Chapter Four.
The next day.
March 6th 2009 - The Underworld Factory
As Carla arrived for work at 8 am sharp, she had to run into her office to catch the ringing phone on her desk.
"Hello, Carla Connor." She answered out for breath. Sinking into her chair.
"Hi Carla, it's me, Frank, sorry to call so early, but I wanted to catch you before the day started," Frank explained, apologizing for calling so early.
"No, you're alright. I've just got in myself." Carla replied as she caught her breath.
"I'll get straight to the point, my answer is yes. I'd love to work with you." Frank told her as he took a sip of coffee.
"That's great to hear, how about we set up a meeting. You could come here and you could meet the workforce and I could show around the place." Carla offered as a suggestion.
"That sounds brilliant, let's say Monday?" Frank asked, looking forward to working with the woman with such a fierce reputation.
"Yeah, Monday sounds good to me. I have to go, but I'll definitely see you on Monday." Carla replied before she hung up the phone. Breathing a huge sigh of relief.
Hailey came into the office,
"I assume that was Mr Foster?" She asked, taking off her coat.
"We have a deal, he's coming in on Monday to sign the paperwork," Carla replied. With a soft smile.
"Oh, Mrs Connor, that's great news!" Hayley exclaimed, generally happy for her boss.
"It is, and as a celebration, I'm taking you all to lunch," Carla told her, getting out of her chair.
"What? Really? Oh no, Mrs Connor, you don't have to do that." Hailey replied, trying to convince her.
"Yes, I do. Now tell the others before I change my mind." Carla laughed.
Hailey quickly went out onto the factory and tried to get a bit of hush.
"OI! Are you hard of hearing? Thank you, that's better. Now as Hayiley was trying to tell you. I'm taking you all for lunch at the bistro." Carla told her staff.
"What? Is this a joke?" Izzie asked bluntly as ever.
"No Izzie, it isn't a joke. Do you want me to change my mind?" Carla smirked back at her.
"No, she doesn't. Thank you. Mrs Connor. We'll be there." Sean answered for the group, making a face at Izzie in the process.
"Right then, that's it. Back to work, you lot." Carla told them, before going back into her office.
The Bistro - 12 noon
Carla and the gang made their way to the bistro.
"Table for 23, please. Chelle." Carla called over the noise of the hustle and bustle of the Bistro.
"Gosh, I don't know where I'm going to put you all," Chelle replied, rubbing her chin in thought.
"We could put three of the larger tables over on the left, that way we aren't in anyone's way," Carla replied.
"Ha, are you trying to take my job or something?" Chelle laughed.
"Just being practical, I'm sorry I know I should have booked, but I overheard Daniel saying earlier when I came in for my morning coffee that you weren't too busy today. thanks, Chelle. You're the best." Carla told her.
"No problem, I'll be over shortly to take your drinks order and bring some menus," Michelle told her.
They all took their seats and began to chat among themselves.
"Mrs Connor, I don't mean to pry, but I was thinking and you can just tell me to mind my own business, but why don't you invite Mr Foster over? That way, he can really get to know us, without it all being so official." Hayley proposed to her boss.
"Hails, I could kiss you! That's a brilliant idea." Carla replied, taking out her phone.
"Hi Frank, it's Carla Connor, I'm wondering and you can say no if you want, but I and the workforce are out for lunch and I was wondering if you would like to join us?" Carla asked as she motioned with her hand for the gang to be quiet.
"I don't normally work a deal like this, but do you know what? Why not, I'll see you there in 15 minutes?" Frank replied, pleasantly surprised to hear from Carla.
Truth was, he had heard of her a while back and liked how she operated. She wasn't your average businesswoman, who flirted first and business second.
"Really? That's great, we're just ordering drinks, do you want to wait until you get here?" Carla asked.
"There's no point in making you guys wait, I'm driving so I'll have a orange juice, please and I'll see when I get there," Frank replied, hanging up the phone.
Telling his secretary that he'd be eating out for lunch.
15 minutes later, Frank arrived and they all proceeded to order their food and drink.
"It must be dead nice not having to worry about money or owt," Sinead spoke up, staring dreamily into the distance.
"I wouldn't say no," Beth muttered next to her, eyeing him up.
"Aunty Beth! Sorry about her. She just doesn't know when to keep it buttoned." Sinead exclaimed, glaring at her aunt.
"I was just saying, that's all." Beth huffed, rolling her eyes.
"Well don't," Sinead told her, staring her down.
"At least you're honest, Beth." Frank chuckled, amused.
"So tells us a bit about yourself, Mr Foster?" Sean asked, fluttering his eyelashes.
"Sean!" Carla scrolled, she couldn't believe what she was witnessing.
"It's fine, Carla. Really, and outside of work, it's Frank, eh? Let's see. I went to Manchester met university, I was a business consultant for many years before I launched Foster Fabrics. That was 10 years ago." Frank explained.
"And you deal exclusively in men's nightwear?" Izzie asked, curiosity.
"Yeah, but hopefully we'll be branching out soon," Frank replied.
"So, you're minted, then?" Beth asked, bluntly. Not bothering trying to be subtle.
"Auntie Beth, you can't ask him that!" Sinead hissed, appalled at her aunt's behaviour.
"Beth, anymore of that and you can leave." Carla glared at her, trust Beth to show her up.
"She's alright, well, I'm not skint, If that's what you mean, but I don't like to brag or anything. I make what I make because I work hard. And there are less fortunate folk out." Frank replied, honestly.
Carla sat there in slight shock, she honestly didn't know what she was expecting, but that definitely wasn't it.
"You seem decent, when do you start?" Kirk asked, innocently. Causing the whole table to erupt into laughter.
Lunch had been, much to Carla's surprise. A success. She went home that night feeling lighter than she had in months.
The next day.
Carla and Frank were in the office, signing contracts.
"So, your order will be ready in two weeks," Carla told him as she sat down at her desk.
"And I'm sure it will be the best quality. Thank you and Carla, I will see you in two weeks." Frank smiled as he shook Carla's hand and left the factory.
Two weeks later - March 20th 2009.
Frank's order had been completed ahead of schedule and decided to pay the factory a visit.
"Oh, hello Frank, we weren't expecting you, is everything alright with your order?" Carla asked, anxiously.
"No, everything is going great, in fact, I need to place another order as I'm sold out," Frank explained.
"What? But they only went on sale yesterday afternoon!" Carla exclaimed quietly in shock.
"I know I'm as shocked as you, my clients couldn't get enough of the quality," Frank told her.
"Same as last time?" Carla assumed, pen in hand.
"No, I want to double the order," Frank replied.
Carla nearly fell out of her chair in shock.
"Pardon." She asked, double-checking she'd heard him right.
"I want to double my order," Frank repeated himself.
"That's 6000 units," Carla replied, slightly stunned.
"Are you telling me that you're not up to the job?" Frank smirked at her.
Carla felt like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Oh, very funny, Mister." Carla chuckled.
"Your face." Frank laughed.
"Don't you ever do that to me ." Carla laughed in return.
Again, it took the guys just shy of three weeks to complete the order.
Carla, Frank and the factory gang continued to work together for the next 6 months and they all made a great team.
Unit one wet, miserable Monday morning, Frank had just come to Underworld and Carla could tell straight away he wasn't himself.
The pair went into the office for some privately and away from prying eyes and ears.
"Look, Frank, I want to apologize for Beth the other night, her throwing herself at you like that, I just.." Frank cut her off.
"Why are you apologizing for Beth and her behaviour? You didn't make her do it, did you?" Frank asked.
"Well, no but still I…" Again Frank cut her off.
"Then stop standing there apologizing for her. But there is something I wanted to talk to you about." Frank told her.
"Was there a problem with the order or something?" Carla asked, confused.
"No, no there wasn't a problem with the order, but I don't think we can work together anymore," Frank told her, not being able to look her in the eye.
"What? But why? I mean you just said that there wasn't a problem with the order or anything and correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought we worked well together?" Carla asked, annoyed
"There wasn't and we do, you're great at what you do. It's me, Carla I'm sorry." Frank whispered, walking out of the office.
Carla was hot on his tail.
"You just can't say that! I want an explanation, other than it's me. Frank, please don't walk away from me!" Carla shouted.
At this point, the whole factory had gone silent.
"Look, the order is complete, you won't be out of pocket. I'm sorry." Frank apologized again.
"So, that's it, is it? You just going to walk away?" Carla asked, through gritted teeth.
"It's easier for everyone involved," Frank whispered.
"Easier for who? You? I thought we were friends?" Carla replied, softly.
"We are," Frank replied.
"Well, friends don't stab you in the back!" Carla yelled.
"Stab you in the back, I've fallen in love with you, you silly women!" Frank yelled back in frustration.
The entire factory fell in stunned silence as the pair stood staring at each other.
"Awe, how romantic," Sinead whispered.
"About time she found some happiness." Hailey thought to herself.
"She had to get in there first, didn't she?" Beth muttered to herself, disgruntled.
"What? No, you can't have." Carla whispered in shock.
"I have and I'm never going to apologize for it," Frank told her.
"Everyone out, now! go home," Carla told her workforce.
"What? I hope we're being paid." Beth complained.
"Auntie Beth, shut up and come on," Sinead told her, pulling her by the elbow.
It was just the two of them in the factory, the air was thick confusion and uncertainty.
"I'm sorry how that came out, I never wanted it to come out like that. But I won't apologize for falling in love with you or being in love with you." Frank told Carla.
"I knew there was something, but never thought you would ever feel the same," Carla replied.
"What you love.." Carla cut him off.
"Do you think I'm stupid? I've seen the way you look at me. glances, when you think no one is watching, finishing each other's sentences. The present you got me for my birthday that I know cost you an absolute fortune." Carla told him
"You noticed that too." Frank smiled.
"I'm a woman, it's my job." Carla chuckled.
"So where do we go from here?" Frank asked, nervously.
"Well, you take me on a date and we take it from there.
A/N I hope you enjoyed reading this. Here's the shutouts
CarlaConnorLover
Aww this chapter had a sweet start and I'm glad that Sally's getting what she deserves in this story although I was a little confused about Michelle working at the Bistro as I would've assumed that she'd be working with Steve in the pub anyway I am so glad that Carla and Frank have met and I can't wait to see what happens next xxx
Awe, thank you and she definitely is! But there's more to come with that storyline!
Carla has a stake in the Bistro and Michelle is helping her out with the odd shift.
Don't worry, there's plenty more to come.
Please review!