Love Changes Everything (Chateaux Ste. Margaux Book 1)

by Jamie Salisbury

  "Margaux handled it like a pro," Pier concurred. "She never missed a beat. The customers left as though the entire thing was a learning experience."

  "Good, good. That's what I want to hear." Jacques replied.

  "She gave them all a bottle of wine before they left." Simone retorted.

  "If it takes one bottle of wine to ensure a customer will return, then that is part of the price of business, Simone," Jacques scolded.

  "May I say something before we go any further?" Margaux asked.

  "But of course," Jacques replied.

  "This is my first official day. If it hadn't been for my unfortunate accident, I would have been in here long before today. I don't know what your problem is Simone, but ever since I arrived you've been nothing but snarky and rude to me. My job here is as general manager. To help Grandpapa run this place and oversee the day-to-day operations. If you don't like it, spit it out now. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut."

  Simone said nothing, looking at her with contempt. She was supposed to be the restaurant manager. Sadly the chef's did more in regards to ordering. Simone managed the staff schedules and played hostess when it suited her.

  "Okay then. As far as the wine tasting went. Those bottles were not corked, and I'm sending a sample off to a lab for analysis. It's always possible during the bottling process a few bad bottles get by unnoticed. I want to be sure."

  Her grandfather and brother nodded their heads in agreement.

  "Margaux is right. Things like that do happen from time to time." Her grandfather muttered.

  "What I want to do is spend time with everyone. I want to see what it is you do, that sort of thing."

  "When do you plan to start?" Simone inquired, looking down at her freshly manicured hand.

  "Not sure. Today I just want to settle in, perhaps take a tour."

  "Is that all? Today is my day off, and I have stuff to do."

  "Go, don't let us keep you."

  Simone stood up, kissed Jacques on the cheek and glared at Margaux before leaving the room.

  "Is she always like that?" Margaux asked.

  "Yep," Pier replied. "Always. Not with customers, but here in the last six months or so she's gotten really snotty."

  "Any reason? Is she unhappy with her job? I know she resents me coming on board..."

  "That is her own fault. If she'd applied herself, gone to college like both of you and Hayden, she'd be doing a lot more with the company. Instead she'd rather be out partying with that crowd she runs with."

  "That's what I thought. She hasn't changed then."

  "No, not at all," Pier replied. "She's looking for a man who can give her what she wants. Money and more money. Prestige too, if she can find someone. I know she sure didn't like your coming to the tasting with Nikalye Fox."

  "Well, there's nothing for her to be jealous about. He's my neighbor who went beyond the call of duty when I fell last week."

  "He's a very caring and successful man who's never forgotten where he came from," Jacques added. "He's been through terrible things your sister cannot even comprehend. To have Nikalye Fox as a friend means you have a friend for life."

  "Yes, I can see that in him, Grandpapa. Unfortunately that's not the way Simone sees it. She's already warned me to back off."

  "You're too old," Pier snickered.

  "Who said you're too old?"

  "Simone, Grandpapa. She told me to stay away from Nikalaye, that he was out of my league and I was too old."

  "Your sister is the one who is out of her league."

  Margaux and Pier glanced at each other, trying not to smile. Jacques Simeon was a wise man. He understood the goings on within the younger generation far better than some would like to admit.

  "Well which one of you gentlemen wants to hang with me today?"

  "Why don't you let Grandpapa show you around, and you settle in today?"

  "Yes, you don't need to be doing too much so soon after your fall." Jacques concurred.

  "I'm fine you two. If I wasn't I wouldn't have come in."

  "Yes you would have. Nikalye said you were a most difficult patient at times." Pier stated, giving Margaux a grin.

  "Okay, I admit it. I don't do well at being sick or hurt. I'm not used to being inactive."

  "Just take your time," her grandfather told her. "If you don't feel like doing something, don't. Your health is more important than any job."

  "Thank you Grandpapa. I'll remember that. If I get to feeling tired, I'll go sit in my office or I'll go home."

  "Come on," Pier said, grabbing her things from the chair. "Let me show you to your office so you can settle in."

  "Good idea. I'll come get you in ten or fifteen minutes, Margaux."

  "I'll be ready Grandpapa."

  Margaux followed her older brother out of the conference room and down the hall. He stopped at a doorway at the end of the hall. Sticking his head inside, he flipped on the light switch. He stepped out of the way, encouraging Margaux to enter.

  "Madam General Manager, your office."

  "Thank you," she replied, walking past him. The office was pretty sterile, devoid of anything inviting.

  "I know you may want to fix it up, and I believe there's some money set aside for that. We'll ask Calvin when I introduce you. He's our numbers guy."

  "Oh good. But why wasn't he at the meeting?"

  "Grandpapa just wanted it to be family this morning."

  "Oh okay. Who else?"

  "Our HR person, Helen Pitt. She handles payroll and all employee benefits for both the vineyard and winery."

  "So we've got a fairly small operations staff."

  "Yes. Grandpapa has never been one for having too much staff."

  "I know his line of thinking."

  "I would take you around and introduce you to Helen and Calvin, but I'll leave that to Grandpapa."

  "That's fine. I'm sure you have enough to do."

  "Monday's are usually hectic for me. Tomorrow, we'll spend some time together."

  "That's fine, Pier. I think Grandpapa will keep me plenty busy today."

  Pier laughed. "You have no idea. He may be old, age wise, but he's smarter than most people fresh out of college."

  "Oh, I know. He amazes me."

  "Well, if you don't need anything, I'll leave you."

  "Coffee?"

  A woman with a folder containing a sheaf of papers stuck her head inside Margaux's office. "Let me show you," she said, extending her well manicured hand. "Helen Pitt."

  "Nice to meet you, Ms. Pitt," Margaux replied eyeing the woman. She was dressed in a pair of black slacks, black heels and a white blouse. Quite professional. "Margaux Simeon, but please call me Margaux."

  "Margaux. It's nice to finally meet you. Your grandfather speaks quite highly of you." She turned and looked at Pier. "And Pier as well."

  "I'll just let you ladies get acquainted," Pier murmured, shaking his head. "Helen will show you to the break room."

  "Thank you Pier. I'll stop by after Grandpapa finishes with me."

  "Don't overdo."

  "I won't, I promise."

  The two women watched him walk out of the office and down the hall.

  "This is your compensation package and tax forms. Would you like me to go over it now?"

  "I'd really like a cup of coffee before my grandfather gets a hold of me."

  "Certainly. Come on let me show you where we keep everything."

  Margaux followed her down the hall and to a small, well kept room. It looked like a small kitchen with a couple of tables and chairs, a refrigerator, microwave and most importantly, a coffee maker.

  Helen showed her where everything was kept. It was an individual coffee maker, one of those new single serve ones. Margaux wondered why they just didn't use the type the restaurant used. It would surely be cheaper.

  "Why don't we just have one like they use in the restaurant? I'm sure it would be more cost effective."

  "Your sister insisted on getting this."

&
nbsp; "Why? She works in the restaurant, not in here. I wouldn't see it would matter to her."

  "Oh, she has an office here. One in the restaurant too, though I don't think she uses it."

  Margaux said nothing. She wanted to spend the first week or so getting her feet wet and learning the inner workings of the business. Knowing her sister's attitude, she didn't want it to seem that she was coming in and making changes right off the bat. Simone would only make matters worse.

  Luckily Jacques appeared out of nowhere. Margaux sighed at her grandfather's impeccable timing.

  "There you are. I should have known."

  "I'm ready anytime you are, Grandpapa. Just let me pour this in my to-go cup and we can get started." She turned to Helen. "Thank you, Helen. When my grandfather is finished giving me the executive tour, I will look over the papers. If I have any questions, I'll come find you."

  "Please. I would prefer to go over everything with you myself. If you don't mind."

  Seeing the woman wasn't going to let it drop, Margaux gave in. "Of course. How about I call you when I'm ready?"

  "That'll be fine. Thank you, Ms. Simeon."

  "Margaux, please."

  Margaux turned to her grandfather, who was patiently standing at the doorway.

  "Are you ready, Grandpapa?"

  "Yes. Why don't we see if Jean-Claude is feeling better? I'd like to meet him."

  "Good idea. The two of you will have much in common with your degree and knowledge, Margaux."

  "He may also see me as a threat, Grandpapa."

  "How's that? I see no reason Jean-Claude should feel threatened by you."

  "My degree in oenology and my hands on training in France. He will know I am the one person, outside of you, he cannot pull anything on."

  He said nothing, staying silent. As though his brain was processing her words like a computer. Analyzing. "You are right, of course."

  She followed her grandfather through the door. They walked briskly to the large conglomeration of buildings. Though she knew every inch of this facility, today marked a new era. No longer was she the granddaughter of the proprietor, today she was his right hand, the future of Chateau Ste. Margaux.

  Chapter Seven

  He led her inside and down the hall to a well lit office. Sitting behind an opulent mahogany desk was Jean-Claude. The small Frenchman was staring intently at his computer screen. The office was not as Margaux remembered it. This was too neat, better furnished than her new office. The last time she'd been in this office was right after Jacques hired Jean-Claude to take over as winemaker. She was not ready for such a position at the time. Back then the room was very much a working office. Not this.

  "Jacques, I was not expecting to see you today." He pushed his chair back away from the desk. He stood and walked towards them.

  "I am showing Margaux around, introducing her to everyone. Today is her first official day."

  "Yes of course. I forgot. Ms. Simone, welcome."

  "Thank you. I hope you're feeling better, Jean-Claude. I hope it wasn't something you ate at the restaurant. You missed out on quite an interesting tasting Saturday evening."

  "Yes, much. A stomach bug I believe. I'm much better today. You said the tasting was interesting? How so?"

  "Margaux filled in for you. There were some bad bottles of the new Cabernet."

  "Corked I'm sure. Happens from time to time." Jean-Claude said, quickly dismissing the incident.

  "These were not corked, Jean-Claude. There was something else going on with them. I sent a sample out to a lab I use for them to analyze the wine." Margaux watched the man with interest. He looked alarmed by her news.

  "You should have brought them to me. I handle that sort of thing, if it occurs. Which it never does."

  "I'll remember that. May I ask why the tastings are not done here?"

  "They are done in the restaurant in hopes of enticing the people to eat afterwards."

  "Whose idea was that?"

  "Simone's. Do you have a problem with that?"

  "No, not really. I simply find holding them in a restaurant, near a working kitchen can deter from being able to concentrate on the tasting."

  Jacques gently interrupted. "Why don't you give Margaux a quick tour, Jean-Claude? I'll take her to production and storage myself."

  Margaux quietly followed the winemaker through the building. She noted an unused tasting room. Perfect for several things. As they neared the main door she stood and listened to Jean-Claude carefully.

  "Why do we not do tours? Guests could actually get to taste say a different wine each day. Plus allow them to purchase wine here."

  "I find them a distraction. Plus it would mean more personnel. Someone to conduct the tours, staff to pour wine and clean up afterwards. Another to see to sales. It falls under Pier's job of marketing, but I'm sure he agrees with me."

  She eyed her grandfather who was standing by the front door. She'd done enough here for one day.

  "Margaux is going to meet with everyone on staff starting in a few days after she's had time to settle in."

  "Yes, I'll get in touch with you in a couple of days and set up a time. We can discuss this further at that time."

  "I'm quite busy Ms. Simeon. We're about to begin production on our new spring blend. I simply don't have the time."

  "I'm sure you can rearrange your schedule to accommodate me. I would also like to taste the new blend before it goes into production."

  Seeing the black look on the man's face, she walked toward her grandfather.

  "It was good to see you again, Jean-Claude. I look forward to hearing your ideas."

  They walked back out into the cold. Margaux pulled her coat tightly around her.

  "Do you need a break? We can come back and tour the production and storage facilities after lunch."

  "No, I'm fine Grandpapa. Let's go now. I don't want to give Jean-Claude a chance to forewarn anyone."

  "Tell me what you're thinking, Margaux?"

  "I will. Let's go visit production. Then I'll take a short break. I want to make some notes and talk briefly with Pier. I will tell you after I do all that."

  "As long as you don't overdo it. There is nothing that can't wait until you feel better."

  "Really, I feel fine. Honest, Grandpapa."

  They walked into the building that housed production. This was where it all happened. The pulse of any winery. Not that one was more important than another. Production was just where the fruition of everyone's hard work came together. From Hayden who oversaw the growing of the authentic French grapes to the processing and bottling of Chateaux Ste. Margaux. All the grapes grown in the vineyard could be traced back to cuttings and grafting brought all the way from the original family vineyard in France by Jacques.

  A young man greeted them at the door.

  "Good morning, Mr. Simeon. To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?"

  "This is my granddaughter, Margaux. Today is her first day as general manager. I'm taking her around and introducing her to everyone."

  "I've been expecting you. Welcome Ms. Simeon."

  Obviously he'd been alerted to the fact that she was on her way over with her grandfather.

  "Margaux, please. And you are?"

  "My apologies, how rude of me. This is William Pharr. He oversees production as well as storing the wine for aging and blending."

  "What can I show you, Margaux?"

  "A short tour would be nice. I'll meet with you later in the week. We can go over things more in depth then."

  "Very good. If you'll follow me."

  "I'd also like to taste the spring blend. The one that was approved."

  He said nothing. She'd obviously caught him off guard. Exactly what she intended. Her move was not missed by Jacques.

  "Of course."

  When he finished showing Margaux through the production area, he led them to a small tasting room. On one side was a whiteboard with notes still written in blue and red marker.

  "How
many blends did you finally end up with for the spring release?"

  "Four."

  She observed William as he set up three clean glasses. He then walked over to a closed cabinet and selected a bottle. It did not bear a standard winery label. Instead a white one adorned the green bottle. She noted the wording spring blend, the year along with coding. Only William, Jean-Claude, and a few other select people would know its meaning.

  He poured a small amount into each glass. A blend like this was seasonal. Therefore it would contain a variety of grapes and any flavors of that particular season. Though not a fan herself, their blends were highly popular with the consumers. The summer and fall blends had even won awards.

  Margaux picked up the glass by the stem and swirled it. She noted out of the corner of her eye her grandfather doing the same thing. Lifting the glass to her nose, she inhaled the aroma, noting silently, attesting to what she was about to taste.

  Swirling the wine around inside her mouth, Margaux was alarmed by what she was tasting. A blend was usually on the sweeter side. This had a bitter aftertaste and far less of the sweet spring fruits. She spit it out in one of the spit buckets on the table.

  "Very nice, wouldn't you agree?" William asked. She noted the young man had never picked up his glass.

  "Who approved this? Grandpapa?"

  "This is not the blend I approved." Jacques said.

  "Check the bottle please, William."

  "It's the right one, Margaux. It's been signed off by myself, Jean-Claude and Jacques. See?"

  He passed her the bottle. Approved was written in red. Underneath were three sets of initials. Her grandfather's included.

  "Only three people sat through the elimination process?"

  "Yes."

  "I want a bottle of each of the final six. Now. I will do my own tasting."

  "As you wish, but this one is ready for production."

  "This one is unacceptable. You will halt any and all production of the blend. Now. It is not up to Chateaux Ste. Margaux standards."

  He looked at her in disbelief, then to Jacques.

  "She is right, William. This is not up to our standards nor is it the one I approved."

  Margaux walked around the table to the cabinet and stood behind William as he began pulling bottles. Her grandfather handed her a small cardboard box to put them in.