Page 47 of Muted

He trails behind me after I lock the office. “I’ve just been stressed out. Didn’t mean anything by it.”

I glance at him over my shoulder, raising a brow skeptically. “Why? Because of the closing?” He was a bit of a bear when he bought his house last year, but nowherenearthis bad.

“The what?”

“The closing on the condo?” I narrow my eyes at him when he looks away from me and shrugs his shoulders to dismiss me.

“Yeah.”

I’m not going to pull information from him if he’s going to stay tight-lipped about shit. Maybe heisstressed, like he says, and that’s why he’s been so off. Without engaging any longer, we each get into our own cars, since I won’t be coming back right away. It’s a good thing because it gives me a chance to let my thoughts wander back to Susu.

Our drive to the suppliers is over half an hour, and by the time we arrive, and I park next to his SUV, I’ve made a decision on how to handle Susu’s situation.

I’m going to do absolutely nothing about it. I’ll save the report I ordered on her to my computer, but I’m not going to approach her about it. There’s a reason she provided false information, and that reason is hers, and hers alone. If she was fucking up, or unable to do the job she applied for, it would be a different story. But she knows her shit, and now that she’s performing with Vance, we’ve seen a gradual increase in bodies over the long weekends.

As selfish as it may seem, she’s making us money and I don’t want to lose that just because she has something to hide. That doesn’t make her a bad person and I also don’t get the vibe that she’s normally dishonest.

Besides that, I like her. Our drives are so enjoyable I haven’t had anyone else take over or help out with her transportation to and from work. At some point I may have to, but today isn’t that day and I’m going to keep those car rides for myself. Maybe I’ll figure out what’s going on with her and if there are reasons for her deceit.

Cliff and I greet Sammy, the owner of the company and my partner’s friend, with handshakes. We connected with him after Cliff approached me with options for more cost-efficient liquor and beer distribution. And it’s been great, until now.

He offers us seats at the bar in his reception area where he meets with prospective clients for tastings of their wares. Moving behind it, Sammy pulls out some tumblers and sets them in front of us, then opens up a bottle of whiskey and pours enough to get a taste.

“Try this shit. There’s a distillery that opened up a few hours from here and their stuff is top-notch. I can get this added to your orders if you like it.” Flashing his crooked teeth, he grins while he watches us sip liquor. I’m not in a mood to drink but I don’t want to offend him.

The whiskey is alright, smooth enough, but we have so many options, I don’t think it’s necessary to add another one right now.

“Not bad,” I admit, setting down my glass. Cliff tosses his back and Sammy tops him off. When he goes to fill mine as well, I cover my glass with my hand. “I’m good but thank you.”

His smile falls a moment before he reapplies it and looks at Cliff so quickly I almost miss it. “So, your partner said that you wanted to come by and discuss some things. What’d you want to talk about?”

“We need to talk about prices, Sammy. I understand that there’s going to be some increase because of shipping cost. I know prices seem to be going up for everyone right now.” I know to start the topic as placatingly as I can. Sammy can be quick to get heated and defensive, but I deal with him because he’s always been reliable.

“Well, of course—”

I jump in just as he starts to defend the cost, interrupting him. “Sammy, we’ve been using you for over four years. There’s always been a standard 6% increase over the course of a year. I’d be willing to even accept 10% at this point. I see the prices, that’s expected. But since last year? 23%.”

Grabbing the report I had Susu pull together for me yesterday so we can see each year side by side along with the monthly totals, I set it on the table so he can see what I’m talking.

With another gaze toward Cliff, Sammy pulls it closer and takes a moment to read over the numbers. His eyes scan back and forth, going through the sheet a few times before he looks back at me, impassive as if he’s disinterested.

Pushing the paper back in my direction, he turns to grab the bottle of whiskey and pour another glass. With his back to me, he says, “I don’t see anything that’s standing out to me as abnormal. Like you said, shit’s more expensive now. Gas, shipping, employees… everyone is expecting more. Christ, I have to pay more just to get the orders in within the same timeframe as two years ago. It’s now considered expedited, which jacks the price up.”

Turning around, he eyes me over the glass as he takes a sip.

Sighing, I run my fingers through my hair in frustration. “I get what you’re saying here, man, but this?” I jab the paper again. “Thisis a fucking lot more than what that should cover. All of those were factors when we first signed a contract with you. We went over it the first time I asked about our prices going up. But 23%? There’s no explanation. It makes zero sense to me.”

The way he closes his eyes and shrugs only serves to piss me off. “I have to make money too, Chester. I can’t drop prices just to give you a break.”

I look at my partner, widening my eyes and jerking my head toward Sammy, wanting some back up here. I’m furious when Cliff just rolls his shoulder in a ‘what can you do’ gesture. “Quality is important to our customers. Quality is expensive.”

Not responding to his asinine comment, I face off with Sammy. Standing up, I press my palms on the surface of the bar. “We need to make cuts. If we have to change up what we serve, so be it, but this can’t go on. It’s not sustainable.”

I feel Cliff stiffen next to me, then hear his hissed, “We can’t just go making changes without discussing it first.”

Looking down at him, I raise a brow. “Wearediscussing it, right now.”

“Privately,” he bites out. I simply shake my head at him and stare down Sammy, who is no longer leaning against the back wall. The relaxed pose he was in is now stiff, and I can sense that he’s just as pissed as I am.

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