Chapter 28 Lucas
Lucas
Fuck. I’m forty minutes late.
After being hit with all that fog on the way back, my pilot had to land for thirty minutes before we could take off again. I can’t believe my bad luck. This is the first time I’ve been able to speak to Barnes one-on-one in the last few weeks, and now I’ve missed over half the allotted meeting time.
I’m jogging as I get out of the elevator, waving Beatrice off as she approaches me with a thousand questions. I head immediately to the partition between Amelia’s desk and the rest of the office.
Tugging at my tie, I stop beside Amelia’s desk, hearing laughter coming from my office.
I enter to find Barnes and Amelia standing by the window, with Amelia pointing at something ahead of them. Barnes is laughing at whatever she has just said, their shoulders brushing as she continues to talk.
I have to hold myself back from striding across the room and wrenching him away from her.
“I’m sorry,” I say, as they both turn and finally notice me. “We were held up due to the weather. I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
“Well, your assistant has been giving me a lesson about the art galleries across New York City. At least I’ve learned something while I was waiting.”
And why have Amelia and I never had a conversation like that?
“Thank you, Amelia. You can go,” my voice is harsh as I watch her give Barnes a sweet smile and then walk toward me.
I feel a rush of irritation as she passes by.
I want to touch her, but I can’t. The caveman part of my brain wants to mark her, showing any man who goes near her that she’s spoken for.
Barnes turns from the window, his hands in his pockets, rocking onto the balls of his feet.
“That’s quite a young lady you have there,” he says. “And before you think me a dirty old man, she reminds me of my daughter.”
I nod. “Cynthia, right?”
“Yes. I’d say it was impressive that you remembered my daughter’s name, but she’s going to be one of your employees, after all…”
I indicate the chairs in front of my desk, and we both sit down. I can feel the atmosphere in the room changing as we do so. It’s charged; neither of us sure how this is going to go.
A strange part of me wishes that I’d asked Amelia to stay. It irks me that I am so preoccupied with her. She shouldn’t even be a blip on my radar, yet suddenly I’m interested in her opinion on everything.
When the hell did that happen? She’s an escort, not a confidante.
We both sit down, Barnes stretching his legs out.
“I’m surprised you have your shoes on,” he says, smirking at me as he tucks one foot under the other. “I heard you’re usually barefoot when you negotiate. Or will you just be giving me orders?”
I snort as I kick off my shoes, relieved to be rid of them.
“Feel free to take yours off, too,” I say.
He does, removing his socks as I do. The plush carpet under my feet feels good, and we both spend a few seconds curling and uncurling our toes. Barnes’s expression is more relaxed as he leans back in his chair.
“So, what is it you want from me today?” he asks pompously. “Are you still refusing to meet my terms?” I hesitate, unsure how to play this, but then he carries on. “You know, your assistant just gave me a bit of advice that’s got me thinking.”
I stare at him. “Amelia gave you advice?”
“Yes. She’s rather sharp. Surprisingly so.”
I tug at my shirt sleeve. “And what did she say?”
“That I should tell you what I really want. That if I truly want you to listen, I should simply speak and you’ll hear me out.”
I cross my legs and sit back in my chair. “Have I not listened to you so far, Franklin?”
“I think you’ve pretended to. But then, I haven’t been entirely honest either. With myself, or with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Miss Brooks was talking about the long-term gain with these things. It occurred to me that I’ve been thinking about this in a close-minded way.
I’ve looked at the short term, the contracts, the longevity of my people, and the status quo.
All I could think about was how you planned to pick apart my legacy.
I couldn’t see it playing out any other way. ”
“I’ve told you that’s not my intention.”
“You have. I simply didn’t believe you.” He glances at the door. “But I believed her. How odd. She seems to respect your intentions and your position, having known you for only a short time. That’s either naivety or integrity; I’m not sure which.”
I struggle to figure out what to say. Amelia isn’t involved in these negotiations; it shouldn’t matter what she thinks. In fact, I should be pissed as hell that she’s gotten involved, but I’m not.
Somehow, with a clarity I can’t explain, I know she isn’t trying to sabotage anything—she’s too innocent, too good for that. The fact that she’s speaking up for me, defending me, makes me feel lighter.
“So, Franklin?” he looks up at me. “What is it that you want?”
“I don’t want to leave my company,” he says flatly.
My body tenses. If he pulls out of this deal now, I am going to hit the fucking roof.
“Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying,” Barnes adds, spreading his hands out wide as I feel a vein pulsing in my temple.
“I can’t keep going as I did. That’s never been on the table.
That’s why I’m selling, after all. My wife would leave me; my kids would disown me.
I’ve lived for work my entire life, and this deal was always about stepping back. But I’m not ready to retire. Not yet.”
I’ve wondered many times how this meeting would play out, but I didn’t expect this. I was anticipating wrangling with the man for weeks or even forcing him to take a deal he didn’t want by coercing him.
Instead, we appear to be having our first adult conversation.
“Alright, then what are you suggesting?” I ask.
He gives a slow smile. “I want stability and you want a smooth transition,” he says.
“I want my people to be safe in their jobs, and you want productivity and good morale. How about we agree that I’ll remain on for two years to assist with the changes, on a part-time basis.
I’ll work with you to manage the restructure when it comes, and help with an efficient handover. ”
I lean my head to one side as his gaze meets mine. He’s a cocky son of a bitch; I’ll give him that.
“One year,” I say.
“Eighteen months,” he counters.
“Alright. But a percentage of the buyout is contingent on hitting targets at the end of the next financial year.”
He squints at me. “And all decisions around people management will be decided jointly?”
I scratch my jaw. “You’ll have to work with Kendrick on that. But yes. In principle, we can agree. But I will step in if you don’t compromise on anything.”
There’s a long, tense silence, and he stares me down. I’m not sure if it’s a test, but I don’t blink. Then, he stands up, extending his hand.
“Agreed.”
I stare at him in shock. “What? Just like that?”
He shrugs one shoulder. “Just like that. I trust my gut, and it’s been uneasy throughout everything we’ve discussed to date.
Today is the first time I’ve felt on firmer ground.
I wasn’t ready to walk, and now I don’t have to.
I can ensure my children are safe and my company’s legacy is intact, helping you make your millions as a partnership. ”
I rise to my feet, elation coursing through me.
“Deal.”
We shake on it, and the tension in the room evaporates as he nods at me. He’s about to head out of my office when he realizes he hasn’t put his shoes and socks back on, and we share the first laugh we’ve had in weeks.
After he’s fully dressed again, I follow him out, excited to tell Amelia the good news. But as I leave my office, I find her desk is clear, the chair neatly tucked underneath.
Checking the time, I frown at the clock, realizing that it’s after five and she’s already left. I walk Barnes to the elevator, shaking hands with him once more, before I head back to my office.
I pour myself a drink, going to stand at the window and saluting the New York skyline as I have done many times before at the conclusion of a deal.
But it’s hollow. Dulled.
I want Amelia, and for the first time, it has nothing to do with sex. I want to thank her for her input and for her soft, kind nature, which draws people to her so effortlessly. I’ve never seen Barnes so congenial before, and I’m certain it’s because of her.
“What the hell is wrong with me?” I mutter into the window as the clouds of fog roll in beneath me, blanketing the city and obscuring everything from view.