4 - Nathan

4 - Nathan

I knew the moment she hit the ground she was Lady C’s assistant. There was no mistaking that body, even though she tried to hide her body under her pantsuit. It was fitted and yet oversized. Clearly, she is not supposed to detract from Mallory during a meeting. Unfortunately, Mallory has nothing on this woman. She looks even hotter all sweaty in mismatched workout clothes. She didn’t dress to impress, she dressed to get the job done.

I couldn’t help teasing her when we got back to the hotel.  She said she had a boyfriend, but I did not miss the way she eyef*cked me after I helped her up from the beach.  Whatever her boyfriend is doing, it’s all wrong and she’s not satisfied. Maybe while we are here I can remedy that for her and blow off some of my own steam.  It would be a win-win for both of us. This whole merger is my grandfather’s thing, so I will probably never see her again after this anyway. Now I just have to figure out how to keep Mallory away from me and all will be good.

I dress with more care than usual, donning my steel gray three-piece suit with a green tie that matches my eyes. I can’t wait to see Aroura’s reaction when she walks in the room and finds me in the seat next to my grandfather. I am going to have some fun with Miss Montgomery today.  It’s the only thing I am looking forward to about this meeting.  We already decided on terms yesterday and came to an agreement.  It’s rumored that Lady Corleone does this with many of her clients, all business dealings are done via video conference and then solidified in person through parties, food, drinks and intriguing bedroom activities. I have also heard that she tries to negotiate additions to her contracts while the men are being entertained, and most of the time it works. What she doesn’t know is she is dealing with my grandfather, but he has no real say in anything. I take it all and my team of lawyers and I go over everything with a fine tooth comb. This will not be her usual business deal.

I want nothing to do with either of the Corleone women. They are the bottom feeders of our circles and not worth my time. Charlotte Corleone needs the connection with my company to stay afloat. She has a habit of taking risks that mostly pan out in the end, but cost dearly in the interim. She’s in the red and has been for a while, according to our research. I don’t deal with people who get in the red with no plan of action to get out before it happens. Her companies fluctuate too often to be a safe bet, but her brand is what we want anyway. Her and MAllory are about to be made obsolete.

I arrive at the meeting ten minutes late, much to my grandfather’s annoyance, but not his surprise.  We don’t need Corleone’s business or connections. She needs us and needs to be reminded of that fact.  She has always enjoyed being among the bigger fish, but feeling like she is in control and I have to hand it to her, she worked hard to get here, but that doesn’t make her better than anyone, which is what she wants people to believe. My feelings have nothing to do with the fact that she is a woman, there are a lot of very successful women that I work with, all doing it without, or in spite of, a man being at their side. Lady C and her daughter think that having a certain amount of money affords them privilege and status and a right to treat people sh*tty, including myself based on actions from last night. They are mistaken.

I walk in looking for a head of soft light brown hair and mesmerizing green eyes, only to find her missing. Interesting.

Lady C starts the meeting, giving us all the details as to why this merger is beneficial for both companies. We have already gone over this…twice. I don’t even try to hide my boredom, looking at my phone many times throughout her presentation. As she starts getting into numbers I know she didn’t produce, or probably even know. I engage, asking her questions I know only Aurora can answer. I want to see what she does without her human knowledge bank. My grandfather with give me sh*t for this later, but it is another thing I do with all potential business partners. There is always a lower-level employee with a finger on the pulse of the company. I want to know and retain that person

“I’d like to see specs on your most successful marketing client last year?” I deadpan looking first at Lady C who looks taken aback, then Mallory who looks like I spoke another language. They tout marketing as their main source of company income, but I’ve done my research.  Lady C has expanded into fashion and merchandising, which is public knowledge, yet none of those numbers were in her proposal package during the initial phase of the merger. She doesn’t get to partially merger with us.

“Rorie, can pull up those numbers and have them emailed to you within the hour.” She holds her head high but twists her fingers together on the table.  

She has an easy tell, this is good.  Nice cover Lady C. And why is she calling her assistant ‘Rorie’? That's a little girl's nickname.  It definitely doesn’t suit her. 

“Do you not have that information on hand, Lady Corleone?” I ask, looking back at my phone. She’s already starting to crack under pressure, not a good sign. “Where is your assistant this morning?”

“She is not available at the moment. She isn’t normally needed for this portion of negotiations. I can get her on the phone easily, if you want those numbers immediately.”

I gesture for her to get a move on while my grandfather gives me a condescending look from across the table.  I don’t know what he is worried about.  Unless he forgot, last night a very tipsy Lady C signed not one but two tentative agreements that he produced, not me. They aren’t going anywhere.

As he opens his mouth to verbally reprimand me I hear Aurora’s sweet voice over Charlotte's speakerphone. Lady Corleone repeats my request and I hear frantic typing on the other end. This is not something Lady C had her prepare for, but she knows what she’s doing and where to find her information quickly.  Based on the looks on their faces, Lady C and Mallory have no idea who the biggest client even is or where to find the information.

With the help of James, Aurora remote accesses the screen in Lady C’s room like yesterday as she calls up the documentation. I don’t actually care, we are already going to take on Corleone Enterprises, I’m just checking to see what kind of problem these ladies are going to be as far as the business goes. More than likely it will be PR problems with tabloids. Copyright ©️ 2025 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions

I spent the next hour asking for obscure information that I make appear relevant.  It doesn’t seem to phase Aurora. She doesn’t question it anyway.  I ultimately remove Lady C, Mallory and my grandfather from the conversation. They can’t provide any real information, so I don’t need to speak with them. I can see both women silently seething at my blatant lack of interest in them, but they can’t interject or add anything to the conversation, so they have to sit here and watch as I let Aurora lead this merger deal. All three of them need to understand their unimportance.

My grandfather finally steps in when he knows I am having too much fun terrorizing the ladies. “Alright, you’ve seen enough.  Are you happy with the terms of the merger?”

“At this point, yes, I will review the contract in full with our lawyers when we get back to the city and if all is to my liking, they should be signed by the end of the week.” I say looking at my phone, making it clear I am done with this meeting. In reality I am sending a message to Aurora. She still hasn’t seen me in this capacity and I wonder if she has put two and two together based on my voice. No one said my first name during the phone call with her.

Me: My meeting is over. You?

A: Wrapping up now, but I’m not sure if my boss has plans for me later.

Me: Your boss is going to give you more work?!

A: No idea, but there is always something for me to do.

Me: You strike me as someone who works too much. Dinner later?

A: Gotta go debrief. Not sure about dinner, I’m on call this whole trip.

Me: Yep, you work too much.

That is the pot calling the kettle black, but she doesn’t know she just spent the last two hours talking to me on Lady Corleone’s phone. When I get no response I stand from my seat with all eyes on me.  There must have been a conversation going on that I missed.

“I’m headed to my room. Thank you for your time ladies, I will be in touch.”

“You’re not staying?” Mallory’s high, grating voice stops my movements. She stands and looks like she wants to move towards me. My grandfather is giving me that parental look that tells me I need to fall in line, but I ignore him.

“No, thank you.  I have plans for this evening and I need to get ready.”

“You brought a date!” She exclaims, like that is more offensive than ignoring her during a business negotiation. I also find it interesting that she assumes my ‘plans’ are a date. It could be another meeting, or even a tourist excursion, but she didn’t ask she assumed.

“We did not bring anyone other than our present team. Good afternoon ladies.” I turn and walk out before she can question any further.  My grandfather should be proud I left them with the most vague answer I could give.

My only problem is that now Mallory will be scouting for me with another woman and she doesn’t strike me as someone reasonable when it comes to competition. I will have to find another way to see Aurora before she leaves.

My suite comes equipped with a treadmill and basic weight set and I do my best strategic thinking when I work out so I change and get moving. After my workout, I order a late lunch and tend to some emails, sprinkling in texts to Aurora the whole time.  It has been a long time since I have had to put effort into a woman. I am as invigorated as I am frustrated. Aurora has ignored me all afternoon, but I know she’s reading my texts. There is something about this woman that has my blood pumping. I thought after Keanna, I wouldn’t ever get excited about the chase like this again.

As the evening rolled around, I successfully avoided answering several messages from my grandfather; demanding rather than requesting my presence at dinner. I not-so-politely decline when I can’t take it anymore. 

Me: I have had enough of those two idiots for one day and you know they’ll find all manner of excuses to latch on. I’m not going home with either of them tonight.

Grandfather: Get your ass down here, stop being rude to our new business partners.

Me: You can spend your night not being rude to them. Maybe they will double down! If I join you, Mallory will want attention and I will not be able to force niceties. I just need a night.  I will join you for pleasantries tomorrow.

Now, onto better things.