Kimberley is back in town.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter 2
Sebastian
I’ve been trying to call Matt for the last hour, but his phone keeps going straight to voicemail. I’ve called his office and his secretary insisted he was in a meeting. I know that’s bullshit. I could hear it in her voice. He’s avoiding my calls on purpose.
Well he’s not going to be able to avoid me in person. Screw what his secretary has to say. I’m going to have this out with Matt right now. I step out of the elevator and stalk along the corridor. A few associates run back and forth going about their day like the whole world hasn’t just been turned upside down. I return their nods, their good morning greetings. It’s anything but a good morning, but I remind myself how I let my own emotions screw up a deal last night and I keep myself in control now. I don’t want to take my foul mood out on the staff here.
My head is banging from the alcohol last night and the lack of sleep. I was expecting that but I was expecting it to be for a very different reason. The sort of reason that makes the pain bearable.
I move through the open plan centre of the floor, trying to ignore the way the low hubbub of voices pierces my head. Even the sound of computer keys clicking sets my jaw on edge. I reach into my pocket and pull out a strip of painkillers. I dry swallow two and tell myself they’re working.
“Rough night?” Bradley, one of our top accountants, grins when he sees me popping the pills.
I bite my tongue to stop myself from snapping at him that it’s none of his business. Bradley and I go way back and we’ve always had an easy relationship, more like friends than a boss and a worker. Any other day I would have laughed and regaled him with stories of the wild night I’d had last night.
“You could say that,” I reply, forcing a laugh.
He pulls his desk drawer open and hands me a sealed bottle of ice cold water. I’m glad now I didn’t bite his head off.
“Thanks,” I say as I open the top and drink half of the bottle down in one go.
The cool water revives me somewhat and I don’t know if the pills are kicking in quickly or if I was just dehydrated, but the pain in my head begins to recede, becoming a dull ache rather than a sharp pain. I sit down on the edge of Bradley’s desk.
“How’s the report coming along?” I ask.
“It’s looking good,” Bradley says. “I’ll have it over to you by the end of today officially, but unofficially, I’ve been through Benton’s books with a fine tooth comb and they’re a good investment. They’re financially strong, and with a few tweaks, they could be a real cash cow.”
I nod thoughtfully. Bradley is right. I knew it from a quick glance over the figures, but I wanted to do due diligence and be certain there were no skeletons lurking in their books before I began the negotiations. They’re due to get underway in the next week or so.
I feel better about Natalie suddenly. Her company was small fry compared to Benton’s. And if we pull off the Benton merger successfully, no one will give a shit about Natalie. Not even my father.
“Nice work,” I say to Bradley who beams under my praise. “Dot the I’s and cross the T’s and get the report to me by lunch time and take the rest of the day off.”
“Thanks Sebastian,” he says, clearly taken aback.
I laugh and pat him on the shoulder before moving on towards Matt’s office. I feel a little calmer and more in control of myself as I reach Matt’s secretary’s desk, but I’m still in no mood to be fobbed off.
“Morning Sheila,” I say, not stopping.
“Mr Hunter doesn’t want to be disturbed,” she says, jumping up and standing between me and the office door.
“Ah come on now,” I say, giving her my most charming smile. “You know that doesn’t include visits from his baby brother.”
She blushes a little and smiles.
“Well ummm, let me go check with him,” she says.
That’s the confirmation I needed that he’s not with a client. I side step around her and put my hand on the door handle.
“No need,” I grin, slipping inside before she can do anything else to try and stop me.
She hurries in behind me.
“I’m sorry Mr Hunter, I …”
“It’s ok,” Matt cuts her off.
“Right. Thank you. And sorry again. Would you like some refreshments?” Sheila stammers.
“No thank you. Sebastian won’t be staying,” Matt says.
He aims the comment at me. I just smirk at him until Sheila leaves the room pulling the door closed behind her. As the door closes, my smirk fades and I march towards Matt’s desk, ready to demand to know why he’s dodging my calls. Before I can speak, he looks at me disapprovingly.
“You look tired Seb. Late night last night?” he says.
Everyone is a damned comedian it seems.
“Funny. Why the hell are you dodging my calls?” I demand.
“Because I had nothing to say to you. I owe you none of my time Seb. Your actions last night have caused us to lose a client. Natalie Graham called this morning and made it clear we won’t be getting her business.”
“And who’s fault is that?” I say.
“Umm yours,” Matt says, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah I’m pretty sure I’m not the one who interrupted us with a phone call. Let’s just say after that, the mood was kind of ruined.”
“I wonder why that was,” Matt says.
I ignore the jibe. This is nothing to do with Kimberley. This is about the business.
“You
