A Queen's Knight Ch. 12-14
Keywords: Knight, A, Queen's, 12-14, Ch.,
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"
His eyes rolled up and his hand grabbed his wineglass. "I noticed in the company profile you and your bank each hold twenty-seven percent of the stock and between them Ryan and your mother hold fifteen percent, making a total of six-nine percent. In boardroom voting on major financial decisions, changes to the constitution and the like, what voting majority is required to carry the day."
"Seventy-five percent," Maggie replied, suddenly conscious of being mentally seduced.
"Who are those other shareholders?"
"Company executives; you'll find that information in the profile when you have time to read it properly. It was a management buyout and our bank came to the party to bridge the gap to complete the purchase. It gave us the option of advancing a loan or buying shares – we chose the later to avoid increasing debt. Are you a business spy?"
Angus attempted to look shocked but really didn't have to try; she was on to him but how the fuck had she managed that? "No, not at all," he lied. "When I was in the restroom I took a call from my CEO who wanted some important information. He then asked me how was the holiday going and I told him about my surprise at finding how you and Ryan were running a top-line operation with everything new except for the commercial printing division which already had been modernized."
Angus topped up their glasses. "Out of the blue he asked me what your presses were like. I told Ross the details and he said the board had decided yesterday to look for a partner in New Zealand to print local-content editions of our top-line magazines and had decided to look at a firm in Christchurch and one in Napier. He then suggested they also look at your set-up and asked me to find if your company was financially sound."
"Is that all, Angus?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me your reason for asking me for information?"
"Because until I knew whether you had press capacity and were financially sound it didn't seem any point of suggesting you were in line to get contract work until you company emerged as a good prospect."
"Well, I don't agree with that. I think it was sneaky."
"That's how business is done, Maggie; you play your aces last."
Maggie sighed, now thinking his nose looked long because he was a liar. "I suppose you're right." She signaled the waitress to bring the bill. "I'll pay, Maggie," Angus said, looking somewhat embarrassed. "I can put it on expenses as I suspect my boss will be phoning you any time soon."
"Okay, Angus. I'm sorry I snapped at you. As a businesswoman I ought not to allow my personal feelings to interfere with business opportunities."
Angus felt deflated, knowing she'd now semi-distrusted him. How was he to know she was a lot smarter than he thought she'd be? It was possible Ross would have a tough time ripping off Maggie and Ryan.
"A kiss would make me feel forgiven," Angus suggested; it was the wine talking.
Her familiar smile was back. "You rotten sod, your great Australian white shark. I'm not allowing you near me."
How does one answer that? "Oh come on, Maggie, I was only asking for a kiss, not to paw that great body of yours."
"Ah yes, may I ask you to mentally undress me a little less; it is rather embarrassing being declothed because you do it so intently."
"Oh gawd, I'm that obvious, am I."
"Very. But here, come and kiss but don't paw me; if you do I'll knee you."
Angus paid the bill and they walked to the parking lot to find Harriet waiting, reading a magazine. "I've been back here quite a while as Nancy was hosting a fund-raising lunch so could only spare me a few minutes. I decided to leave you two talking as you appear to be getting along so well."
"She called me a great white Australian shark."
"Good gracious, what have you being doing to my daughter to raise that kind of remark from her young man?"
"Nothing, just business talk really. You should have rejoined us; I find you rather interesting."
"Really," was all Harriet said, but it was her tone that caused Maggie, standing a little behind Angus to raise her eyebrows hugely. Harriet spotted that and blushed.
Maggie said, "You sit in the front, Angus. I think I'll stretch out in the back. You two have so much in common that I must encourage a closer union."
"What do we have in common expect being nice persons, Maggie?"
"If you try hard enough Angus you'll find out. Mother loves talking about sex."
"In another life my daughter was a female assassin," Harriet laughed, not at all put out. "You sit beside me and talk about anything that takes your fancy Angus."
Ten minutes later Ross Abbott phoned. The call ended with Maggie offering to pick them up at Auckland International Airport at 10:00 in the morning.
"No, Hamilton Airport please. We'll arrive on a small jet charter."
Putting her phone away Maggie said, "Angus you snake, you haven't be straight with me."
"What do you mean?"
"Your company already has you, its general manager, here on the spot so I ask myself why would your CEO speak to me so suavely and be taking the expensive option of flying in by charter jet and accompanied by his company chairman?"
"Er, it's the way they do business, time being a value commodity."
"Angus, you are a dingo. The name of your chairman is Sir Gerald Ashton-Forbes; I happen to know the magazines I read consistently refer to Sir Gerald as a media mogul. He's coming here to gobble us up, isn't he, you snake?"
"Maggie, believe me, this thing has grown out of all proportion. The company truly does want to establish a printing operation in this country, but it can do that by way of a simple business contact."
"Hmmm. That could be true and they're racked up the concept since you came over here. Whatever, you can stay with us because Midge truly is my cousin; I called my father and he knows her parents well as he's hosted them a couple of times. Everything he told me about Midge stacks up except for one thing."
Maggie paused and the tension grew.
"What was that darling?" asked Harriet.
"That Midge married a snake."
"Gawd, Maggie, I don't know how my bosses are going to cope with you."
"Huh, not only her Angus; if Ryan doesn't like your bosses or worst of all, dislikes what they propose, be prepared for hard counter-punching."
"What are you talking about Harriet? Ryan will do what is best for me."
"Oh yeah," laughed Harriet. "Darling, you've always had difficulty reading the character of males. Some of them have wider interests than just sex and sports; you have chosen to marry one of those exceptions."
"Mother, you scarcely know Ryan – I work and live with him."
"Whatever you say dear, but don't blindly count on his support if any proposal gets to the boardroom as a result of this visit by these Australians. Talking of snakes, do you have a snake in your trousers Angus? That remark shocked Angus and Maggie but Harriet reacted with great hilarity.
"Please excuse my mother, Angus – she had a difficult childhood and remains in that stage of human development."
Angus remained too embarrassed to comment.
When Ryan arrived home Maggie took him to their bedroom for a quiet talk.
"Did you have sex?"
"No, did you?"
"No, but was it offered?"
Ryan grinned. "Yes, she fancies herself as a seductress. How about you?"
"He was powered up, ready to jump me as soon as I winked at him or raised my hem."
"Sexy guy."
"Indeed, a snake and Harriet actually asked him if he had a snake in his trousers."
"What!"
"You know Harriet."
Maggie retrieved the two cocktails she had waiting on the dresser, and handed one to Ryan. "I have a story about today to tell you, so fasten your seatbelt and listen."
Ryan listened and when she'd finished had one word to say, "Jesus."
"It's not nice using that work like that, Ryan."
"Agreed but why the fuck are they still in this apartment?"
"Please cool down – here, let me massage your neck. Cor, it's all knotted. I'll work on it; I promise it's not a prelude to sex...unless you want to."
"No I don't – why didn't you kick them out, the yellow-bellied slippery dingoes."
"Come on darling, don't be cross. Midge is my cousin."
"I bet you she's not, I bet you..."
"I phoned father; he knows about her and knows her parents. He told me I also have cousins in South Africa and several in American."
"I see, that sounds better. I'm just going to kiss your shoulders – they really are loosening up. But this doesn't mean sex...not unless you want to."
"Listen Mrs Chairman – I promise not to take a position until all the washing is hung out."
"What?"
"It's a business term."
"I've never hear of it."
"Are we arguing?"
"Not unless you want to."
"I'd rather have sex than argue."
"What a refreshing thought, allow me to unfasten your buckle."
"Sorry dear, we have guests and you did invite Harriet to stay on for dinner."
* * *
Quite a crowd had gathered at Hamilton Airport as the sleek jet of Digger Airlines of Australia landed.
Ryan received permission to drive on to the tarmac to offload what the security officer called "Our distinguished visitors from Melbourne" and greetings were exchanged quickly, the two chairmen sitting in the back seat, Ross seated alongside Ryan.
Maggie said, "My father has met you a few times at cricket and official functions, Sir Gerald."
"Yes, dear, but please call me Gerald. As your father knows once you step outside of Europe, titles count for nothing except in India of course."
"Yes, I've heard him say that. Gerald, I guess you are running to a timetable. So let's get down to it; are you here to negotiate a joint venture or is your visit predatory?"
"My dear, for one so young and so pretty you have rather a sharp tongue."
"Gerald, answer the question."
Sir Gerald looked uncomfortable. "Ross?"
"Maggie," Ross smoothed. "We'd like to tour the facilities to check of what we've been told then over lunch we'd like to commence discussions, outlining our requirements and you outlining your company's hopes and aspirations to see whether or not we have a mutually acceptable fit.
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Keywords: Knight, A, Queen's, 12-14, Ch.,