, Lucia, you did succeed. I was more concerned about not looking like a complete idiot to worry about the bid or work.”

“Good. At least I know that I’m on the right track.”

I headed off to work wondering where that track would lead and hoping that it didn’t involve my humiliation along the way.

[to be continued]
[1] Enderby's of Grimsby, smoke haddock . https://alfredenderby.co.uk/