Polished Rust (Wilkins Brothers Book #4)

Chapter 4

ROSEMARY

“I can’t believe you would do that to him, Vinnie!” Vinnie’s long strides make it difficult to keep up with him so I give his hand a big yank, causing him to stop and turn around.

“It is just business, Rosie, you wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh, stop with that bullshit. You treat me like I don’t know what the fuck I am talking about and you know for a damn fact I am more educated than you are.” Anger flashed across his face, the same way it did every time I reminded him that I had an MBA and he only got his basic degree in business. He worked long hours and was willing to be as ruthless as my dad. Combine that with his brown-nose attitude, he quickly became one of my dad’s favorite employees. 

The only reason he is in the position that he is in is because of those attributes. Vinnie knows just as well as I do that there were dozens of other employees looked over for promotions because they weren’t willing to sacrifice it all for my dad. My dad thought that a successful business was run on the back of seventy-hour work weeks and ruthless attitudes. Those were all things Vinnie had and still does. It isn’t to say that he isn’t good at his job, but other people could be just as successful, myself included in that list.

“This is the problem with people in your generation.”

“Oh,” I dramatically roll my eyes, “please tell me what is wrong with my generation.”

“You don’t think with a business brain, Rosie. You’re thinking with your heart and emotions.”

“I am not! I’m simply thinking that it is complete bullshit that you promised this customer that you’d sell him parts for one price and once you have him in front of you, you change the price on him. You and I both know that there aren’t other people that want those spindle things or whatever.”

Vinnie scoffs, “Spindle things? Way to sound like you know what you’re talking about, sweetheart.”

“The point is that nobody else wants them, there is no waitlist or line of customers. You are letting a sale walk out the door because you want to cushion the profit margin a bit?”

“Once again, this is why your dad would never let you run this place. You don’t think the way that a real businessman needs to think, Rosie. No, there is nobody else that wants the brake spindles, but he doesn’t know that. Now, he’s going to be on the phone with his client and within a week he will be back in touch with me with a counteroffer that will be more than the original price he was willing to pay. It is called a strategic up sale and it’ll make us more money.”

“You cannot possibly know that’ll work. This is a guaranteed sale that you’re letting slip away.”

“Do you know the guy he’s building the car for? The man is a millionaire. He has the money and will offer to pay more. I’m not taking a risk, this is all reward.”

“Is this how you plan on running the business? It is a horrible business model because eventually, people are going to say no because you’re not trustworthy.”

“They don’t actually care about trustworthiness, Rosie. They just want their car parts. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to head home for the night. Maybe we can pop open that Burgundy Pinor Noir bottles that you like so much and have a couple of classes.”

I sigh and take Vinnie’s outstretched arm. The man is frustrating as hell, but it doesn’t matter how much we argue, he’s never going to change his mind. Just like my dad, he will never see my potential as a partner in this business and it just isn’t fair. We’re waiting for the car service to pull into the pick-up area when Vinnie’s phone rings. He takes a couple of steps away to answer it.