Sophia had quite a wild, and rough, year so far at USC, and as much as she wanted to go party with friends, she had to see her parents during the break. She had to put the serious hardworking daughter guise back on so her parents would still think she was working hard at university learning business.
He grade weren't the best according to them, and her dad had assigned her to study the books for her time off. He required her to work fourteen hours a day for a week, and she did the best she could.
It had been some time since Quentin Corporation went public, and her father owned thirty percent of the stock, her mom fifteen percent, and Sophia had ten percent. The other forty five percent were fragments of no more than five percent that bought and owned by hedge funds and individual investments through brokerage firms. Now her father had the same accountant for decades, and they always seemed to pass their audits, but as part of Sophia's long hours going over files, she had noted that the small share stockholders had been selling their shares. It appeared to her that one particular company had managed to buy up a lot of the stock... forty one percent to be exact. There were only a handful of shareholders that held the nine percent, and Sophia made a list of numbers for them. It had all the makings of a hostile takeover.
When Sophia brought this up to her dad, he shrugged, saying that the Quentin's owned 55 percent and always voted as a block, so there was nothing to worry about. Sophia had never given her share much thought as there was a proxy who tended to it for her along with her trust fund. Still, she worried, and though she had to go to New York City with her best friend Jane Harper for a big fashion designer gala, she would still have a few days after she got back before having to return to classes. After she recovered from the trip to New York, she made some calls... one was to a person that appeared to be the one buying up stock...
Sophia was surprised when her phone set off a chime for an incoming text from the number she called not quite two hours later. She tapped a text back...
'You want to meet a 6pm tonight? That is two hours from now. I take it your office is in the financial district of downtown? Give me the address and I will be there.'
He grade weren't the best according to them, and her dad had assigned her to study the books for her time off. He required her to work fourteen hours a day for a week, and she did the best she could.
It had been some time since Quentin Corporation went public, and her father owned thirty percent of the stock, her mom fifteen percent, and Sophia had ten percent. The other forty five percent were fragments of no more than five percent that bought and owned by hedge funds and individual investments through brokerage firms. Now her father had the same accountant for decades, and they always seemed to pass their audits, but as part of Sophia's long hours going over files, she had noted that the small share stockholders had been selling their shares. It appeared to her that one particular company had managed to buy up a lot of the stock... forty one percent to be exact. There were only a handful of shareholders that held the nine percent, and Sophia made a list of numbers for them. It had all the makings of a hostile takeover.
When Sophia brought this up to her dad, he shrugged, saying that the Quentin's owned 55 percent and always voted as a block, so there was nothing to worry about. Sophia had never given her share much thought as there was a proxy who tended to it for her along with her trust fund. Still, she worried, and though she had to go to New York City with her best friend Jane Harper for a big fashion designer gala, she would still have a few days after she got back before having to return to classes. After she recovered from the trip to New York, she made some calls... one was to a person that appeared to be the one buying up stock...
Sophia was surprised when her phone set off a chime for an incoming text from the number she called not quite two hours later. She tapped a text back...
'You want to meet a 6pm tonight? That is two hours from now. I take it your office is in the financial district of downtown? Give me the address and I will be there.'
He saw the reply and smiled to himself. "You are a smart girl who would out my buying patterns. I'm sure you can get to the right building without much guidance. When you are here, come to the 15th floor, left wing. My corner office faces the sun setting over the river."
He was intentionally trying to rile her up a bit. He knows she has the brains to already find out what's happening and if he needed to get her to his side for complete takeover then he had to do it properly.
The office staff left at 5 pm and he ensured that even the midnight lamp guys left t work from home. He had called his facilities team to ensure that his mini bar is full. Now this is usually stocked up when there is a client visit and frankly for him this was no lesser meeting. He sat in his chair, relaxing looking at the numbers and waiting for her.
He was intentionally trying to rile her up a bit. He knows she has the brains to already find out what's happening and if he needed to get her to his side for complete takeover then he had to do it properly.
The office staff left at 5 pm and he ensured that even the midnight lamp guys left t work from home. He had called his facilities team to ensure that his mini bar is full. Now this is usually stocked up when there is a client visit and frankly for him this was no lesser meeting. He sat in his chair, relaxing looking at the numbers and waiting for her.
It would have to be raining, and the guess she first had from Mr Blackwood's cryptic directions was wrong. She did figure it out though and walked the seven blocks to what she thought was the right building...
... that was until she got to the end of the street where an alley crossed its path and it went to Riverwalk Park. The rain patted her umbrella a bit harder as she looked back and went over the riddle in her head...
"You are a smart girl who would out my buying patterns. I'm sure you can get to the right building without much guidance. When you are here, come to the 15th floor, left wing. My corner office faces the sun setting over the river."
Thinking hard, she was getting frustrated that she hadn't figured it out. She had to find his office or she would pop this bubble he had in his head of her being 'smart'.
As she backtracked, she came to the last street she crossed and looked down it. She let out a sigh as the rain started to fall harder. " I bet that is it ...the silvery glass building that she estimated had the right amount of floors. It wouldn't be the skyscraper down the block from it as it had way more floors than fifteen, and Sophia was guessing that Mr Blackwood would have his office on the top floor. The building also had 'wings' and as she got closer, she would glance up into the rain to see the two 'wings'.
Finally getting to the front door, she collapsed and shook her umbrella out as a thirtysomething security guard unlocked the door to let her in. She stepped inside and saw a classy brass bucket that had some 'loaner' umbrellas in it, so she put hers in with them.
"Brr... it's cold that rain." she said to the security guard who walked her over to the reception desk to sign in. "I'm here to see a Mr. Alexander Blackwood. The guard must have been expecting her as he already had a visitor badge with her name on it.
"The west-wing elevator is to your left down that hall with the polka dot art on the wall... fibreno or something." the guard said. "I'll let Mr Blackwood know you're on your way up."
"Thank you, sir." Sophia said as she started down the hall.
"This won't do." She muttered quietly to herself as she stopped at a bench in the hall. She sat down to take off her rain boots and put on the knee-high stockings and black heels she had in her bag. Sophia was too uncoordinated to walk in heels for long periods and it took some concentration for her to do it with any competence. But she needed to impress this Mr. Blackwood since they were going to be talking business.
She buttoned up her blouse she had been wearing open over her clingy white tank top and straightened the collar and sleeves by looking into a convenient mirror that was between plants opposite the elevator. She worried her blouse may be too damp from the rain splatter, but it seemed to be only a little so. She then checked the messy bun she had her near-black hair up in, and after brushing straight the intentionally wayward locks that hung free each side of her face, she made a somewhat frustrated look. It would have to do as it was getting awful close to 6pm.
She decided to leave her rain boots by the bench where she could put them back on when she left. She then stepped to the elevator and activated it with her visitor badge. The ride up was smooth if a bit slow, and when the doors opened on the 15th floor, Sophia stepped out and adjusted her shoe before looking down to the end of the hall. When she arrived at the end of the hall, the door to the corner office was closed.
*knock knock* she tapped on the heavy oak door, making a solid rap. The door wasn't latched and the hinge squeaked and the door drifted open a little. "She pushed her head in, saying, "Hello? Is this Mr Blackwood's office?"
The door squeaked open a little further and Sophia put her hand on the inside of it and held it as she looked in, seeing a rather handsome and formidable man getting up from a luxurious leather chair...
... that was until she got to the end of the street where an alley crossed its path and it went to Riverwalk Park. The rain patted her umbrella a bit harder as she looked back and went over the riddle in her head..."You are a smart girl who would out my buying patterns. I'm sure you can get to the right building without much guidance. When you are here, come to the 15th floor, left wing. My corner office faces the sun setting over the river."
Thinking hard, she was getting frustrated that she hadn't figured it out. She had to find his office or she would pop this bubble he had in his head of her being 'smart'.
As she backtracked, she came to the last street she crossed and looked down it. She let out a sigh as the rain started to fall harder. " I bet that is it ...the silvery glass building that she estimated had the right amount of floors. It wouldn't be the skyscraper down the block from it as it had way more floors than fifteen, and Sophia was guessing that Mr Blackwood would have his office on the top floor. The building also had 'wings' and as she got closer, she would glance up into the rain to see the two 'wings'.Finally getting to the front door, she collapsed and shook her umbrella out as a thirtysomething security guard unlocked the door to let her in. She stepped inside and saw a classy brass bucket that had some 'loaner' umbrellas in it, so she put hers in with them.
"Brr... it's cold that rain." she said to the security guard who walked her over to the reception desk to sign in. "I'm here to see a Mr. Alexander Blackwood. The guard must have been expecting her as he already had a visitor badge with her name on it.
"The west-wing elevator is to your left down that hall with the polka dot art on the wall... fibreno or something." the guard said. "I'll let Mr Blackwood know you're on your way up."
"Thank you, sir." Sophia said as she started down the hall.
"This won't do." She muttered quietly to herself as she stopped at a bench in the hall. She sat down to take off her rain boots and put on the knee-high stockings and black heels she had in her bag. Sophia was too uncoordinated to walk in heels for long periods and it took some concentration for her to do it with any competence. But she needed to impress this Mr. Blackwood since they were going to be talking business.
She buttoned up her blouse she had been wearing open over her clingy white tank top and straightened the collar and sleeves by looking into a convenient mirror that was between plants opposite the elevator. She worried her blouse may be too damp from the rain splatter, but it seemed to be only a little so. She then checked the messy bun she had her near-black hair up in, and after brushing straight the intentionally wayward locks that hung free each side of her face, she made a somewhat frustrated look. It would have to do as it was getting awful close to 6pm.She decided to leave her rain boots by the bench where she could put them back on when she left. She then stepped to the elevator and activated it with her visitor badge. The ride up was smooth if a bit slow, and when the doors opened on the 15th floor, Sophia stepped out and adjusted her shoe before looking down to the end of the hall. When she arrived at the end of the hall, the door to the corner office was closed.
*knock knock* she tapped on the heavy oak door, making a solid rap. The door wasn't latched and the hinge squeaked and the door drifted open a little. "She pushed her head in, saying, "Hello? Is this Mr Blackwood's office?"
The door squeaked open a little further and Sophia put her hand on the inside of it and held it as she looked in, seeing a rather handsome and formidable man getting up from a luxurious leather chair...
Alex sat in his leather chair and waited for the Sophia, looking out at the pouring rain outside. Usually, the view from his corner cabin was stunning but today the rain and overshadowing clouds were not being kind. Still the best view possible in town in this weather, just not the best one from this place on a sunny day.
Infront of him was the detailed report of the Quentin family’s report. It was the report made by his team of personal investigators. He didn’t want to call them spies but they were after all corporate spies. He didn’t go after a company without researching the stakeholders. The man was getting old and slow. If someone can’t even see a hostile takeover, then he has no right to run the company. It’s the survival of the fittest and Alex knew the rule all too well.
Coming back to the report, he noticed the folder on Sophia. He had just glanced through it, the report was filled with all the things a girl of her age dreamed up of doing. Hooking up the college professor, a beach party fun, Christmas with a goofy rich boy and later getting sloshed and taken control by a group of men! The girl knows how to live a life, Alex thought. Also her college scores all suggest that she is a sharp woman with a lot of potential. If she was at the helm of affairs, then this hostile takeover would not have been possible.
Alex would have loved to think just business but the photos and streaming videos that were included in the report were distracting him. Afterall Sophia was a gorgeous girl, a sexy vixen! He was immersed in thoughts when he gets a call on the intercom from the security. His smile broadened, he was expecting the call. He was expecting her.
“Come in” he thundered and the door opened. The girl was prettier in person than in the pics – even the pics of ecstasy didn’t di justice of how lovely she looked. Maybe it was the rain, maybe the damp blouse clinging tight to her body, maybe the damp hair and that thin film of water on her face. Whatever it was, she looked ethereal.
“Yes, it is Mr. Blackwood’s office,” Alex said, mimicking her a little with a smile. “You must me Sophia, the daughter of Mr. Quentin and heiress to the Quentin empire. Am I right?” He stepped towards her with a smile. She looked small and petite while his eyes wandered from her eyes to her neckline and then back to her eyes. The small droplets of water on her neck was distracting his attention.
Extending his hand, “Hello, I’m your Mr. Blackwood. But you can call me Alex. It’s good to meet such a smart woman.” Extending his other hand to the couch, “Would you like to have a seat or would you like to use the washroom and tidy yourself a bit.” His eyes showing his personal bathroom in the opposite corner of his office.
Infront of him was the detailed report of the Quentin family’s report. It was the report made by his team of personal investigators. He didn’t want to call them spies but they were after all corporate spies. He didn’t go after a company without researching the stakeholders. The man was getting old and slow. If someone can’t even see a hostile takeover, then he has no right to run the company. It’s the survival of the fittest and Alex knew the rule all too well.
Coming back to the report, he noticed the folder on Sophia. He had just glanced through it, the report was filled with all the things a girl of her age dreamed up of doing. Hooking up the college professor, a beach party fun, Christmas with a goofy rich boy and later getting sloshed and taken control by a group of men! The girl knows how to live a life, Alex thought. Also her college scores all suggest that she is a sharp woman with a lot of potential. If she was at the helm of affairs, then this hostile takeover would not have been possible.
Alex would have loved to think just business but the photos and streaming videos that were included in the report were distracting him. Afterall Sophia was a gorgeous girl, a sexy vixen! He was immersed in thoughts when he gets a call on the intercom from the security. His smile broadened, he was expecting the call. He was expecting her.
“Come in” he thundered and the door opened. The girl was prettier in person than in the pics – even the pics of ecstasy didn’t di justice of how lovely she looked. Maybe it was the rain, maybe the damp blouse clinging tight to her body, maybe the damp hair and that thin film of water on her face. Whatever it was, she looked ethereal.
“Yes, it is Mr. Blackwood’s office,” Alex said, mimicking her a little with a smile. “You must me Sophia, the daughter of Mr. Quentin and heiress to the Quentin empire. Am I right?” He stepped towards her with a smile. She looked small and petite while his eyes wandered from her eyes to her neckline and then back to her eyes. The small droplets of water on her neck was distracting his attention.
Extending his hand, “Hello, I’m your Mr. Blackwood. But you can call me Alex. It’s good to meet such a smart woman.” Extending his other hand to the couch, “Would you like to have a seat or would you like to use the washroom and tidy yourself a bit.” His eyes showing his personal bathroom in the opposite corner of his office.
“Come in. Yes, it is Mr. Blackwood’s office,”Sophia let slip a facial expression when he stood even as she took in the sound of his voice, which seemed to change some. He was handsome and was taller then she... everyone was taller then her... except her best friend Jane...
She stepped into the office, and the door started to move back, shutting and latching behind her. "It is a pleasure to meet you sir!" her somewhat high, nasally "Asian" voice replied.
“You must me Sophia, the daughter of Mr. Quentin and heiress to the Quentin empire. Am I right?” he answered and Sophia took one more step toward him, puzzled that his voice again sounded like it did originally.
She paused and bowed her head as she extended her right hand to shake his. His grip was strong, yet she could tell he gave it a restrained gentleness as their hands bonded.
I’m your Mr. Blackwood. But you can call me Alex. It’s good to meet such a smart woman.” Sophia blushed a little. There he goes with calling her 'smart' again! It felt like his eyes combed her, but they were clearly on her face as he spoke.
As their hands parted while his other hand extended back toward the couch, Sophia grinned which always made her eyes squint.“Would you like to have a seat or would you like to use the washroom and tidy yourself a bit.” he added as she glanced over to the couch, then over to where he looked to a door in the corner of the office.
"Oh thank you Mr ... Alex." She caught herself and corrected her formality as she turned back to look at him. She licked her lips a little as her eyes dropped, and finally said, "I should use the restroom first before we get started. I am a bit wet still."
She turned to walk toward the door and opened it, then leaned back to look across to Alex. "I could use something to drink. I am rather thirsty." She then stepped in and closed the door.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she sighed. She saw the remaining beads of water on her and she took a towel and patted herself dry. She fluffed out her blouse and looked at both sides of herself before going to relieve herself. When she was done, she freshened up her muted mauve lipstick and dabbed a tiny amount of perfume on her wrist to rub on her other wrist. She didn't want to have that 'damp outdoorsy' scent lingering.
Satisfied with her hair, she emerged from the restroom a few minutes later, walking over to the couch Alex had offered and sitting down on one side, crossing her legs at the knees. She looked at him and smiled as she said, "Thank you for seeing me... Alex." she caught herself with the formality this time.
The astounded expression on her face reminded him of the video clip of hers. He shook his head to get himself focused. It’s not everyday that he is distracted by a pretty face. “The pleasure is mine, miss…” as he saw her bow her head. Behaves cultured! Quite unlike the girl in the report.
‘Focus! What’s happening to you Alex?’
A voice in his head reprimanded him, he just smiled and shook her hand. His eyes still looking at her intensely, not with desire but he is finding it increasingly difficult to think straight. She has such an effect on him.
"I should use the restroom first before we get started. I am a bit wet still."
These words made him wonder if she was wet! That was such a silly thought but he did not stop himself to fantasize a little. Then he heard her ask for a drink.
A small smile appears at the corner of his lips as he wonders the options. He could offer her a hot coffee or a real drink. It’s after office hours so a good whiskey makes more sense. But he was not sure of her poison. The faint noise of the faucet being opened came from the washroom. Alex, opened his personal bar cabinet and took out a bottle of bourbon and poured a generous amount in two glasses. He puts a large cube of ice to keep it chilled.
His mind was racing with ideas and the view of the small droplets of water on her neck were still fresh. He took the glasses and placed it on the coffee table in front of the couch. He sat there comfortably, patiently waiting for her.
When the door opened, a whiff of sweet perfume filled the air. Alex looked at the primed-up Sophia. She looked gorgeous! Her lipstick so perfect and her makeup, hair and everything just right.
Raising an eyebrow as she said Mr but then smiled as she corrected herself. “It’s my pleasure. No come, sit. And here is a bourbon on ice to keep you warm in this damp weather.” He handed over the glass and showed her the seat next to him. Slightly raising the glass he sipped on his drink, his eyes still fixed at the young girl. “So Sophia, tell me how can I help you.”
‘Focus! What’s happening to you Alex?’
A voice in his head reprimanded him, he just smiled and shook her hand. His eyes still looking at her intensely, not with desire but he is finding it increasingly difficult to think straight. She has such an effect on him.
"I should use the restroom first before we get started. I am a bit wet still."
These words made him wonder if she was wet! That was such a silly thought but he did not stop himself to fantasize a little. Then he heard her ask for a drink.
A small smile appears at the corner of his lips as he wonders the options. He could offer her a hot coffee or a real drink. It’s after office hours so a good whiskey makes more sense. But he was not sure of her poison. The faint noise of the faucet being opened came from the washroom. Alex, opened his personal bar cabinet and took out a bottle of bourbon and poured a generous amount in two glasses. He puts a large cube of ice to keep it chilled.
His mind was racing with ideas and the view of the small droplets of water on her neck were still fresh. He took the glasses and placed it on the coffee table in front of the couch. He sat there comfortably, patiently waiting for her.
When the door opened, a whiff of sweet perfume filled the air. Alex looked at the primed-up Sophia. She looked gorgeous! Her lipstick so perfect and her makeup, hair and everything just right.
Raising an eyebrow as she said Mr but then smiled as she corrected herself. “It’s my pleasure. No come, sit. And here is a bourbon on ice to keep you warm in this damp weather.” He handed over the glass and showed her the seat next to him. Slightly raising the glass he sipped on his drink, his eyes still fixed at the young girl. “So Sophia, tell me how can I help you.”
Moderators: Sophia (played anonymously)