Tina stepped out of the car and onto the grass, breathing in the crisp air filled with the scent of ripening grapes. Lamont followed closely behind with right after locking the door, his eyes scanning the grounds as they walked.
"Everything looks good so far," Lamont said, nodding in approval.
From what they could see, the vines were healthy, and the workers seemed to be on top of things. They didn't seem to be in a rush too, taking in the fresh air of the fields.
Tina smiled, her eyes shining with pride. "I know, right? I was a bit worried about the weather last week, because of the news, but it looks like we're fine."
As they walked through the rows of vines, Tina and Lamont exchanged pleasantries with the workers, asking questions and offering words of encouragement. They made their way to the cellar, where the winemaking process was in full swing.
Inside, the air was cool and damp, filled with the smell fermenting grapes. A stout man with a bushy beard, greeted them warmly as they walked inside.
"Ah, Ms. Rueben and Lamont! Good to see you. We're right on schedule for the harvest. I think you'll be happy to see the progress we've made."
Tina nodded, her eyes scanning the rows of barrels and tanks. "I'm glad to hear that. We have a big meeting with the potential partners next week, and I want to make sure everything is perfect." She added, "They're also interested in coming over here to see the place."
The man nodded. "May I ask what's the plan for the meeting? What exactly they're looking for? Is there anything I can do to make the process easier?"
Tina thought for a moment before responding. "From what I know about them, the Vinium Partners are usually interested in sustainable practices and unique grape varieties. We'll need to showcase our best wines and demonstrate how we can meet their demands. You don't really have anything to do but to take care of the place. We really need this."
She watched in amusement as the man's eyes widened. "Vinium..." he whispered. "So this is a big deal."
She nodded. "Yes. I'd appreciate it if you don't... Well, slack off on your duties."
Sylvester had never really done that, but Tina didn't trust any of her workers one hundred percent. Some of them were good, some were not as good as others. She'd had some terrible employees, but that's life. But she'd never give anyone a chance to slack off. Especially not now.
"You can count on me, boss. I'll never fail you."
"Good."
As they finished discussing the meeting, Sylvester, gestured for them to follow him. "Let me show you the newest addition to our cellar. We've just installed a state-of-the-art grape sorting machine."
Tina's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, I've been wanting to see that since I told you to get it! Lead the way, Sylvester."
The group made their way through the cellar, weaving past rows of barrels and stainless steel tanks. Sylvester stopped in front of a sleek, modern machine that hummed softly as it worked.
"This is it," the man said proudly. "This machine can sort up to 10 tons of grapes per hour, and it's incredibly gentle on the fruit. We're expecting it to make a big difference in the quality of our wines."
Lamont whistled softly. "That's impressive. How much did it set you back?"
Marcel smiled wryly. "Let's just say it was a significant investment. But we're confident it will pay off in the long run. It's better than the last machine, for sure."
Tina nodded thoughtfully. "I think it's worth it. We're committed to producing the best wines possible, and this machine will help us do that."
As they continued the tour, Tina and Lamont asked questions and made notes, taking in every detail of the winery's operations. They were determined to make a good impression on their potential partners and showcase the best of their winery.
"Don't worry. I'm sure everything will work out," Lamont whispered beside her as Sylvester walked ahead of them, speaking. "I'll help as much as I can. I'll make sure to review the numbers and prepare a presentation if necessary."
Tina smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. With Lamont by her side, she knew she could handle whatever the meeting threw their way.
***
They returned by 3 PM and Tina had spent the ride sleeping, which was something she didn't intend. But she was grateful Lamont didn't wake her up until they were back at the office.
"You should go home and prepare for your date," Lamont said with a smile after she opened her eyes, woken up because of his tapping on her shoulder.
"But it's... It's still pretty early," she said, brows furrowing as she sat up. "I'm sure we can get some more work done before I leave."
"Well, I'm not going to work too hard today. I have a date."
She blinked. "Huh?"
He shrugged as he got out of the car, walked over to the passenger door and opened it for her. "I have a date," he repeated. "So I'm going to take some of the work home."
"W-what? Are you serious?!" she asked as they walked back into the building.
"Yeah, sorry. I know I said I'd be working on-"
"I'm not talking about that," she interrupted. "I didn't know you had a date. Who's this person? How'd you meet? Where are you-"
Lamont laughed as they stopped to get into the elevator. "You should calm down, Tina. We met at my sister's cafe. He asked me out and I agreed. He's pretty handsome, and so soft-spoken. Oh, he's a tech bro too, which I found interesting because I've never met one."
"Wow. We're both going on dates today," she said after a minute of silence.
He grinned, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as their elevator started moving. "Yup. I like it."
She raised her head to look at him properly before she said, mirroring his smile, "I like it, too."