Sam sat at the head of the enormous, oval table in her office's conference room, straightening the file she'd already straightened twice.

"Sam." Carla admonished her. “It's going to be fine. This is just a preliminary meeting with the C-levels. Our legal teams have both been in constant communication over the last several weeks. Think of this as a meet and greet. A hand shaking session, so to speak."

Sam took a deep breath.

"They're the ones who called for a meeting Carla. I feel prepared. I know you've been working your butt off on this. I’m just a little nervous about the fact that they asked for this before we're even half-way through outlining the terms."

"To be fair," Carla pointed out. "You've asked some pretty lofty conditions to be met if this thing moves forward."

“I’m aware." Sam responded defensively. "But I need to make sure the employees and partners are well cared for. If Carnelian plans to bring in their own people, I want my people to be given the best possible scenario for relocation, or time to find other employment."

“I know. Like I said," Carla reiterated. “We're just shaking hands."

With that, the conference phone rang. Nora looked to Sam who nodded for her to accept the call.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of CGE," Carla opened. “I would like to welcome you to this call, and thank you for your time on this Friday afternoon. This is Carla Everson, head of legal affairs at CSM. I’m here with Samantha Covington, our CEO, her PA, Nora Banks, and my co-councils Jacob Levifal and Janice Whitworth.”

"Thank you for the introductions.” Came a deep voice that took Sam by surprise. She'd expected - she wasn't sure, but it wasn't that.

“I am Isaiah, CEO at Carnelian Global Enterprises, I am accompanied by my PA, Grant Allister, my lead council David and his co-council, Stephanie Wallace. I would like to thank you for making time on such short notice for this meeting. I know each of you has better things to do this weekend than indulge me and my curiosities. I felt this was important and I thank you for making it a priority as well."

Sam passed Carla a note. So polite!

Carla just smiled and nodded. Nora scribbled notes furiously on her pad. Of what, Sam wasn't sure, since nothing had actually been said yet.

"Since I am the one who called this meeting, I will begin." Isaiah declared in his dark, chocolatey voice.

You go right ahead, say as much as you want. Sam kicked herself. Pay attention.

“I would like to start with some questions for Ms. Covington."

The way he said, 'Ms. Covington' sent a shiver through her. At that moment, Sam was more than a little grateful she wasn't face to face with this man. She usually hated conference calls because she was so much better at hand-to-hand combat, but she had a feeling Isaiah was a man who would win every time.

"Ms. Covington." He continued. “I’ve studied the terms you are proposing for a forward move between our companies, and I have to say, they are the most demanding set of requests I’ve seen in any proposition I’ve entertained. I would like to hear your reasoning, your defense if you will, of these requests."

Sam smiled to herself. This was the easy part, speaking on behalf of those who had been loyal to her.

“I would love to address that, Mr... Isaiah." He hadn't said his last name, she realized with puzzlement. "During my tenure at CSM, the company has enjoyed exponential growth. None of that however, would be possible without the blood, sweat and tears that my employees have been willing to shed under my leadership. I owe them a debt of gratitude and the confidence that their well-being matters to me more than the number in my bank account. If we decide to proceed with this process of folding CSM in to CGE, it is of utmost importance that those who have given me so much are rewarded for their sacrifices. If your plan is to continue to employ the people I have in place, I know you will not be disappointed with that decision. If however, you're plan is to bring in your own people, it is imperative that the people in my care are given every opportunity to find continued success elsewhere."

"Ms. Covington," Isaiah responded, admiration in his voice. “I have not dealt with any other major player in our industry who shows so much care and passion regarding the people in their employ, the people in their care, as you say. I admire that more than I can express.”

"Thank you, sir." Sam smiled at Carla, who winked at her with a thumb's up.

It was true, Sam did care deeply about the people who worked for her, no matter how much her father had tried to beat it out of her. To those who were loyal and honest toward her, she would lay the world at their feet. To those who abused their position, those who abused others, those who were conniving, disloyal, only out to further themselves at the expense of the people around them, to those people, she would be the dark horse that brought destruction upon them. She wasn't a vigilante. She was a strategist. In the end, if her strategies worked, the destruction of those people would be total.

The rest of the meeting passed quickly. Nora could have burned a hole in her notepad with the ferocity of her note-taking. Carla passed a note every now and then for Sam to look at before answering a question, but for the most part, her interaction with Carnelian's CEO was a pleasant experience.

Part of the reason she'd been nervous in the beginning was that there wasn't much information floating around about the leader of one of the greatest companies in the world at that moment. He was quite reclusive, staying well away from press and media. A little like her, he didn't seem to want the attention that often came with being a rising star in the business world.

Isaiah was straightforward. She appreciated his honest approach, the way he went straight to the heart of the matter at hand. No wasted time, no useless niceties or hand-holding. He was strong, solid. He knew who he was, what he wanted and what he was about. She found herself thinking that he seemed like the kind of man she could actually get along with if they met under different circumstances.

The call lasted less than an hour, everyone in the midst of their goodbyes, when Isaiah's deep voice cut through the rest.

"Ms. Covington…”

“I look forward to doing business with you."

Sam grinned at Carla raising her arm for a totally out of character fist pump.

"Thank you, sir.” She replied in a totally composed voice, which belied the excitement bubbling inside her. “I look forward to it as well." The line clicked. The call was officially done.

"Carla!" Sam exclaimed. "Did that mean what I think it meant?"

Carla grinned from ear to ear, laughing happily.

"Yes. Yes, Ms. Covington. I do believe we've got ourselves a merger! Now, we just have to iron out the details and hope the world doesn't fall apart before we make it final."

Her words sobered Sam.

"On that note, do we know anything about the note that was left for me? Has Cameron come up with anything?"

Carla shook her head, frowning.

"No, nothing yet. He's working on it though, he has ears to the ground. If there's chatter where you're concerned, he'll pick it up."

Sam nodded. "Ok. Well, we should celebrate anyway."

“I agree!" Nora interjected.

Sam looked around the room at the people who had done so much to support her through the years.

"Dinner.” She said. "Sunday evening. Obviously, my treat. Let's all meet at Lincoln's."

"Kids?" Nora asked.

"Of course." Sam answered with a smile. "Bring your kids if you need to."

* * *

While Stone was alone in Samantha’s apartment, he took the opportunity to do a little snooping. It was a huge space for one woman who didn't to do much entertaining. There were no personal photos, no mementos. It almost seemed like a staged apartment. Almost. There were the touches of color, the beautifully understated decorations, the feelings of calm and warmth that permeated the space, those things felt like Samantha lived here, but she didn't share it with anyone. Probably hadn't ever shared it with anyone, except Carla and her family. He smiled at the thought that he was the first man allowed to occupy her living space unencumbered.

The living, dining and kitchen areas all occupied the same open space, separated only by strategically placed furnishings. Her bedroom was large, sparsely furnished, yet inviting, relaxing nonetheless. He opened the door on a room adjacent to the bedroom, letting out a low whistle of admiration when he stepped inside.

The floor was made from pristine bamboo. Mirrors lined one wall, while racks, shelves and drawers lined another. Upon inspection, he found enough weapons to supply a small army of ninjas. Bow staffs, nun-chucks, throwing stars, throwing knives, rubber sparring knives, rubber guns, ropes and tape. He was beyond impressed, insanely curious, and more than a little turned on at the thought that Sam was, most likely, proficient in the use of all the things in this room. He saw a snippet of her abilities in the way she'd handled Heath, that night at Hartstone, but now he wanted to see a whole lot more. This room was definitely one he’d be asking her about.

* * *

Sam dialed Stone's cell from the backseat of her car while the driver expertly maneuvered through the muddle of traffic. She almost laughed when she remembered the expression on Carla's face when she'd told her Stone was here, visiting her.

"Wow." Carla had said with a shocked expression. “I was not expecting that."

"Neither was I." Sam shrugged and agreed.

“I want you guys to come over. It's been too long since I’ve seen Max, and you guys like Stone, right?"

"Everyone likes Stone." Carla said sarcastically.

"He's the kind of guy that makes it nearly impossible to dislike him. Are you sure you don't want to have the evening to yourselves though? Since he came all this way?"

Sam flushed at the look of total understanding Carla sent her way.

"No. I mean, you guys don't have to stay all night.” Sam intoned. “But let's have dinner. This has been a huge day and I want to celebrate it with you. Even though we're also celebrating on Sunday."

"Come to our house, then." Carla insisted. "Go get that man of yours and meet us there in an hour or so."

"That sounds great." Sam replied, quickly adding, “He's not my man. I have no claim on him."

"Oh, honey.” Carla countered. “If he's coming all the way to New York to see you, he's all yours. You just haven't accepted it yet."