CHASING TROUBLE

Nicholas ignored her apology and leaned back in his seat as a waitress appeared at their table with coffee and some glazed Doughnuts. “I took the liberty of ordering something for you,” he explained, “Feel free to ask for something else if you’d prefer,”

Thoughtful, Caroline thought, but it didn’t change the fact that he was still an ass, “Thank you, but this will do,”

“Good, now let’s get down to business, shall we? Tell me about Kay Corp,”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

__________

Caroline straightened in her seat.

She had a job to do. She had to impress this man with her brains and her skills, her drive and her determination. She could do all that.

“Kay Corp has been around for a while, but not as long as our company, and they’ve been successful. The company has assets that could appreciate… Given the right time. For some reason Collins Morgan wants a merger. I don’t know why but it’s really not our place to ask, what we should be concerned about is getting Kay Corp to merge with us. Now Collins doesn’t want everything he has built to go into the wrong hands, and we have to show him that we’re in the best bet out there,”

Nicholas blinked, set his coffee down and stared across at her. “Okay. So what was decided?”

“Well, since our company and Kay Corp operate in the same industry. Competition is higher. A merger reduces that problem because synergies and potential gains in market share are much greater for merging firms. We have one less company to worry about if we are one. We have already pitched our idea of a merger to Kay Corp but they are still considering it. I guess trying to see if merging with another company will be more beneficial to them,”

“And do you think we have a chance?” Nicholas asked,

Caroline angled her head to the side, “Actually I do,” she replied, “We are offering them a good deal. As for their shareholders, they have a number of options. Their exercised shares could be paid out in cash after the merger or be converted into common shares of the our company… Being the quiring company. They may also get the chance to exercise shares during or shortly after the deal closes.”

Nicholas nodded. So far the plan sounded like a good one and he admired the way she spoke. Straight to the point and confident. He liked that, but then again, he liked everything about this woman. “So when do we expect them to finally make a decision?”

“Next week I suppose,” Caroline replied, “But they are throwing a party this week and we have been invited, along with the managers of the other companies interested in the merger. I suggested to your father that it would be a good idea if he attended. It would be an opportunity for him to speak to Collins Morgan and…. influence his decision positively. It would be good to have him on our side. If he is, then it won’t be very hard to get the shareholders to agree to the merger… Or at least a significant number of them,”

“Do you do a lot of… suggesting and Influencing? ” he asked suddenly, going off topic without attempting to stop himself.

Caroline lifted an eyebrow, puzzled, “What?”

“My father mentioned that he gave you a free hand when he was working on the interior of Happy Valley Park. He said he took most of your advice and it was one of the best business moves he’d ever made,” he said ruefully. “Apparently the hotel was renovated and the conference center has been open for a month now, being managed very successfully too by Michael Hall,”

Caroline didn’t understand what that had to do with his comment about influencing, “So?”

“I was wondering how good you were at coming up with ideas to influence other people. It seems like you’re really good at it,”

Caroline straightened in her seat and tried to look neutral, “Mr Connelly,” she began, “I’m your father’s assistant…. I think it’s part of my job to make suggestions that would affect the company positively. It’s your father’s decision to take those suggestions into consideration, and as his son, I’d think you’d be fine with that. I honestly don’t know if I should take your statement as criticism or as a compliment,”

“It is whatever you want it to be, Caroline,” he replied, then dismissed the topic as quickly as he had brought it up. “I assume you’ll be attending the party this weekend too?”

“Seeing as I’m your father’s assistant, sometimes I’m required to attend some of these gatherings with him, but I’m not sure about this one,” she replied without enthusiasm.

Nicholas almost laughed. Of course, he forgot that he was speaking to Caroline. Caroline, who loved books and never drank alcohol… Or dated anyone… although he found that last one hard to believe. He suddenly had an idea, one he was sure would certainly rattle her defenses and he grinned inwardly, “Well, you’ll be attending this one,”

Caroline shifted uncomfortably in her seat, “I’d have to run that by your father first, Mr Connelly, seeing as I’m his assistant. Secondly, I really don’t see why my presence would be needed there. Not only will you and your father be present, but there will be managers and department heads as well. I am certain that if Collins Morgan decides to talk to anyone, then it wouldn’t be me,”

“And you are so sure of that because?” he asked, then continued before she could reply, “Caroline, I was impressed with the way you spoke and I’ve only listened to you talk about this merger for about ten minutes or so. What makes you think your presence there wouldn’t be needed… Or even appreciated. You never know how things might turn out,”

Caroline shook her head. He didn’t understand and she didn’t know how to let him know. Yes, she wasn’t very thrilled about the party, but she didn’t want to be around Nicholas Connelly unless she had a good reason to be. She had to come up with another excuse, “I’m sorry but your father is my boss and he hasn’t said anything about me attending the party. Besides, he might need to sort some things out for him that day and I need to be available,”

“Then I’ll talk to him,” said Nicholas and almost grinned when her eyes widened in surprise. “Just leave it to me,”