by Abby Angel
Too jolly, too soon, I already don’t like him. Which doesn’t really help him, since I’m the kind of woman who places a lot of weight on first impressions. There’s something about a woman’s instinct that shouldn’t be dismissed, and I would be a fool to do so.
"How can I help you, Mr. Lee?" I ask him cordially, although something in his eyes tells me he’s about to slip a noose around my neck.
"Straight to business! Very well, very well!" he continues to chirp in that annoyingly happy tone, sitting down in the chair facing me and balancing his huge briefcase atop his knees. "It has come to our attention that Union Airlines is facing quite, ah, the situation! Isn’t that true? Of course, such an unfortunate situation! But alas, here we are, aren’t we?"
Jesus Christ, just listening to him makes me feel like ripping my eyeballs out of their sockets. Just get on with it.
"I trust that you came in here representing our good government, haven’t you?"
"Why, of course, Ms. Kane, of course! The government saw this unfortunate situation unfold, and we believe that this is quite the opportunity for everyone involved."
Yeah, right—quite the opportunity for the assholes in DC to lay their hands on my company. Nothing that I wasn’t expecting—business as usual.
"I think that Union Airlines would soar under the government’s management. Wouldn’t you agree? Just imagine, a company like Union Airlines being run by the people, for the people. A wonder, wouldn’t it be?" Swear to God, judging by the way he’s talking right now, I’d swear he has just creamed his pants. "So, ah, the government wants to buy Union Airlines, Ms. Kane. We’d make this horrible nightmare disappear, you’d make some money on top of it, and our great country would benefit, of course! What do you say to that?"
"It’s easy: I say no," I tell him flatly, staring at him coldly. "Now, if you’d be so kind, you can leave my office. I have many other meetings to attend."
"Ah, but Ms. Kane, that doesn’t seem like a wise decision. No, not at all! Many important people back in DC have decided that this business is too important. You must realize that --"
"What I must realize is that the US is not some socialist backwater country run by bureaucrats. No way I’m going to let the government ruin Union Airlines just because some politician wants his nephews to have a cushy job. And now, if you’d be so kind … get the fuck out of my office."
The laugh-lines in Seymour’s face deepen as his lips curl upward, and I realize that they’ve been etched on his face because of the unsettling way he likes to gaze at people: smiling vacantly, as if he’s taking their measurements for a suit and a casket. This guy gives me the creeps, seriously, and if he doesn’t get out of my office in the next five seconds I’m calling security.
Thankfully, he reads the look on my face well enough and, without a single word, rises to his feet and walks out of my office. But not before looking back at me over his shoulder and saying his parting words.
"Thank you for your time, Ms. Kane. We’ll be in touch."
I bet we will, Mr. Seymour Lee, I bet we will.
MarketWatch Journal
All the money news you can pay for…at your fingertips.
Sticker Shock
Carter Jeffries today raised its bid for Union Airlines to $32 dollars a share. Financial markets around the world reacted with frenzied buying as Union Airlines stock became valued more than blue chip benchmarks.
Indeed the raised bid for Union Airlines today makes this the costliest and most expensive corporate takeover in history. Whoever wins will end up paying close to $800 billion dollars—more money than the Gross Domestic Product of some medium-sized countries.
"We believe the value still exists within Union Airlines even at these prices and Carter Jeffries is prepared to go after it," it’s CEO, Lucas Blake announced during a live press conference.
No comments were made at the time of this publication on whether Strong Capital would match the bid that had been made by Carter Jeffries. If matched, then it would take the bidding process past the stratosphere where it currently exists into the realm of the unimaginable.
"I have to believe that shareholders are going to say enough of this at some point," commented an industry watcher when questioned about the uncontrolled bidding. "If these companies don't watch what they’re spending they may end up winning Union Airlines, but be too broke to do anything with it."
While both Ares Strong and Lucas Blake are looked upon as masters of Wall Street, they have sharply differing ideologies on how to run their investment companies. It’s safe to say that there is no love lost between the two men as evidenced by their on air fight several weeks ago.
But sources close to the situation have reported that the two men are interested in Union Airlines at more than a professional level.
"There is a very, very strong interest in Daphne Kane," a source familiar with both men reports. The source has requested to stay anonymous due to continued work being done with both companies. However the unnamed source went on to say, "This is more than just the best value for an airline. There’s a lot of ego in here. There’s a lot of determination of who has the best business philosophy and which one is the bigger alpha male."
One thing is clear though to outside observers—whoever does end up with Union Airlines at this point will have more to worry about than simply administering a new company. They’ll have a large amount of debt to worry about.
"If you’re Ares Strong, then you’ll have taken out a lot of junk bond debt that will severely limit how you’re able to operate," says Megan Wright, Chief Economist at Barclay’s Bank. "But if you’re Lucas Blake and you’re cutting costs, the level of money that you’ve paid – if it’s more expensive than the company itself, then you’re going to have to sell core assets to raise your purchase price."
Neither option may be the best case for Union Airlines shareholders or employees.
It remains to be seen how Daphne Kane will bring her company to a successful outcome with the scenario as it has evolved.
Lucas
By the time the limo drives through the Upper East Side, the rain has already started to fade back into a soft drizzle.
"And there she is," I whisper to myself as the limo slows down, halting in front of Daphne's’ apartment building. She’s standing under the doorway, a midnight black dress clinging to her skin like an old lover, the hemline stopping just shy of her knees.
"I got this," I tell the driver through the intercom as I grab my umbrella and step out of the limo. I walk toward Daphne, my heart suddenly racing inside my chest, and she steps under the open umbrella.
"Like a true gentleman," she says, lacing her arm in mine. My skin prickles as I feel her touch, but I keep poised and in control.
"Of course." I walk her back to the limo and then stand aside as she takes her seat; I follow one second after, and not much later than that we’re rolling down the busy streets of New York.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Masa," I reply, suddenly realizing that I’m hoping my choice has impressed her. Masa is one of the most expensive restaurants in New York City and, at the same time, one of the hardest places to secure a reservation in. Especially when one tries to make a same day reservation, but of course, it’s not like they would turn me down. Being a billionaire has its privileges.
"Masa? You managed to get a reservation at Masa?" She looks at me, one eyebrow arched; although I can tell she’s somewhat impressed, it doesn’t look like I’ve swept her off her feet. But that’s to be expected; Daphne is CEO of one of the biggest companies in the States; a $2,000 dinner bill won’t even have her batting an eye.
"I did. We can go anywhere else, though."
"No, Masa’s fine. I know the chef," she says, flashing me one mischievous smile that seems to say displays of wealth won’t impress me. No, this isn’t the kind of woman to be dazzled by money. And you know what? That’s part of what drew me to Daphne in the first place; she’s the kind of woman that won’
t allow herself to be tamed, and she’ll look any man in the eye as her equal.
"Have you considered my proposal?" I ask her, changing gears and focusing on business, after all, this is a business dinner. Or, at least, that’s the lie I’m trying to tell myself. Just play along, alright? It’s not like I’m going to fuck up a business opportunity just so I can get into her pants.
"Proposal? We haven’t even discussed numbers, Lucas. Don’t think I’ll hand you Union Airlines on a silver platter."
"No, not at all. But you have to agree; my methods are the best fit for Union Airlines."
"I know nothing of your methods. You talk a good talk," she lowers her voice, the corners of her mouth curling upward into a grin, "but that’s not enough. I’ve gotta see it to believe it."
Looking into her smart eyes, I forget where I am for a few seconds. I just gaze at her, taking in the smooth lines of her face and, before I know it, my eyes have already wandered down to her cleavage. Fuck! I snap my eyes back to hers and she grins at me, more teasingly than I expected.
"My methods," I finally say, my brain somehow remembering to start working again, "never disappoint, Daphne."
"That’s good," she leans back against her seat, turning around so that she’s facing me, and crosses her legs. "I don’t like to be disappointed." I hold my breath as the hemline of her dress hikes up a few inches, baring more of her naked skin, and I feel warm blood rushing toward my cock.
"I have what it takes," I tell her, but I don’t even know why I chose those words. They just flew out of my mouth before I could even think of anything smarter to say.
"Maybe you do, maybe you don’t." Her grin widens, and my eyes start to burn as I feel the magnetic attraction of the round swell of her breasts. Their curves under the fabric of her dress seem to call to me, and I feel my fingers twitching as the sudden urge to just reach for them and squeeze hard seems to overtake me. I have no idea what it is about her, but it’s driving me mad.
"I can prove it," I whisper, lowering my voice until it becomes just a whisper. I feel my heartbeat against my eardrums, my veins burning as boiling blood makes my muscles tense and my cock harden up.
"Then prove it," she smiles, uncrossing her legs and allowing me a brief glimpse of her inner thighs. My cock becomes as hard as a steel rod in a heartbeat and, whatever hint of rational thought still lived inside of me is now long gone.
She wants me to take charge. She’s enticing me, trying to see how far I’ll go, tempting me to lose all control. And if that’s what she wants, that’s what she’ll get.
I move across the seat, pressing my leg against hers, and look straight into her eyes.
"You wanted a number? How does one trillion dollars sound?" The words feel like molten lead on my tongue, burning its way out of my mouth, but I don’t care. One trillion dollars would make this the biggest acquisition of all time. Getting enough liquidity to complete a transaction like this seems almost impossible, but right now, I recognize no limitations. Because, truth be told, I have none.
"It sounds delicious," she whispers, running her tongue between her lips, her eyes never leaving mine. "But I gotta wonder… Are you thinking with this…?" She taps two fingers softly on my forehead, and then her fingertips trail down to my neck and chest, making a straight line over my stomach. "Or with this?" she breathes out, taking her hand over my belt and curling her fingers around the hard shape hiding under my pants.
I give her the only answer I can.
"Does it even matter?"
Daphne
"No, it doesn’t matter at all," I reply, knowing that we’re not talking about money anymore. We’re talking about the unspoken demands of our bodies and, for that, I don’t want him thinking with his brain. Not at all. Although, I gotta say, his cock has been doing most of the thinking for him since that first meeting.
His gaze falls from my eyes to my lips, and he starts leaning in slowly; he’s coming in for the kiss, ready to dazzle me as if I’m his high-school prom date, but I stop him. I lean back against the seat, almost lying down, and lift one leg, pressing my high heel against his chest and keeping him at bay.
"Do you have what it takes?" I ask him again, using one hand to pull the hemline of my dress up. His eyes go even lower, his gaze on my inner thighs, and I feel him pressing the whole weight of his body against my foot. He’s dying to take me, and that’s exactly what I want from him.
"I do," he growls, his words like coiled springs, just as full of tension as his body is.
"I don’t know, I really don’t," I purr. "I’m not like other women, Lucas. I want the best. I need the best." While I speak, I let my heel slide down his chest until it’s pressed between his thighs, his hard cock pushing back against my foot.
"I am the best," he growls again, swatting my foot away and moving so fast that his movements become a blur. Next thing I know he’s on top of me, his mouth so dangerously close to mine that I feel sparks flying from my lips and into his. His fingertips brush against the nape of my neck and then, tangling his fingers in my hair, he yanks hard and forces me to throw my head back.
I gasp as he presses his lips against the skin on my neck, pulling at it between his teeth. His mouth hikes up the contour of my jaw, and then he brushes his tongue between my lips. We kiss then, pressing our mouths together so fiercely that I feel flames dancing up and down my spine; our tongues dance around one another in a frenzy, my hands on his back.
Turning my fingers into claws I pull on his shirt, un-tucking it. His kiss grows fiercer and fiercer, and he places both his hands on my waist, a vicious hunger dictating every single movement of his body. Parting my legs, I lace them around his waist and pull him into me as I lie down across the seat; the hemline of my dress climbs up to my waist, and a growing wetness takes over my pussy as I feel his crotch pressed against mine.
I sway my hips from side to side, rubbing my thong against the shape of his cock, and he responds with a harsh thrust. I gasp, pulling back from his kiss, and my skin prickles as I feel his thick mast pressing down on my pussy. God, he feels so huge! What is he hiding under his pants? A baseball bat?
My fingers are trembling as I take them to his neck and start unbuttoning his shirt, my heart thumping fast as I reveal his chest. His pectorals are as hard as rock and, when I get to his abs, I can’t help but grin in surprise; deep grooves separate eight squares of pure muscle, all of them paving the way down into what seems like the biggest cock I’ve ever felt. For a billionaire, it seems that Lucas enjoys spending as much time inside a gym as he enjoys the boardroom.
"I’m going to fuck you so hard," Lucas suddenly breathes into my ear, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine, "that you won’t be able to stand once I’m done."
"I can’t wait for that…" I whisper right back at him, both my hands trailing down to his belt. I unbuckle it, my heart tightening inside my chest, and then pull his zipper down. His cock pushes hard against my knuckles, tenting his boxer briefs, and I realize that ‘big’ doesn’t quite describe it. Lucas must be at least twelve inches long, which makes it the biggest cock I’ve ever felt in my entire life. The thing is, does he know how to use it?
Suddenly pulling back from me, he kneels between my legs and reaches with his hand for the intercom. "Stop the limo," he simply says, his words leaving no room for debate.
"Yes, sir," the driver merely replies, no questions whatsoever, and I feel the car halting to a stop a few seconds afterward, the gentle purr of the engine fading away into nothingness.
"Not hungry anymore?" I tease him, curling my fingers around his mast and squeezing it more harshly than I should.
"Oh, I’m hungry." There’s a dark edge to his eyes, his voice deeper than usual, and that just makes me wetter. The beast inside of him has been rattled enough, and now it’s ready to escape from its cage. "I’m hungry for you," he continues, flattening the palm of his hand against my wet thong. I gasp as I feel his eager touch, my eyes never leaving his, and I start swaying my h
ips from side to side, rubbing my pussy against his hand.
"Show me how hungry," I demand of him, grabbing his wrist and taking his hand off of my pussy. Unblinking, I spread my legs wide and flick my thong to the side, showing him my pink inner lips. His eyes narrow at the sight and, as unbelievable as it sounds, his cock becomes even harder. "Is this what you’re hungry for?"
He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out of it. Biting on my lower lip, I press two fingers over my clit and start rubbing myself, enjoying the way his whole body seems to tense up.
"Is this what you’re hungry for?" I repeat, both his hands going for my inner thighs. Lying down on the seat, he forces me to spread my legs even wider and takes his head to between my thighs. Grabbing at my thong, he tugs on it harshly, pulling it down my legs.
"Yes," he simply growls, the sound coming from the back of his throat. Without a word more, he dives into me, wrapping his lips tight around my clit. I let out a moan as I feel his tongue jabbing at me, electric sparks darting up my spine, and I grab his hair by instinct.
Thrusting upward, I rub my pussy against his mouth, my body controlled by a sudden wildness. Lucas flicks his tongue at my clit with the expertise of a man who knows his way around a woman’s body, and it doesn’t take him long to move down to my drenched pussy lips. Running his tongue up and down the length of my pussy, he jabs at my insides eagerly and then, opening his mouth wide, he sucks on me as if my pussy was the most delicious thing in the word.
Focused back on my clit, his lips wrapped around it, he then brushes his index finger against my inner lips. He moves it up and down, up and down, slowly parting them; then, moving fast, he just slides his finger deep inside of me, curling it upward until his fingertip meets my G-spot. The moment I feel the pressure of his finger against that hidden spot inside of me I let my moans turn into one high-pitched scream, my inner walls tightening.