Alexander Drakos sat at the table, across from the two beautiful black women, as the waitress sat his drink in front of him.  Both ladies were interesting, but even with the competition the main event remained, for him, Katrina Gabrini.  He expected charm.  It oozed even in her photos he had reviewed.  But he didn’t expect to this degree.  But charm was in everything about her: in her mannerisms.  Her curves.  In those big, sincere hazel eyes.  He couldn’t take his eyes off of her.  And Reno Gabrini fucked her every night?  A businessman he actually respected had an intimate relationship with that undoubtedly sweet pussy?  He was beyond intrigued.  It was like a bonus on top of a gift.

But he was a businessman first and last.  He got down to business.  Except the business they were going on and on about confused him.  “I must say,” he said, “and pardon me if I sound ignorant in this matter, but what takeover are you referencing?”

Trina looked at him.  Was he serious?  “Champagne’s Clothing Boutique,” she said.

“Your business, right,” he said.  “I know about it.  I’ve had it researched extensively.  But I’m not interested in any takeover bid.”

Gemma looked at him.  He was a very attractive Greek with the thickest black hair she’d ever seen.  A very elegant man, if she had to say so herself.  “We assumed that was why you wanted this meeting,” she said.

“Oh, no,” Alex said firmly.  “Not at all.  I am not interested in a clothing boutique business whatsoever.  I apologize if my people left that impression when they phoned.”

Now Trina was confused.  “Then why did you want to meet?” she asked.

“I have an offer for a partnership, that is true,” he said.  “But not related to your current business.”

“In what business then?” Trina asked.

“I want you to run a start-up company for me.”

Gemma and Trina both were floored.  “Excuse me?” Trina asked.

“I want you to run a brand-new start-up company for me.”

“What company is this?” Trina asked him.

“It will be called Franchise Hub,” Alex said.  “And what we will do is turn successful businesses with only one store into a franchise with many stores.  We will assume all upfront risks, so it will be very attractive to the store owners to participate.  But because we assume all upfront risks, we will also reap the greatest rewards.”

“And by rewards,” Trina said, “you mean the lion’s share of the franchisees’ monthly payout percentages?”

“Correct,” Alex said.  “We will be the one stop shop for businesses looking to expand into the franchise market, but don’t have the nerve or capital to do it alone.  So much so that we will eventually be the leader in the field.  I want you to head up the company.”

“As?” Gemma asked him on Trina’s behalf.

“As the CEO.  That way,” he said to Trina, “you will have absolute power and authority.  This will be a billion-dollar enterprise.  And you’ll be at the top.  There will be no one over you.”

“Except you,” Trina said.

Alex smiled what both women saw as a very charming, persuasive smile.  “Except me,” he said.  “I’ll chair the board, yes.”

Trina was beyond stunned.  Gemma was elated, but stunned too.  She looked at Trina.  Trina was staring at Alex.  “Why me?” she asked him.

“It’s obvious, is it not?” Alex responded.  “It’s because of your success with your franchise model.  You have been hugely successful when most businesses struggle and do not transition well in the franchise space.  I asked my people to utilize computer algorithms and find me the best in the business.  They found you.  That’s why I have chosen you.”

Trina felt as if she had just won the lottery.  She could hardly contain her joy.  But she contained it.  “You’ve said a mouthful, Mr. Drakos,” she said.

“Call me Alex,” Drakos said.

“I will, thank you.  And please call me Katrina.  Or Trina.”

Drakos smiled.  “I will as well.”

But Gemma was floored.  Trina never allowed business associates to call her by her first name on first meetings.  It demeaned the businesswoman, was her motto.  But she had no such qualms with Drakos.  But then again, Gemma thought with an inward smile, nobody had ever offered to let her run his billion-dollar company before, either.

“I know you have a lot to consider,” Alex said.  “And I will, of course, give you time to germinate on it.”

“How long will she have?” Gemma asked.

“Close of business today,” he said.

Trina and Gemma both waited for him to laugh and say he was just kidding.  Only he wasn’t.

And Trina didn’t like it.  “Okay, well, that’s short notice.  Too short.”

Alex stared at her.  He liked decisive leaders.  Men or women who knew a great opportunity when they heard it.  But he decided then and there that she was worth the wait.  “How much time do you need?” he asked.

“A week.  At least.”

He nodded.  “Okay,” he said, as he rose to his feet.  “You’re the one I want.  Nobody else is competing.”

Trina felt warmed by that admission.  He wanted her.  Nobody else, he said, was competing.  She couldn’t remember the last time anybody made her feel that special.

Then she realized how ridiculous that was.  He was only talking!  They were just words.  She rose too.  And extended her hand.

“Thank you for the consideration,” she said.  “I will get back with you as soon as I can.”

He handed her a business card she didn’t realize he had in his hand.  A smooth operator, she thought.  “I can be reached personally at that number,” he said as she accepted the card.  “And by the by, that phone number is not for public consumption.”

“Of course,” Trina said.

“Have a nice day,” Alex said.  And then he looked at Gemma.  “And you too, ma’am.”

Gemma smiled, and then he left.

Trina stared at the card, and at him, and then sat back down.

“Wow,” Gemma said.  “CEO of a billion-dollar company?  That man is not playing, Trina.”

“You’re telling me?  I’m still blown away!”  Then she exhaled.  “Now comes the hard part.”

Gemma was confused.  “Deciding to take it?”

“Oh, I’m going to take it!  If it’s legit, and I’ll need to investigate and make sure, I will most definitely take it.  This is a dream job come true.  Are you kidding me?”

“Then what’s the hard part?”

Trina exhaled.  “Telling Reno,” she said.

“Oh, right,” Gemma said.  “You’ve got to tell Reno that you will be at the helm of a company larger than his.”

“Reno won’t take it like that,” Trina quickly said.  “He’s man enough to handle that.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Gemma asked.

“He’ll take it as a threat, alright, but not to his manhood.  But to our marriage,” Trina said.  And he would take it as a threat, she inwardly mused, when they could ill-afford to travel down any more rocky roads.

 

Reno was up and out on the terrace as he watched the feed from his phone.  He saw the entire meeting.  He saw Trina and Gemma show interest in everything their lunch guest was saying, but his focus wasn’t on them initially.  It was on Drakos.  And it didn’t take a genius to see that at every opportunity, Drakos was taking sly peeps at Trina.  Whenever the ladies would look away, or look at each other, Drakos was looking over Trina’s sleek body.  Reno could feel his lust through the fucking phone.

Not that he blamed the man.  He didn’t.  Trina was a special lady in every way.  What man wouldn’t want her, was how Reno always saw it.

But then he turned his focus on Trina.  Johnny had excellent views of all three lunchmates.   When Reno focused on Trina, rather than Drakos, was when he saw the truth.  It was as undeniable as Drakos’s lust for Trina.  Trina, Reno realized, was attracted to Drakos too.  That one-way street Reno was certain was there, had just become a two-way street.  He even caught Trina giving Drakos a once-over when Drakos looked away.  First, it angered Reno.  Then it astounded him that Trina could possibly be interested in anybody other than her husband.  But what kind of husband had he been lately?  Working all the time.  Making promises he ended up unable to keep.  Neglecting his own children!

But the coup de grâce occurred when Drakos handed Trina his business card and left.  And Trina, to Reno’s shock, checked Drakos out with a look Reno knew so well because it was the same look he employed to check out Trina!  And when Alex glanced back at Trina as he was walking away, and he and Trina exchanged an admiring smile, it was game over.

And Reno got busy in a different way.  He had to reclaim his wife.  Before somebody else did.