A Very Corporate Affair Book 2 (The Corporate Series) (2 page)

 
              I met the first of my new clients for lunch that day, the CEO of a major software company, whose firm were considering a flotation on the AIM market. I took him to lunch in the Italian

restaurant
on the ground floor that Oscar had introduced me to.

His name was Steve Robbins. He was in his late forties, rather geeky, and extremely nervy. He explained that he had begun his company in his spare bedroom
many years ago, and had grown it himself to be a major player in the world of financial software. He supplied the software for all the major stock exchanges around the world, and had built the most commonly used trading platform for hedge funds and stockbrokers. I asked Steve what he hoped to gain by floating, and he blushed slightly as he told me he had met his future wife, and wanted to be able to devote time, and money, to his new life as a husband, rather than all his money being tied up in his company, and his time devoted to micro-managing every aspect of it. He wanted some spare cash, and to take a director's role, rather than be an owner.

 
              Lunch flew by as I outlined how a flotation worked, what he could expect in terms of the process, and how we would partner with our preferred accountants, and an investment bank, to oversee the process. I explained how we would set up a new board of directors and arrange the legal side of the new PLC. Before our meeting ended, I promised to type up some bullet points, and email him all the information. I also arranged to email some projections based on his last three years accounts, so he could decide whether a flotation would generate the cash he wanted. 

 
              "I can see why Ivan rates you so much," he said, surprising me, "I can tell you know your stuff. I'll wait for your email, and once I know where we are money wise, I'll be instructing. I won't bother speaking to any other law firms now."

 
              I smiled widely."Good, I look forward to hearing from you," and paid the bill before heading back to my office. As soon as I got back, I called our contact at Deloitte, and asked for the projections. I found information about the pros and cons of floating a company, and saved them, ready to add to the projections when they came in. I had worked on a flotation during my traineeship, so was pretty familiar with the processes. Just to be sure, I nipped along to my old office to speak to Matt, who was quite the expert, and who had handled a lot of flotations for the firm. He checked over the info I was planning to send to Steve, and added a few notes of his own, so a complete package would go over.

 
              Back in my office, my phone rang. "Good afternoon Elle, did you have a good weekend?" Ivan's sultry voice purred at me. "The girls missed you yesterday, almost sulked when they realised they had to put up with just me for the day."

 
              "I doubt that very much Ivan, can't see those little girls sulking over anything, especially given the way you dispense sausages."

 
              "Have you never seen a spaniel sulk? I can assure you that they do."

              I laughed, "I hope you gave them a cuddle from me. Anyway, what can I do for you today?"

 
              "I'm negotiating a deal for a controlling interest in a telecoms company. I may need heads of agreement drawn up fast. Are you free today at all? I can run through the points I'm negotiating to give you a head start on the contract."

 
              I checked my schedule. "Can do six onwards today."

 
              "Ok. I'll pick you up at six from your office. We'll go eat."

 
              "Great, see you then."
Bugger, there goes my manicure and waxing appointment.
I went out to Laura's office and asked her to cancel my beauty appointments, and put Ivan in my diary at six. I spent the rest of the afternoon with another new client who wanted some corporate structure work done. I just about had time to email Steve Robbins the projections from Deloitte and explanations I'd promised him, before Ivan arrived.

 
              As usual, my brain fried slightly at the sight of him. He'd had his hair trimmed at the weekend, but it was still floppy, and slightly messy. He was wearing a dark grey suit, with a white shirt, and a deep charcoal tie. Knowing how muscular he was underneath the urbane exterior made me shiver slightly.

 
              "Are you cold?" He asked, "the air con is up quite high in here."
Damn, he noticed.

 
              "No, I'm fine thanks. Where would you like to go eat?"

 
              "I'll surprise you."

 
              His hand rested in the small of my back as we walked through reception to the lifts. Priti raised an eyebrow and gave me a wide smile as I bid her goodnight. Outside, the Bentley was waiting, and I slid onto the buttery soft leather seat, before fishing around in my bag for my notebook and pen.

 
              "Shall we do the notes for the contract now and get it out of the way?" I asked Ivan.

 
              He proceeded to list out the points of negotiation, the figures he was aiming for, and the terms he was demanding. I could effectively write a head of agreement with that information, and simply amend any changes on the fly if needed. By the time we finished, the car pulled up. I peered out of the window to see where we were, and discovered we were outside Claridges. The doorman opened my door, while Ivan's bodyguard opened his, and we made our way inside.

 
              We sat in the bar and had a gin and tonic before being shown to our table. Ivan seemed a little edgy, his eyes sweeping the room before we sat at the table. His security were stationed just outside the restaurant, which seemed to make him nervous.

 
              "We don't have to eat here if it's making you edgy," I said, frowning.

 
              "It's fine, I'm just not used to them being out of the room," he admitted, "I'm just being a girl."

 
              I told him I'd had a pay rise, and a load of new clients thanks to him, and he seemed pleased, until I mentioned that Oscar had instructed us too.

 
              "I thought you told him to leave you alone?" He looked cross.

 
              "I did, but I also said that if we are in a professional setting, then he was to be polite. He's going to be a client, I can't tell him to piss off. I'll make sure he keeps his hands to himself."

 
              "Hmm, sneaky. Take Roger tomorrow night, so at least you have someone with you."

 
              "Is that alright? I don't want to keep nicking your driver."

 
              "It's no trouble at all. I have several drivers and security people, sparing one to ensure your safety is no issue. I'd have one with you 24/7 if you'd let me." I pulled a face.

 
              "No thanks. I doubt very much that anyone's bothered about assassinating little old me, apart from Marion Smith."

Ivan laughed. "She is out on bail, probably wants to poke you in the eye with her knitting needle."

                I laughed, "So why did you buy that company? I thought you were mainly into corporate finance?"

 
              He looked quizzical, "No, telecoms primarily, I own mainly communications companies, although I do quite a lot of venture capital these days too. I bought the engineering firm because they manufacture the cables I use. I get a hell of a cost saving through owning it. I own the 'Talk ‘n’ Walk' network."

 
              "Priti thought you were only into venture capital and corporate finance. Shows what she knows. I had no idea. Are all the T&W shops yours too?" He nodded.

 
              "My biggest company is the Russian one. We're the biggest comms company in Russia and the old Soviet Union countries. Fair sized on the African continent too. You need to start googling people Elle, you should know all this," he chided.

 
              "I thought Priti was the human equivalent of google. I'll stop listening to her in future," I said, embarrassed. He smiled, and leaned over to squeeze my hand.

 
              "So do you have any free time this week?"

 
              "So far, just after lunch on Wednesday. Mind you, I need to try and schedule some beauty appointments. Nobody wants a yeti as their lawyer."

 
              "Are you free Saturday night?"

 
              "Yes, why?"

 
              "I have a function I need to attend, and I'd like you to join me. There will be several CEOs attending, so it would be a good networking opportunity for you. It's a fundraiser at the Grosvenor, you'll enjoy it."

 
              "I see. I'm going to struggle to shop for a dress. It's rather short notice." I didn't say no, but was panicking inside about affording a dress, given that my pay rise didn't kick in until the following month.
Steel yourself to say thank you if he offers to buy you a dress. Swallow your pride girl.

 
              "I'm booking you on Wednesday. We will do the negotiation, then go shopping. If I can persuade a salon to open late, we can get your treatments done. How does that sound?" I smiled.

 
              "Sounds good. I'll have your contract ready by Wednesday morning at the latest, so we should be good to go directly after lunch."

 
              "Does that mean you'll accompany me on Saturday night?"

 
              "Yes, I'd be delighted to."

 
              Ivan looked really pleased, and seemed to relax in front of me. Our first course arrived, and we began to eat. I contemplated seeing him in black tie for the first time. I'd probably combust on the spot.

 
              "You have a strange look on your face, Elle. Is everything all right?" Ivan asked, frowning slightly.

 
              "Yeah, I'm good thanks. Food's delicious."
Oh god, does this man not miss a thing? Cool down girl.
He stared at me as if he was trying to read my mind. "Do you have a girlfriend Ivan?" I asked. If we were going to be spending time together, even as friends or colleagues, I needed to know.

 
              "Not really. I date occasionally, but nobody special. Nobody I'd care to spend a Sunday with, put it that way."

 
              "I see, so I was honoured?"

 
              "You were indeed. I enjoyed our day together. Did you?"

 
              I paused, "yes, I did. It was fun." It had also made me forget my humiliation at Oscar's hands, but I didn't say that.

 
              "I feel relaxed with you. There's not many women I can say that about," he said, surprising me.

 
              "Why aren't you usually relaxed with women?" I asked, frowning.

 
              "Most of the time they're with me purely for what they can get, either that, or it's because of what I stand for, money and power. It makes me suspicious of people."

 
              "You don't say," I teased, "says Mr I'll-buy-you-a-dress-and-get-your-legs-waxed. Have you ever considered that women fall at your feet because of your pretty face?"

 
              He roared with laughter, "you're priceless sometimes. I know full well that if you already had a suitable dress, you wouldn't even allow me to shop with you. As it is, I know the prices will have to be hidden from you, or you'll be offering to pay me back. I'm glad you think I'm pretty though. It's high praise coming from you." I looked at him quizzically. "Elle, has it not occurred to you that you have the two wealthiest men in the Canary Wharf tower following you around like puppy dogs? There's only one more billionaire in that tower, and I don't think you've met him yet, which is a good thing. Three ensnared hearts is too much for any girl."
Ensnared hearts? Quite an admission Ivan.

 
              "I shall have to engineer a meeting. I always was a greedy girl," I quipped, Ivan just looked amused.

              "Now THAT statement surprises me. You come across as very self contained. I can't imagine you being needy or clingy."

 
              "No, you're right, I'm not. I'm very ordinary though, and I can't see what you and Oscar find so fascinating." Ivan just shook his head, looking amused. Our next course arrived, and we chatted about the food, which was exceptional, and the company Ivan was looking to take over. Dinner seemed to pass in a flash, and all too soon we were back in the car heading back to Canada Square.