Chapter 3 (Quinn) The skyline view out of my office always calms me down. With one palm on the and hand in silky blonde curls, I watch the traffic the streets below. The bustle of activity alway seems help me think. This I stressed a business acquisition. Glancing down the is busy sucking on my cock, all I can think meeting scheduled for later today. little stress through the rest of my morning. My secretary giving me the ‘fuck me eyes’ for months. I to my baser instincts and into my office. Hilary sashayed into my office with a smile on her face. Her moans do me, but the way she greedily licks my shaft sends pleasure me. That is all I am capable of these days. Unadulterated carnal pleasure. No emotional connection. Just hot and steamy sex with all the women throw at me. Nothing but gold diggers, but they suit my needs fine. With a grunt, I spill seed down her throat like the greedy woman she is, she takes every drop. her Hilary stands smooths her hair down, to her body to mine. I gently push so I can stuff cock back in my pants, then I walk to desk. Ignoring hurt look on her I thank her for her time and send her to her desk. I am have to find a new secretary after the events just transpired. I had a firm policy of not mixing business with pleasure, but just broke that Hilary. She was exceptionally good at what she did, but I won’t cross that line again, she strikes me as a woman who won’t take rejection well. It a good thing all employees non disclosure hire them. Being one of the richest men on the west coast, have share of women throwing themselves at me all the time. Lucky for me, most the events, charities, and fundraisers I attend are all private affairs with no cameras or journalists allowed. I have a PR team that deals with any unauthorized pictures that show up in the tabloids or newspapers. They paid to keep my face out of the it is a planned photoshoot. Like last fundraiser, the were out of the building were taken all the upper elite at the event. It was that they were becauseI had very audacious lady slip her hotel key into my pocket as we danced. She wasn’t wearing a wedding band, so when night ended, took on the invitation. Once satisfied, I slipped out of her suite, then my way to my penthouse before morning. I have the night any of my lovers. That is another line I refuse to cross. I learned a that has stayed with to this day. Most those women see as bank account, one they want to bind themselves for social and financial status. Hell to that. I have no intention of ever getting married or tying myself to anyone. At least not until I find a who sees me for who I am and not for my bank account. Love only ends in heartache, where person leaves the other in the end, does something much worse to cause heartache. am going to have lunch with that pretty secretary of ours,” Aaron says. He enters my office with a swagger a smile. I laugh at him. distract for me. We had a little this morning. “Well damn, explains the less tense look you have. How we hire I will just move Hillary to my office area. find you a type. ” Aaron as he walks out of my office. isn’t a bad idea. I up my phone to put a to the employment agency we used to find Hillary. give them my requirements for the secretary, and I am that they have two people that description. One being a fifty-year-old mother three, the other a thirty-year-old who comes highly recommended by staffing services. Without I her to send them both over the morning. Having settled that I down to the HR department have Hillary reassigned different office within the company. Aaron do whatever he wants with Hillary outside the office. She no longer in our office. I sent a text message informing him of what I I emptied her desk and sent her stuff to her new office. With a sigh, I turn my attention back Mercy General’s financial records and start taking notes. The more through their records, the more obvious discrepancies become. Why has no in their accounting department noticed this before? Grabbing the file, I the accounting department’s employee roster. There only six accountants on file. None of them have been for more than a year. Why the in To something is obvious answer. The vibrating of my pulls my attention away from the file my hand. I pull my pocket to is calling. number on the is familiar. I don’t who is, but I answer it anyway. As answer, the call is disconnected. This the third time the last month that I had calls like this. Each call is same. I say hello then they hang up. No from is on the other end of line. I had a similar situation a year ago. lasted for a few days, then stopped. It was from different number this one is now. Back then, I had a feeling about who it was. This time I am with no clue. I haven’t had contact with that woman over two years. Why would she be calling me now? It is time to have Mac my caller. I shake those thoughts away when I hear the elevator signaling Aaron’s return. He looks slightly making me assume had more than just lunch while he out. I my head as I know his habits like he knows mine. the end the night, we will both have a in our arms as we attend a fundraiser for veterans. Neither of us will be lonely for very by the time the night over. “Did you your lunch?” I with a grin. delivered I and then more. That woman was primed and for either of it seems. I have that my system, let get freshened up and I will be when the board members arrive. ” Aaron says as he ducks into his bathroom. One day, I fear Aaron meet the end a jealous husband. He had more lovers and sexual escapades than I ever thought of having. I know he sex as an escape from the nightmares that haunt like mine do. We may be out of war, but the war never be completely of minds. memories are sneaky that creep up on us most times. have both used alcohol, and extreme to distract our minds from wartime trauma. None of them ever work long to have those few moments of peace. I shake to those thoughts as I hear the elevator chime. I look at my to see that are early. Thirty minutes later “You want to purchase entire Maxwell, just call me Max, Davison me. Max the group it seems, as none of other five members of the hospital board have spoken up since the initial introductions. I know all of them by name and face from our investigation the last week. To me, were a waste of first meetings dictate follow proper protocol. The hospital board comprises of six members. owner, Howard an older male his late sixties. His son, Maxwell, the CEO of the hospital, who is in his thirties. Regina the CFO the hospital, looks in her early thirties. know from our background checks that Regina is older than she looks, oh keeps women looking younger. conduct an even deeper investigation into her background and finances now that we have of those inconsistencies in the financial records. the Chief Finance Officer for the hospital, she her palms on the money. I her name to Mac, so can get started. I don’t think we should move further until we have the complete details of involvement in disaster at General. Then are Wright, Frank Gillman, and Dave Green, all of have extremely secondary roles on the board. Each owns stock in the but none of them have any substantial authority. They will leave just like Howard, Max, and Regina. It complete cleaning of Mercy General’s board directors. a small scrap of paper across the table with our low-ball offer on it. We started just to observe how they would react. If they snap up the offer right away, they more desperate know. the insults them, we will show our next card. Max reaches for the paper, but is blocked by Howard, who shoots glowering to his son. may be the group’s advocate, but the old man seems still in charge. one Howard. “The hospital worth far this paltry offer,” Howard says. “The offer for stocks is acceptable. Will this buyout?” “We originally only planned to fund buy the Veterans Program, we that we would have more control over how where the money is spent we just bought hospital. ” Aaron answered. itself is worth more what you offering says. “Your hospital is in a dire financial crisis. A investment has brought your hospital to its knees. Do your know how bad it is? Do they know that may not enough money pay for their next three paychecks?” ask. Out of the corner of my eye, I Regina pale at the mention of how bad it is for them. Max sucks in breath and stands to gather his briefcase and coat. Howard looks at him anger his face. down, Max,” Howard out. “Now!” Max sits ass down. Point two for Howard. you consider keeping anyone here on the board we agree sell?” Howard asks. I look the room all their faces. Peter looks green. It like he doesn’t know what he is doing. Frank and Dave like they just go along for ride. Yes-men, ones who will anything they are told, as long as is a check in for them. don’t want their kind on board. They will all go, and if my is Max Regina face some jail time. They are in this together the Max keeps shooting anything by. “We shall see that if we proceed further in the negotiations,” Aaron tells Howard. “Will you excuse my and I for a few minutes to talk?” I ask Howard. Davison is will speak to from this forward. Max a weakling who thinks he can fool his father. I think the old man knows what is really happening more than he lets on. Howard merely nods his head. I up and leave the conference room. They will see through the glass walls, but they won’t be able to hear what we are saying. I walk the reception desk and wait for Aaron to join me. When he me, pull a small notepad from my jacket pocket, a small face on it, fold it and hand it to my best friend. Aaron, being the man he is, kept face as paper. nods his head, then walks a few feet away to pull out phone. He isn’t anyone, but making it like he is. This stalling tactic. We them to think are playing their game. are playing our own game while Mac call. As I watch Mercy General’s board fidget, the elevator dings. I turn see who could come up here during this meeting. smile as Moore, our CFO, steps out of the elevator. His timing is perfect, but the look his face tells me there a problem. That isn’t what want to hear right now. up? look are bearer of bad news, Jeff,” I say to him as he walks to me. nothing bad for us, but all kinds of bad for them,” Jeff says as nudges his head in the conference room’s direction. He hands me a and waits while open it. “Did send this?” I as my brows wing up at the numbers I see. They ten times worse than what was in the second file. he has more, but wants to give it to you in person. He said what is in file will help you better. The red head, her all over those Jeff tells me. “Well, this is enough to end our negotiations today. Something for them to over until the next meeting. Thanks Jeff,” shake hand, then turn to Aaron, who has joined us. “Let’s back there. We going to drop a bomb,” I tell Aaron. “Jeff, I like to join us for the rest of this meeting. ” “Old man Howard is going to blow his lid. ” Aaron says.