Chapter 2 #2
My cheeks flush under the heat of his dark-brown irises, rich and intense like espresso, as he holds out his hand, staring into my eyes. I return his handshake and greet him professionally, hiding the fireworks exploding from every nerve ending in my body.
He turns his attention to Jack, greeting him in a voice decorated with just a hint of South African accent. The interruption gives me time to get back into the zone. Do not fuck this up!
I give a brief overview of my pitch so far, partly for the benefit of Mr Ryans, mostly to re-centre my thoughts.
I continue where I left off but my nerves catch every time I glance at the CEO.
I resolve to look anywhere other than at him but his gaze burns through me as he listens intently to what I have to say.
He maintains a poker expression until the pitch concludes.
Jack gives my knee a subtle nip when I take my seat back at the table.
I know he means to tell me I did a good job but I’m uncomfortable and unable to hide my flinch.
I glance at Mr Ryans, who’s looking at me without giving any indication of his thoughts.
He leans back in his seat and folds his hands into one another, placing one index finger on his bottom lip.
As if taking a signal, Mr Williams glances from his CEO to me and then to Jack before he says, ‘Miss Heath, Mr Jones, we’d like to work with you on this deal.’
Whoop! I mentally high-five myself. Outwardly, I nod at the three men on the other side of the table. It would be both a tad uncouth and massively uncool to actually pat myself on the back or do a little twerk.
‘You’ve made a good decision, gentlemen,’ Jack says assuredly.
The CEO shuffles and takes his phone from the inside pocket of his perfectly tailored jacket. ‘Excuse me,’ he says, inclining his head to the phone and exiting the room. ‘Ryans,’ he snaps into the receiver as the door closes behind him.
Mr Williams leans forwards, bracing his palms on the table. ‘Mr Ryans has a lot to do today, some of which was unexpected, so we apologise. He’ll brief you fully in relation to the deal at a later date.’ I think I detect anxiety in his voice.
‘It was a pleasure to meet you both,’ Mr Lawrence adds as we rise from the table and politely shake hands.
We make idle chit-chat as the four of us walk towards the lift.
Stepping in, Jack and I turn to face the doors, my laptop and documents clutched to my chest. Just before the metal doors draw, Mr Williams calls to me, ‘Good pitch, Miss Heath.’ He flashes a smile I would’ve never expected, forcing me to beam back at him.
I’m on a high. I know I did well. I love my job.
‘He’s right,’ says Jack, his voice a low rumble. The muscles in my body tighten in wary anticipation. ‘You did well.’
My body relaxes when I realise he’s not going to touch me or say anything more.
* * *
I’m in the mood for a celebratory drink when I get back to the office. I fire up my computer and email Amanda.
To: Darling, Amanda
From: Heath, Scarlett
Sent: Tuesday 7 Oct 2025 10.48
Subject: Rain check
How about that drink tonight?
To: Heath, Scarlett
From: Darling, Amanda
Sent: Tuesday 7 Oct 2025 10.48
Subject: Re: Rain check
6p.m., on the button, no excuses.
Leaning back in my desk chair, I let my mind wander to Mr Ryans, perfect CEO.
Those exquisite brown pools, his slicked hair begging to be pulled, his large, olive-skinned, manicured hands.
It’s been a long time since a man has touched me.
In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever been touched by a man .
Boys, fumbling and stuttering, yes. But Mr Ryans looked like he’d know exactly how and where to touch a woman.
‘Scarlett,’ Margaret whispers as she steps into my office. ‘Jack has a call, and he’d like you to join in his office.’
‘Thank you. Do you know who it is?’
‘A Mr Ryans, I believe.’
An electric pulse courses through my body just hearing his name. Forget it!
I pick up a notepad and head into Jack’s office.
Jack places the call on mute on his screen so that Mr Ryans, and no doubt Mr Lawrence and Mr Williams, can’t hear our exchange.
‘Eclectic is ready to give us details of the acquisition,’ Jack barks. ‘They specifically requested that you were on the call. They must be looking to have it done on the cheap.’
His words are bitter and I know it’s because of his targets.
At Saunders, we have targets for everything: hours spent working on client matters, time spent in the office, the value of work billed to clients, the recovery rate of each invoice.
If something can be expressed in numbers, Saunders will have a target for it.
If I do the work for Eclectic, I get to put down my hours spent and I get to bill my time and every hour I work on the deal means an hour Jack loses towards his own figures.
In truth, I don’t care much about Jack’s targets, or Jack for that matter, and I’m still reeling with delight from winning the pitch.
I’m not sure anyone loves their job all day every day but the rush of closing a deal or winning a client more than makes up for the bad times.
Jack clicks unmute.
‘Good afternoon, gentlemen,’ I say.
‘Good afternoon, Miss Heath,’ Mr Lawrence calls. ‘Lawrence, Williams and Ryans here.’ His voice is matter of fact and professional without losing the soft tone he had when we met this morning. I imagine him sitting with his hands cupped and resting across his belly as he speaks.
‘Miss Heath,’ the others say simultaneously.
Mr Ryans begins to talk about Eclectic Technologies, mostly offering information I’ve already gathered from my research, but his enthusiasm is infectious, seemingly uncharacteristic of the taciturn and controlled man I witnessed this morning.
His mood shifts when he begins to talk about Sea People International, the company he wishes to take over, and I have to wonder why he wants to buy a business he seems to resent.
I remind myself that I know very little about Mr Ryans.
Sea People runs a new social network site for travellers.
The site is designed to make it easier for people to travel the world and stay in contact with friends and family.
It gives them the opportunity to share experiences and has forums to provide tips to fellow travellers on the best places to visit in countries around the world.
In all, it sounds like an interesting tool, if lacking a completely fresh take.
I’m sure I would’ve used it if I’d ever ventured beyond Europe with my dad or on business trips to clients.
I subconsciously make a note to ask Amanda if she’s ever come across it when she’s been travelling abroad.
‘I want to buy it, take it to pieces and sell it to the highest bidder.’ Mr Ryans’ sharp words interrupt my thoughts.
‘Well, subject to Jack’s, erm, Mr Jones’s thoughts…
’ I cautiously eye Jack, seeking permission to speak, but he seems happy for me to go ahead.
‘I think much of the due diligence will need to be carried out on the intellectual property in the company. I’m assuming the social network site is the company’s main venture? ’
‘It is,’ Mr Williams adds.
‘Okay, then we’ll obviously review the incorporation and constitutional documents and pull together details of the intellectual property and any other assets. There’ll be some questions it’ll be easier to ask of the seller, such as?—’
‘Full due diligence won’t be necessary.’ Mr Ryans cuts me off again. ‘Find out what you can and tell me what needs to be done from a legal point of view. There’s a very pressing timescale on this.’
‘I completely take that on board, Mr Ryans, but for the protection of you and Eclectic Technologies, I think?—’
‘Miss Heath, I’ll have my people look into any matters that concern me. All I need you to do is deal with the logistics from a legal perspective. Understood?’
‘She’s got it,’ Jack bites.
‘Of course,’ I say shyly, under attack from all angles. ‘There’ll be requirements on Sea People’s part as the seller to make sure the sale is carried out legitimately. I’ll pull together all the information I have access to and I’ll start drafting documentation for Jack to review.’
There’s silence on the line and I wonder what’s happening in the Eclectic Technologies’ boardroom.
‘Thank you, Miss Heath,’ Williams eventually says. The line goes silent again.
‘Miss Heath?’ Perhaps he thinks I could have left the room owing to their unnecessary and frankly rather rude time delay.
‘Yes?’ My voice has lost all conviction.
‘We’d be grateful if you would carry out as much work as possible on this. Mr Jones, please supervise where necessary but for reason of… ah… costs, we would like Miss Heath to complete the majority of the work.’
‘Of course,’ Jack and I chorus in harmony.
‘Miss Heath. Mr Jones.’
The line falls dead and I watch Jack, waiting for his backlash, but it doesn’t come and I guess he’s thinking we’ll take any crap they throw at us because the money is good. My working on the deal might not help his target-related bonus but as a partner, he’ll still take a share of the profit.
I despondently trail back to my desk and slump into my chair.
Something doesn’t feel right. Mr Ryans seems to resent or even distrust the company he’s looking to acquire, yet he isn’t interested in due diligence.
I shrug. Who am I to complain; I’ve just been handed potentially one of the biggest opportunities of my junior career.
My call app rings through my laptop and I lunge for my mouse to answer, not knowing how long I’ve been lost in thought.
‘Miss Heath.’
I start to babble as quickly as I can. ‘I’m terribly sorry for—’ but true to form, Mr Controlling cuts me short.
‘Miss Heath, I only called to…’ he pauses and clears his throat, ‘…to ask that you forward all documentation to myself and Williams in the first instance.’