Chapter 9
Hannah sat in the large conference room as she waited for everyone to file in. With only the sounds of the air conditioning blowing above her and a view of a neighboring building out of the windows, all that was left for her to do was think about everything that had been going on. As the thoughts of her meeting with Sulagna and Robert filled her mind, and the thoughts of how a world existed that she wasn’t aware of, Hannah leaned back in her chair and tried to comprehend it.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” said a young man as he walked into the room, speaking in a light, British accent. “I thought this was where the meeting with the Australian Oil Trade and Refiners was taking place.”
“It is,” she replied as she leaned up in her chair and looked over the young man. He was tall and skinny with brown hair that he kept incredibly neat, parted to one side with thick, black rimmed glasses across his brow. He wore a maroon vest over a white dress shirt and grey slacks while carrying with him a small portfolio in his right hand and a brief case in his left.
“I must be early then,” he said as he walked into the room and placed his briefcase on the table before walking over to Hannah. “I’m Russell,” he said, introducing himself while stretching out his hand. “Russell Williamson.”
“Hannah Burchfield,” she replied with a twinkle in her eye as she shook his hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
Russell smiled with delight. “Likewise.”
Hannah nodded her head as Russell turned around, looking up and down as he walked back over to his briefcase. “Are you aware of what all is going on today?” she asked, trying to stir a conversation with him.
He smirked as he reached his briefcase and opened it up. “I was told this was an acquisitions meeting,” he said plainly as his smile never eroded from his face.
“Were you told how awkward this acquisition meeting might be?”
“They always are,” he said in a joyous tone. “I’ve never had a single meeting that didn’t, at some point, become incredibly awkward for at least one of the parties involved.”
Hannah looked at Russell with a blank expression as several thoughts went through her head. “Do you enjoy it when things go sour?”
“Sour? No,” he said as he maintained his smile and positive disposition. “Awkward though; absolutely. It’s a bit of a rush when I have to step in to make sure the deal goes through. I actually prefer it to the standard, easier meetings.”
Hannah shook her head in disbelief. “So, you want it to become weird in here?”
He smiled bigger as he started to pull other files from his briefcase. “Don’t you?”
“Not even in the slightest,” she replied with a hearty laugh. “I’m a negotiator with the consortium and I cannot stand it when meetings become awkward or weird.”
“Why not?”
“Because I like to be in control,” she said astutely. “I like to know that I achieved everything I set out to achieve. When a meeting becomes awkward, weird, or strange, then I’m left having to fill the space. Unfortunately, in my experiences, when a deal becomes silent, there is more time for the person across the table to think of a retort to counter me. When a meeting gets awkward, it puts me in an unfavorable position.”
Russell nodded as he kept his disposition intact. “I see you’ve thought that through,” he said briefly before closing his briefcase and setting in underneath the table. “Everyone has to know their strategies when it comes to negotiating. I know what I prefer and how I want the conversations to go while others in the company wish them to go in a different manner. I like it when it becomes awkward because typically, I can insert a counter opinion that offers a mild compromise instead of both parties hammering on about what they want and what they refuse to give up.”
“But that’s just it!” exclaimed Hannah. “You’re not on either side. You’re simple there to moderate the discussion!”
“Am not, and I refuse to let you say that!” he joked. “I am not a moderator nor an arbitrator. I’m simply here to make sure all the paperwork gets done. However, if the debate that rages in this room becomes a bit grandiose and gets out of hand, then I will happily step in and offer my neutral opinion on the matter.”
Hannah shook her head with a smile on her face as she stood up from the chair and leaned on the table. “So, you’re just a pencil pusher?”
“No ma’am,” he replied with the same smile. “I’m a lawyer who isn’t being paid to resolve anything today. I’m only being paid by my client to ensure that the deal will not be hung up on any legal technicalities. My job is to make sure that the person selling his stake in the company does not come back and sue the person who purchases them. I make sure this transaction is worry free.”
Hannah nodded. “What if this transaction is made under duress?”
“Does the person selling the shares have a gun to his head or is his family being held hostage and they won’t be released unless he sells his company?” he asked rhetorically as Hannah shook her head. “Then there is no duress. If he willingly puts pen to paper today, then the deal will be perfect.”
“So even if the consortium is muscling him out, there is not a thing he can reasonably do about it?”
“Not a single thing,” replied Russell. He looked across the table at Hannah as she processed the information, noticing that she didn’t like the course that this meeting was headed. “So, where are you from?” he asked politely as he tried to change the subject.
Hannah looked up and smiled before walking away from the table and over to a small counter on the side of the room with bottles of water. “New York,” she said politely as she grabbed the bottle of water and held it out toward Russell, offering him one while she was standing it.
“Oh, yes please,” he replied as she grabbed a second bottle and brought it over to the table. “So where do you live now? I know you work with the consortium which means you typically live out of a suitcase, but I’m sure there’s a place where you keep all of your things.”
“Ha!” exclaimed Hannah as she slid a chair out from the side of the table to sit on the table top next to Russell’s papers. “You’re right about living out of a suitcase, but I have an apartment in New York City that happens to have all of my things.”
“Small world,” he replied.
“What do you mean?”
“I also currently live in New York City,” he continued. “I absolutely love it there.”
Hannah looked on in a state of surprise. “I honestly did not see that coming,” she said.
“Oh what, with the accent did you think I only lived across the pond?” he asked sarcastically. “I went to Law School at Princeton. After that, I was snapped up by a law firm in New York before I had the opportunity to go home.”
“And where is that? London?” she asked sarcastically.
“Again, no!” he shouted with a laugh. “I’m from Cardiff.”
Hannah shook her head. “You’re Welsh?”
“And damn proud of it,” he continued. “Everyone in the states assumes I’m from London, or Manchester, but never Cardiff. It’s as if the only place they know is London.”
Hannah laughed. “I think we should be more impressed that American education has at least familiarized us with one city in your country.”
“Oh, fine,” he joked. “Why don’t you name two more!”
“That’s easy, I can do that right now without thinking.”
“Then do it!” he prodded.
Hannah smiled. “Cardiff and Manchester,” she replied with a hearty laugh as Russell looked on in a state of disbelief.
With a subtle shake of his head, the smile left his face and was replaced by a forced scowl. “That was pretty cheeky of you,” he said as he looked on at Hannah as she giggled. “I feel like I’ve been had.”
“You have,” she retorted. “But don’t let it bother you. I do that to everyone.”
“Oh, so it’s not something that you reserve for people you just meet?” he asked as the smile returned to his face.
“Of course not,” she replied. “I’m an equal-opportunity smart-ass.”
Russell laughed as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. “How about next time you make it home, you give me a call,” he said as handed the card to her. “I’d love to hear about how many more cities in England you can name.”
“If you give me enough time, I can easily name three more,” she replied with a smile. “I know about Portsmouth because of its connection to the English Channel, as well as Southampton.”
Russell smiled. “Impressive,” he said. “There might be hope for you yet,” he said as he turned around to see two men walking into the room.
“Ms. Burchfield, good to see you,” announced Jacoby Burgess as he walked into the room before turning to see Russell. “And you are?”
“Russell Williamson from Willoughby, Williamson, and Howard,” he replied with that same smile he greeted Hannah with. “I’ve been summoned here to…”
“I know why you’re here,” said Jacoby as he gestured for Russell to halt the explanation. “I’ve never been a fan of having lawyers in business meetings, but unfortunately, Sulagna and the rest of the consortium insist on it.”
Russell smiled as he nodded slowly. “I don’t mean to be an inconvenience or intrude. I’m simply here to facilitate the deal and ensure that everything goes off according to the plan.”
“The deal is going to go fine,” replied Jacoby as the other man, Charles Ronson, the Vice President of the Australian Oil and Trade refiners, walked up behind him. “Take a seat Charles. I just got a text from Sulagna saying that she, along with everyone else, will be here within the next few minutes.”
“Right, sir,” he replied as he sat at a chair in the center of the table while Hannah removed herself from the table top and planted herself in the chair right beside Russell. The procession of executives began shortly thereafter with Robert Acostis and Sulagna Patel walking in together, both coming down from his penthouse where they met earlier. Dillon Flannigan walked in alone after them, carrying a small portfolio in his right hand as he looked on confidently with Mina Patel, the daughter of Sulagna and executive for Robert and Dillon’s existing company walking in behind him. The two sat next to each other Robert on Dillon’s other side at the far end of the table. Trailing Dillon was Alexis, who walked in alone.
Hannah looked up to see Alexis looking a bit distressed, but still professional. She wore a pantsuit similar to Hannah’s, though with white pin stripes and a green blouse underneath the coat. Her makeup was not as pristine as usual which prompted Hannah to stand up from the table and walk over to Alexis before she could reach the table. “What’s wrong?” she asked as she pulled her to the side to whisper to her quietly away from everyone.
Alexis looked back to the table to see the executives, with the exception of Mina, not paying them any attention. Alexis sighed as she looked back at Hannah. “We broke up last night,” she said, causing Hannah to gasp in shock.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!?” she whispered loudly. “Why am I just now finding out about this? You normally tell me everything before it happens?”
She shook her head as she shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know,” she said. “Nathanial mentioned how he wanted to keep his privacy and how he didn’t want anyone to know about him being forced to sell the company. He didn’t want everyone to know about how he and Dillon also had already started working on an arrangement and it enraged him when he started to feel like he wasn’t in control.”
Hannah shook her head. “Well, Robert Acostis knows, so it’s a good bet that Mina and everyone else in this room does as well.”
“Do you think this will go smoothly? I’d hate to see Nathanial walk in and lose his temper again,” asked Alexis.
Hannah pulled Alexis close and wrapped her arms around her. “Are you going to be alright moderating this?” she asked. “I’m sure they’ve already got this worked out, but will you be ok?”
“Of course,” said Alexis as she squeezed Hannah tightly around her waist. “This is business now and I will not let that arrogant fool get in the way of me and my career.”
“Good girl,” replied Hannah as they released and walked back toward the executives as Nathanial walked in, carrying a scowl across his face as he made an immediate trek to the center of the conference table. Dillon, noticing him enter, stood up and walked in front of him, stretching out his hand in friendship which Nathanial was quick to grab.
The scowl slowly faded away and left the look of someone who was defeated. “Were you able to figure out a package that suited you?” asked Dillon as they released hands but remained standing.
“I did, and I’ve outlined it here in this document,” he replied as he handed it over to Dillon.
Dillon looked the document over closely for a few moments as everyone in the room stared at them, waiting to see what was going to happen next. “I think this will do,” said Dillon as he handed the sheet of paper to Mina. “I don’t have any objections to that package at all, but I do have a question.”
“Why am I selling all the shares of this company?” he asked, knowing that Dillon wanted that answer. “Because I’m sick to death of this consortium of people. I’m being bullied out of my company because no one in this room thinks I’m capable of salvaging it,” he said louder, knowing that everyone was listening to him.
Jacoby stood up and looked across the table at Nathanial. “We don’t want you to leave,” he said. “I especially don’t want that and I will not sign off on any arrangement regarding the redistribution of management unless you stay on board in some capacity.”
Nathanial smiled as Jacoby stood up to defend him in front of everyone there. “I appreciate that, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Jacoby. But, I’m afraid my future is elsewhere. While the consortium wants me to become a minority owner and give up a great deal of my influence and stake, I’m choosing to give up everything. This is my decision and I’m choosing to walk away instead of watching someone take my company and make it better.”
“So you’re walking away?” asked Jacoby.
“Absolutely,” replied Nathanial. “I’m walking away.”
“Why? There is a chance that you will be able to make a lot more money even with that smaller share, Nathanial,” pleaded Jacoby. “Stop letting your pride and ego get in the way and realize that this is for the best. You can make a lot of money with this arrangement.”
“It’s not about money, Jacoby. I have more of that than I will ever need,” he replied arrogantly. “I’m choosing to leave this business because I refuse to deal with the Consortium of Oil Traders ever again.”
Jacoby looked at the rest of the table as they looked on at Nathanial with a stone-faced expression. “Fine,” he replied. “So, are you selling all of your shares to Dillon then?”
“Every last one,” he replied. “And he has put together a package that I will take willingly.”
Stunned, Jacoby sat back down in his chair and looked over at Sulagna. “You have my support,” he said as he rested his head against the headrest as Mina pushed the proposed deal over to Alexis so she could announce it to the table. “Lawyer, I don’t think we’re going to need you for all of this. If you want to step outside you can pick up the paperwork once everything has been signed.”
“Well, this has been completely uneventful,” he said as he scooted his chair away from the table. “All of the documents that you will need for the transaction are right here. I will step out to the little café in the lobby if you need me.” He turned and left the room, leaving everyone looking up at Nathanial and Dillon as they started to prepare everything.
Hannah scooted her chair back from the table. “Mrs. Patel, you don’t need me now, do you?” she asked as a sly grin came across her face.
Sulagna turned to see what Hannah was wanting before smiling. “You know what Hannah, we don’t need your right now since it looks like the only thing that will have to happen is for us to get everything in writing,” she said as she motioned for her to step away. “Why don’t you go keep the young lawyer company?”
“I think that is an excellent idea,” she replied as she stood up and pushed her chair back under the table. “I’d love to have some coffee with him and listen to that accent some more.”
Alexis turned her head as Hannah walked by, patting her on her shoulder before turning and biting her lip, making Alexis smile as she looked across the table at the two men as they completed the transaction. Hannah walked quickly out the door and into the hallway of the hotel before making her way out to the lobby to find the young lawyer waiting in line at the café to place his order. Without even the slightest hint of hesitation, Hannah walked up beside him and placed her arm around his, interlocking them as she looked up at the menu. “Something tells me that you’re going to want to try the coffee here,” she said as she surprised the young lawyer.
“I got that vibe,” he replied as he turned his head to see Hannah standing beside him. “There is just something about this place that makes me want to try the coffee.”
“I have no idea what would make you want to,” she said, continuing with the joke. “It could be the intense smell of the coffee or the employees behind the counter grinding beans.”
Russell pointed out to a sign directly in front of them. “Or it could just be that sign that’s telling me that they have the best coffee in all of Sydney.”
“Or that,” she continued.
Russell pulled Hannah’s arm in closer, grazing the side of his ribs as they moved up through the line and toward the counter. “What are you going to have?”
“Honestly?” asked Hannah.
“Well, now isn’t really the time to lie about it,” joked Russell.
Hannah laughed. “I’ll probably have the coffee.”
Russell dropped his smile and shook his head. “That’s twice,” he acknowledged.
“Stick around, it’ll happen at least nine more times before dinner.”
“Does that mean I’m going to see you for dinner?” he asked as they moved up to the register and the young lady standing in front of them.
“If you’re lucky,” she replied before turning to face the young girl. “I’ll just have a cup of coffee,” she said before turning and looking at Russell, who nodded. “So will he.”
Russell quickly reached into his pocket and handed a few Australian dollars to the young lady before Hannah could reach into her small purse to retrieve her debit card. “What are you doing?” she asked as the young lady made change and Russell looked at her with a devious grin.
“I just bought you a cup of coffee,” he said nonchalantly.
“I’m perfectly capable of, not only buying me a cup of coffee, but also you,” she replied defensively.
Russell grinned as he reached forward and grabbed the two cups and handed Hannah hers. “Well, then how about you get the next cup of coffee if it makes you feel better.”
“How about I just get dinner when we you take me out?” she said abruptly as they sat at a small table in the corner.
Russell tilted his head to the side as he sipped on his coffee. “Ms. Burchfield, are you asking me out? We just met.”
“What? This is already going slower than every other encounter with a guy I’ve had recently,” she joked, causing Russell to spit his coffee out in laughter.
“Excuse me?” he asked as he wiped off his chin.
Hannah thought about her response before shaking her head. “You know what, never mind,” she said. “Forget I said anything about my previous encounters with any man.”
“Oh please, I’m sure you and I have similar tales of our interactions with the opposite sex,” he retorted. “I’ve had more one night stands in the past year than I care to remember.”
“Me too!” shouted Hannah. “My God, two weeks ago I was traveling through the UAE and I ended up getting hot and bothered by this sweaty Italian guy at an oil rig. Just out of nowhere, it hit me and I had sex with him.”
Russell chuckled as he sipped on his coffee and made sure to swallow this time. “Three weeks ago, I was in Japan and these two girls decided that my accent was enough for me to wake up next to them the following morning,” he countered, rivaling Hannah’s story with another of his own. “I’ve never been one to use sex or sexuality as a means of love. I want to, at some point, make love and have someone that I love, but for most of my life, it’s always just been a great feeling for me.”
Hannah nodded in agreement. “I completely understand.”
“Do you now?”
“Yes, totally,” she continued. “It’s weird, because my best friend and I are incredibly close and she wanted a man in her life whereas I’ve always kept men at arm’s length. I enjoy men and I enjoy what men can do to me, but in reality, I’ve never had a man that I actually wanted to spend time with.”
“So, coming out and having a cup of coffee with a random stranger was never on your list of things to do?” asked Russell as he continued to sip.
“Would have never happened,” she replied. “Not in a million years would an event like this have happened.”
“Then what made you change your mind?” questioned Russell as he set his coffee down in front of him and leaned forward. “What made you want to follow me out here to spend more time picking my brain and listening to my accent?”
As the smile grew across Hannah’s face, she could tell something was different about this conversation and that something was different about her. For the first time in her life, she was actually enjoying making small talk with a man instead of simply treating him as the means to an end. “I’m curious about you,” she said. “I don’t know what it is or what you possess that other guys don’t, but something about you has me curious.”
“The accent does that to some girls,” quipped Russell.
“It’s not the accent,” she denied. “I’ll admit, when you walked into that conference room, I thought you were cute. The way your thick glasses rest on your face and the way you carry yourself, almost like a geek in high school, intrigues me.”
“So I suppose I shouldn’t show you my space fighter underwear then,” joked Russell, continuing to keep the mood light.
Hannah continued to smile as she leaned forward and gave Russell a light kiss on the cheek. “Russell, I don’t want to have to sex with you right now,” she admitted harshly, catching him off guard and causing him to shake his head.
In confusion, he leaned forward more with his mouth agape. “Ok?”
“I actually want to get to know who you are as a person,” continued Hannah as she clarified her comment. “I want to know about your family and I want to know about the things you like and don’t like. Jesus Christ, I actually want to spend time with you with our clothes on.”
Russell nodded. “Well, I have good news,” he said softly. “Our clothes are on right now so I think you accomplished your mission.”
Hannah chuckled. “There’s one for you,” she said as she realized that being with Russell would be a competition. “In the past, I’ve always viewed men as a chance for me to relieve some stress, have a great time, and then move on with my life. I’ve never been interested in having a long-term relationship or romance with one and I’ve never wanted to have a man at my side. For some strange reason, I’m intrigued to see how far this can go and actually spend a little bit more time with you.” She paused as she shook her head in disbelief. “This is totally weird for me.”
“When will you be back in New York?” he asked as he leaned forward and grabbed her hand.
Hannah shook her head. “Hopefully in the next month sometime, I will be able to come home and at least sleep in my own bed.”
“Well, give me your phone number and maybe we can start talking a bit more frequently and then, when you do finally come home, you can take me out to dinner,” he joked.
“I’d love that,” she said with a hearty laugh as she pulled out her phone to exchange numbers with him as Mina Patel walked up.
“Well, I see now why you didn’t want to sit through that,” she said politely as she walked up and placed her hands on Hannah’s shoulders before leaning in to hug her from behind. “You still owe me dinner and a good time.”
Hannah placed her hands on Mina’s forearms as she embraced her from behind, allowing her to let go before turning to face her. “Yeah, I was compelled to come talk to someone,” she answered as she handed Russell her phone. “Just type your number in there and save it, and then take a picture of yourself to make it easy on me to remember you.”
“Are there other men in your phone?” questioned Russell.
“Of course, and most of them work with me,” she replied candidly before turning back to face Mina. “How did Alexis do?”
“She was an absolute champ,” said Mina. “I’ve never seen her so business like before, but she looked at Nathanial and asked him if he knew what he was signing, treating him as if she had never met him before in her life.”
“Good,” said Hannah as she turned to see Russell taking a picture with his tongue hanging out. “Make sure you get your best features.”
Russell pressed the button to take a picture before contorting his face to take another one. “Only the best for you.”
“Mr. Williamson, it’s time for you to go inspect the documents so that this sale can be finalized,” informed Mina as he finished taking pictures and handed the phone back to Hannah.
“Right, I’m actually here to work,” he said in realization. “I’ll talk to you soon, Hannah.”
“I look forward to it,” she said with a smile as he stood up and walked away, leaving Hannah and Mina to stand there and watch him walk back to the boardroom. “He has an amazing ass,” announced Hannah as Mina started to blush.
“He does,” she replied as she sat in his chair. “Are you going to try and see him?”
“I want that,” said Hannah as she nodded. “I want to see him again.”