Lincoln
I wasn't surprised when my mother called and told me this meeting would be held on the Upper East Side. I didn't even bat an eye at the lavish steakhouse that cost over one-hundred dollars a plate. It's typical for meetings to occur in a swanky place like this. The low lighting and loud, boisterous conversations of the people around me are the perfect opportunity to drink some liquor and persuade my hopefully soon-to-be partner to invest more than he bargained for.
Over the past six months since I've met Sienna, I've felt more established in my CEO position. I'm no longer intimidated by these types of meetings now that I have the correct knowledge and can apply it to my company without a second thought. I took Sienna's advice about researching a potential investor, and it didn't take long to find out that Don, Kendall's father, is obsessed with his little darling daughter. Photos are plastered of the two of them everywhere. On trips to Morocco, riding horses, bike riding in the city... She is his entire world, and I'll work that to my advantage.
I slip the waiter a couple hundred-dollar bills to snag a booth in the back of the restaurant. Sienna said it's always best to get to the meeting first. It automatically establishes power.
God, Sienna. Sienna and her long legs that were wrapped around my head the entirety of last night. She's insatiable, and it's an effort to keep my head in the game when I'm itching to return home to her.
I spot Kendall first before her father. She's wearing a dress that's certainly not professional—a bright pink mini-number that her breasts are spilling out of. She's never dressed like this before, and I can't help but wonder if she's dressing like this because she saw Sienna all dolled up last week at the bar—if she changed her style to impress me.
Her father walks in behind her in a pinstriped suit that is finely pressed. He has a thick mustache and slicked-back brown hair with fine wrinkles that are still noticeable, even with an obvious attempt at Botox.
"Lincoln." Kendall grins and goes in for a hug, and I only allow it because of what Sienna said. She's okay with this so long as I don't cross any boundaries, but I keep my hands well above her lower back. "It's so nice to see you. This is my father, Don."
He grunts and extends his hand out for me to shake. I can tell he's wary of whatever proposition I'm about to make. He likely only accepted this meeting because he used to golf with my father or because his daughter hopes to marry me. Either way, I'm going to win this. I have to be confident.
"It's great to see you as well," I tell her. "You look lovely. And it's nice to meet you, Don. My father talked about you a lot when I was a kid. It's a shame we're just now meeting."
Kendall blushes, her cheeks dark crimson as she slides into the booth beside me. I would feel guilty about it, but she only wants to get with me because of my money. I remind myself of that as Don tells me a story about my Dad shooting a hole-in-one during one of their annual championship games. He remembers it like it was yesterday.
I wonder why I don't let myself think about my father. I can't. The moment I do, my chest hurts, and then I feel like crying, and I can't cry. I refuse to after all of the tears I released at the funeral. The one Don here didn't even bother to attend.
When the waiter comes by, I order the best wine for the table, and he scurries away to retrieve the bottle for us.
"Word in the news is that Nash Enterprises is making a comeback," Don says. "Will the Los Angeles location be the first to open after the renovations?"
I nod. "That's the plan. Numbers are great from all of the media attention we're currently getting. At this rate, we expect a fifty percent increase once the LA location opens in March."
He rubs his mustache, looking deep in thought, then he lets out a sigh. "I'm thrilled to see you succeeding after taking over your father's company, but at this point, I'm not sure the numbers are quite there for me yet, if I'm being frank with you, Lincoln. Can I call you Lincoln?"
My jaw ticks as I give him another nod.
"If numbers spike as you expect they're going to, we can speak then."
Kendall glances between us nervously, and although I'm pissed this isn't going as expected, I'll save this. I'll do whatever I have to.
"That's a shame." I flicker my eyes toward Kendall and glance at the middle of her dress, letting her think I'm checking out her breasts before meeting her gaze again. "I was hoping we'd be able to work something out." Then I look at Don. "If the numbers spike like they're going to, then I'm certain my options of investors will be a lot more abundant, won't they? I'm sure I'll have a streamline of them more than willing to be in business with me. Who's to say that I'd go with you?"
Don is one of the biggest entrepreneurs in New York. I'd be lucky to gain his partnership, but I don't want to look desperate, so I'm throwing out a slight dig.
"I'm sure we can work something out. Right, Daddy?" She blinks innocently towards him, and I bite back a laugh. Daddy's little girl, indeed. I've got him right where I want him.
"One million at a twenty percent stake," he says gruffly. "That's what I'm willing to offer."
"Twenty percent?" That's an actual insult to my company and our success. How stupid does he think I am? "With all due respect, Don, there's no way I'll accept that. You know just as well as I do what a good source of income this will be for you. With your investment, we can expedite our renovation plans on not only our big city locations but our small town ones as well, which you know for a fact will increase your revenue significantly more than you're willing to invest based on our sales already skyrocketing before the first renovated location has even opened. My company is worth more than that offer, and you know it."
The waiter returns with the wine and fills up our glasses. He asks for our order, and I raise a brow at Don. "Should I stay for dinner or conclude this meeting early?"
I can't be certain, but his body jerks a little, and I think Kendall nudges him with her knee under the table. She smiles seductively at me, twirling a strand of her hair around her fingertip, earning a frustrated groan from Don.
Hook, line, and sinker.
"Go ahead and order," he says. "We've got business to discuss."
***
I don't get back to my condo until almost midnight. I'm exhausted from all the business talk, and I still have to wake up early to contact my lawyer about drawing up the contracts, but I've successfully closed my first deal by myself, and it feels damn good.
Setting my keys down on the countertop, Muggles nudges his head between my legs. I bend down to scratch underneath his chin, his favorite spot, and then I head into the bedroom. Sienna is already asleep—her body curled up into a ball, mouth slightly ajar—and I lean against the door frame smiling like an actual idiot.
If I weren't so tired, I'd watch her sleep all night, but my body is begging me to pass out, so I undress and crawl beside her to pull her back against my chest, smiling once more when she sighs of contentment.
"Hi," she mumbles tiredly. "How'd it go?"
I kiss the top of her head and nuzzle my face between her neck and shoulder. "I landed it. Two million with a ten percent stake."
"Lincoln, are you kidding me? That's fantastic!" She wriggles out of my grasp to face me. "I knew you could do it. I'm so proud of you."
I kiss her deeply, roaming my hands down her back until they settle on her ass. Nothing feels as good as this. Coming home to someone to celebrate with is much better than making the deal itself. "It's all because of you, baby. You've taught me so much over these past six months, and I can't thank you enough. You've made me such a better CEO, and I don't think I'll ever be able to find a way to repay you for helping me save my father's company. I mean it, Sienna."
She holds my cheeks and kisses me softly, cherishing every second. "I always knew you had it in you, Linc. I'm so excited to see what happens after the first launch. It's going to be incredible."
I nod and tug her closer, letting her wrap her leg with mine, and her head falls on my chest. It's quiet until she says, "I have a few suggestions on how you can repay me..." Her hand roams down to my briefs and squeezes gently, earning a laugh.
"You do?" I tease. "And what does that entail?"
I'm exhausted, but not exhausted enough not to seek out what she desires. Burying myself inside of her is exactly what I need—the perfect antidote for a good night's sleep.
Rolling on top of her, I place kisses down her chest, hearing her soft little giggle echo into my ears. "Am I close?" I ask.
"Almost," she says breathlessly.
I continue down, down, down until I finally reach the place she's craving for me to be to start my rounds of gratitude.