Billionaire's Pleasure-Chapter 18: Unexpected Problem

Sebastian’s POV

For what I did last night, Stella is going to take retaliatory action against me. As I enter our office’s exclusive executive conference room, I can’t help but think about what I said during that rant. However, I am unable to prevent it at this time. As I expected, I need to attend this meeting held by my brother, Louis.

Louis has not yet arrived on the scene. From their positions at the boardroom table, our closest friends and hedge fund partners give me a friendly nod. With his laptop open, Andrew Walker, Louis’ best buddy, and the business’s Chief Investment Officer can be seen talking to Louis about the company. He had a sour expression on his face as he looked at the television. One of Andrew’s personal belongings.

Considering his Master’s degree in Economic and Financial Management, I’m confident he’s now working on some investment regression analysis, which I can see on his laptop. The page is being scrolled over by a handful of my closest high school pals, including Nicholas Anderson and Edward Paddock, who are both VPs of Investor Relations, as I type.

It is their smartphones that they are using to check their e-mail.

A curious mind wonders, "When will the golden lad make his grand entrance?" Nicholas inquires, pausing for a little minute to look away from his smartphone. There isn’t much more time left. I still have works to do."

He shrugs his shoulders and slaps his phone down on the table as if nothing had happened. Every time an opportunity comes itself, his dissatisfaction with the route we’re on to gain Mr. Bill is clear, and he isn’t hesitant to say it.

"Is he aware that he’s holding us waiting for a while? I need to get to the other side of town so that I may meet up with a member of the Stewart family. As a result, if we hire this individual, we will have $400 million in liquid assets at our disposal. We’ve been groveling for years, cash is still king in our field, despite our efforts."

"Why don’t you just come out and tell us how you actually feel?" says the group.

Andrew reacts in a cynical manner, never taking his gaze away from his computer. As a result of my near proximity to the boardroom door, I’m the first person to hear the chime of an elevator down the hall.

"Relax. His arrival is on the horizon."

Louis makes his way out of the shadows. As he makes his way down the long hallway that runs perpendicular to the full length of this wing of executive offices and conference rooms, he holds a sleek black briefcase.

After closing the door behind him and making his way into the building, he says, "Gentlemen." At the head of the table, I swivel my chair to give him a knowing look as I take my seat at the table. While seated across the table from Louis, Andrews’s gaze is drawn upward to take in the scenery. "Do you know what’s all about these?" he says.

"No, but I guess...it’s not all that good," I said.

Nicholas acknowledges him by casting a sidelong glance his way. "What’s going on?"

"This agreement gentlemen is coming to an end. Simply put, one component at a time is what I’m advocating. If we allow this transaction to close as is, I’m almost relieved that we’re dealing with it now rather than having to deal with a major issue later."

In response to Nicholas’s tangled blonde hair, which his six-hundred-dollar haircut has only made more tangled, he says, "It’s a good thing I have a good haircut."

Andrew has become accustomed to overreacting. "Is it possible that I’ll suffer a nervous breakdown as a result of this? As a result of this, my scheduled visit with one of the Stewarts was canceled."

"Allow him to express himself, Andrew."

Nicholas utters a relieved-sounding "I’m fucking calm," which is followed by silence. More than staring at godawful risk analysis models on a computer screen is required to complete my job, and that is not how I intend to accomplish it.

"Could you please stop fighting so that Louis can offer an update?" I said.

Everyone in the room takes a deep breath and casts a suspicious glance over their shoulders toward Louis.

"That’s wonderful to hear. As our forensics specialist points out, the only silver lining in this circumstance is that Steve hasn’t yet had an opportunity to persuade our CEO that we’re being unduly suspicious."

"I’m curious," Edward asks. "What did he come across? Because Nicholas and I are not present at the negotiating table, we have been excluded from the conversation." Edward shared his thoughts.

"That’s right since we’re filling the pot rather than draining it with pricey as fuck acquisitions."

As he leans his elbows against the table, Louis scratches the insides of his temples with the palms of his hands. Before saying anything, he takes a deep breath and waits a bit before continuing.

"The fact that we are obtaining additional information so late in the game serves to emphasize the significance of the deal," says Louis.

Andrew receives a large file with numerous pages from him across the table. Before you send over the three tabbed sheets to someone else, double-check that they are in order.

Andrew’s eyes begin to bulge about halfway down the page, and he scrunches his forehead together in concentration as he continues. He then wonders, "How did this not come up during our discovery?" After reviewing the remaining two sheets and handing them to Edward. Both Nicholas and Edward have reacted in a similar manner to the announcement. When I first saw it, I was completely taken aback.

When Edward hears this, he shouts, "We’re done."

Despite the fact that I am ready to pore over the page right now, I know that I will regret it as soon as I do. "Teach us about these facts," I tell Louis, and he gladly obliges me.

"Does anyone know how I can get to the other side?" Nicholas screams vehemently in anger.

"Fucking Steve attempted to get us to attend a mediocre performance in exchange for a large sum of money." He keeps his gaze fixed on his rose gold watch. Because he simply does not have the necessary time to deal with this situation ad hoc.

"Take some time to think about it," i said.

The file is moved across the table for a second look, Andrew adds, as he does so "I recommend that we relocate. You might also ask them to sell the shell company that owns these two sinking ships if they don’t want to continue to operate them. This is not going to work in any way, shape, or form."

We take a few long seconds to look into each other’s eyes before moving on our own ways in the silence of the night.

"I have a meeting," Nicholas explains once more.

"We all need to get to work," Andrew exclaims abruptly.

After leaving the boardroom, Louis walks away towards the door while Andrew packs up his laptop and leaves. Nicholas and Edward will be joining them shortly.

"This is something that needs to be brought to Dad’s attention."

"Steve, on the other hand, is the person the gang advises they pay a visit to.

"In order for him to disguise his posterior, the more time he spends with our father, the better."

I take out my phone and scroll through my contacts in an attempt to call Steve. "Are you available for an hour and a half now or the next hour and a half?" I ask Louis.

"I’m afraid I won’t be able to, but I’ll work something out."

By calling the phone number, I am able to activate the speaker. Steve responds after a few ringing tones.

"Hello?"

"Steve. It’s Sebastian. I’ve put you on loudspeaker because Louis is with me right now, if that is fine with you? By the way, could you please meet us in front of your office in thirty minutes?" I said.

While this is going on, "I’m on my way to a different appointment. Is it possible to put this on hold for the time being?"

"No. It is not possible,we need accomplish this. Is it possible for you to pay a visit to our office?"

"What exactly is going on here?" That has piqued his interest.

"In the event of your arrival, we will lead you through the process from start to finish."

"It’s all right," he says, his voice shaking as he says it. "The traffic in uptown is horrendous, so give me approximately twenty minutes to get through it."

As I hang up the phone, Louis looks at me with a frigid expression on his face. "I would like you to know that your activities are being taken seriously by those in authority over you."

I’m completely out of alternatives. Immediately after looking at the time on my phone, I started walking toward the front door of the building. In order for me to take care of a few things, I’ll instruct my assistant to have Steve meet us at my office with the receptionist.