Suddenly Carla got a feeling that they were being watched and slowly pulled away to Michelle's surprise. Michelle's eyes opened slowly and came to focus with Rob holding the door pushed open with a strong arm and the workers huddled in the background peering in. She frowned and this made Carla turn to see the reason for her expression. Anger raged and coursed through her veins, she felt exposed and stupid, this was her private business not something the local gossips should be privy to.
Carla glared at Rob and looked as if she were about to exploded, she was so embarrassed. Rob gave a boyish grin to mark his amusement, Carla and Michelle who'd have thought it, he silently told himself in his head. Carla quickly rose to her feet in attempt to take reins on the control of the situation before Rob did. She gave the machinists a cold hard 'get back to work now!' warning stare. Quickly they all scurried back to their machines, speculating and gossiping about their bosses yet again.
Rob entered the office letting the door slam behind him, he was chuckling away as he looked at Carla and Michelle. He really was amused that he had caught them out. He eventually settled and with a smug grin plastered on his face he placed himself in Carla's chair and pulled himself up to the desk. It was like an inquisition as he placed his hands together and looked them up and down.
"So…" he began smugly.
Michelle felt upset she knew Rob would work this to his advantage to keep a firm hand in Underworld and they didn't have much choice, he'd tell the whole street what was going on if they didn't meet his demands. She would let him if it were choice, she had nothing to hide and she wasn't ashamed of her feelings for Carla but it was her friend's feelings she was unsure of.
"Carla and Michelle ey?" asked Rob smugly. "Now that is news!" he stated sarcastically.
"Get out" ordered Carla in a firm but low voice. She wasn't going to be patronised about her affairs by her younger brother. Who she was intimate with or had relations was her business and hers only, it was bad enough the gossips of Weatherfield had witnessed it, but they were easily dealt with. Rob laughed at her he wasn't finished yet. Michelle stood closely behind Carla and gave Rob a look of warning that he took no notice of.
"I want to know what's going on Carla?" he asked.
"It's none of your business, now get out!" she replied calmly through gritted teeth but she could still feel that anger bubbling deep inside.
"It is if I tell Peter" he threatened feeling rather pleased with himself.
Carla froze, she hadn't thought about that. She loved Peter desperately and he was already beginning to slip through her fingers, the last thing she needed was to lose him over all this. She knew her brother wouldn't back down easily and so decided that the best thing to do was give in.
"What do you want Rob?" she asked sadly.
"Majority shares in Underworld" he stated plainly and clearly as if he had been planning to say those words for a lifetime.
Carla was in shock and speechless, had she just heard him say that. She felt a dry lump forming in her throat, she knew he wasn't bluffing. Pressing her lips in a hard line she shook her head and suppressed her tears. She couldn't just hand him control of her factory. Rob shook his head to in a disappointed fashion and drawing in a deep breath through his gritted teeth he narrowed his eyes at his sister and Michelle.
"Fine then I'll go and see Peter shall I?"Carla felt her heart thump away in her chest, she couldn't let him tell Peter. She really did have no choice. Rob walked passed her and took a firm grip on the door handle in an attempt to make Carla see he was serious, he was going, going to find Peter. He would cause trouble until he got what he wanted just as he had always done.
"Wait…" Carla called out when she heard the door start to creak open. Rob let it fall back into the frame. Turning she faced her younger brother and took a deep breath.
"Fifty percent" she stated sadly, at least that way they would be partners and she wouldn't lose complete control.
"Sixty" replied Rob coldly, he wanted the majority.
Carla was backed into a corner, she couldn't bargain with him, Rob had never been any good at compromise but some things were more important and right now it was Peter. She nodded in agreement and offered out her hand to shake on the deal as Michelle screeched from behind.
"Carla!"Michelle was shocked, Carla loved Underworld, and it was her business why would she just hand it over to Rob because he threatened to tell Peter that they had kissed. What proof had he, a few local gossips, she and Carla could fight this. A slightly depressed Carla headed back to the filing cabinet to grab her whisky bottle, it was definitely an appropriate time to drown her sorrows. Tipping the bottle she started to pour the contents into her mug. Michelle's hand grabbed it and tried to prise it from Carla's fingers but her grip was too strong.
"Carla…don't do this" begged Michelle.
Carla turned round to look up at the women who could just have possibly cost her everything important in her life and her business.
"Get out Michelle!" she yelled aggressively. "Oh and 'Chelle, take that lot with ya" she added rudely on the end as she pointed towards the factory floor. She placed the mug to her lips and took a mouthful as she watched Michelle grab her bag and leave the office, glancing sadly back at Carla as she left.
