Chapter Text
Part 1
1
Opening offer
James Buchanan Barnes stared out of the floor to ceiling office window and furrowed his brow. It was early on a July day in Manhattan’s financial district and already the sun was shining, set in a cloudless blue sky. It would be another hot day no doubt, but he’d barely see it as he had so much to do in his office. He saw his own reflection faintly in the clear glass. One of his large hands rested casually in the pocket of his black trousers, part of one of his many perfectly fitted designer suits. His other hand held his phone, to which he was currently listening. His knuckles were faintly white from gripping the device with annoyance. Anyone walking by would see a strong, confident CEO surveying the New York morning from his 40th floor office. What they wouldn’t be able to tell from his calm exterior was that he was finding the call he was taking, frankly irritating.
‘So the guys from Boltr will be in at 8.00, they’re two MIT grads who started out in some shitty apartment in Queens. They’re bringing a lawyer too, “Alex” somebody from London,’ Hank, his head of legal drawled, his disdain clear from his tone. ‘Scott thinks the tech is game-changing, but the business is in trouble. Their cash flow is drying up. Last year we gave them a bridging loan, and they were so grateful they basically agreed to any terms we wanted. We’ve upped the interest rate on the loan and a couple of our portfolio companies have stopped paying their invoices. Next move is today, we threaten to call in the loan, and then offer to buy the whole company in exchange for forgiving the debt. The staff are out and we take the code.’
James pinched the bridge of his nose, Hank’s smug tone had put him on edge. He trusted his employees to do a good job but Hank was sounding cocky.
‘What about integration?,’ said the CEO, his steely blue eyes reflecting back at him in the window. ‘Is Scott confident his team can work with their code? Don’t we need the developers to help us transition? They might not want to help the assholes who just tanked their life’s work and fired their friends.’
He could practically hear Hank rolling his eyes as he responded. ‘We’ll offer short term dev contracts to the two nerds, throw them some fancy titles and a nice office to turn to the dark side,’ he added with a smirk in his voice. ‘Then we get rid of them once they’ve done the integration project.’
Barnes said nothing and soon Hank felt the need to talk further to fill the silence on the line.
‘This will work, we’ve been planning it for months. We’ll just go in there, you be the cold bastard CEO, and then once they’ve agreed to sell, leave me and my team to do the paperwork.’
‘Fine’, said James, screwing his eyes shut, ‘it had better be over quickly though. Don’t have me walking into some shit show,’ then he hung up the phone before Hank could respond and annoy him further. Cold bastard CEO. Was that him now? He did seem to spend most of his time at the office these days, and often caught himself giving people an icy stare when they crossed his path.
At 33, James was notably young to be the CEO of a large New York private equity house. Infinity Equity Inc. had been started after the war by his grandfather, James Buchanan Barnes Senior and his best friend Stephen. His son Charles Barnes had taken over as CEO during the 80s and worked relentlessly to grow the business into one of the most formidable private equity investment houses in the city. Charles worked hard to the point of obsession. He was known for being across every single minor detail of all of the deals that Infinity did. There was not a word in the paperwork that he hadn’t read and couldn’t recite. His lifelong obsession with work had taken a toll though and Charles had died of a heart attack when James was only 21, leaving his only son to look after his mother Sadie and sister Rebecca, as well as the family business.
James had just graduated from Stamford with honours and was in the middle of travelling around South East Asia with friends when he’d gotten the fateful call from his godfather to tell him he had to come home immediately. Sitting on a beach in Phuket, wearing last night’s clothes and staring at the distant point at which the ocean met the sky, he knew his life would be changed forever.
Two weeks later, after the funeral was done and tears had been shed, the young and formerly care-free James (known as ‘Bucky’ to his friends) had come to the city to learn the ropes of the world of intense responsibility he had now inherited. Soon it became clear that Bucky was a natural, and at only 25 he took over as CEO with Stephen on hand to offer guidance as Chairman of the board. His father had left a long shadow, and James had worked incredibly hard over the past 12 years to live up to the Barnes legacy. He often spent 12 to 15 hour days in his office. He was determined to be as across everything, just as his father was before him. He had moved Infinity with the times, starting to invest more into emerging tech and green energy. He often had to balance this with the wishes of some of the more traditional shareholders and members of the board but the growth in Infinity’s portfolios left no-one in doubt that they were in safe hands. When not working, most of his friends and associates were colleagues or investors so business and deals still ran through the veins of his social life. Even on his vacations, infrequent as they were, he’d find himself attached to his phone fitting in calls or meetings. It was a world where you were only as good as your last deal and investor confidence was key. He felt he had no choice but to prove that he could put in the hard work to lead this organisation.
As a consequence, Barnes was known throughout the city as a ruthless and calculating operator who would win at any cost. He loved nothing more than closing a deal and feeling like he’d bested everyone else in the room. Six feet tall, classically handsome with a broad muscular frame, Bucky was as intimidating as he was brilliant. His piercing blue eyes and unwavering confidence, paired with an exceptionally quick mind made it all the easier to get what he wanted in most situations. Though these days he rarely felt any sort of thrill from it. He took a sip of the espresso his assistant had silently delivered during his call. A text appeared on his phone.
Unknown: Thanks for last night- you got plans later? Megan xx
He rolled his eyes. She must have got his number from one of his friends. He’d known he wasn’t particularly interested last night, but his friend had hooked up with a blonde so he’d ended up buying more drinks and taking this girl home out of boredom and a need to blow off some steam. The sex had been fine, but nothing he needed to repeat.
Sorry, busy with work. JBB
Bucky read over the information Hank had prepared, making sure he was ready for the Boltr meeting. He wanted this company now and that meant it would be his before lunch.
***
‘Fuck!’
Alexis swore to nobody as she stubbed her toe on one of the seemingly endless piles of boxes in the cardboard fort that was currently her kitchen. They really had to finish unpacking the apartment soon she admonished herself.
‘You ok Lex?’ Sharon shouted from her bedroom sleepily.
‘Mmm’ said Alexis, now getting distracted by the emails that had multiplied on her phone during her four hours of sleep. Last minute thoughts and worries gathered like dark clouds in her head. Sharon walked through into the kitchen and surveyed her best friend, now perched on the offending box reading her phone with a worried expression. ‘Coffee?’ she asked Alexis, knowing her better than to expect any real response. As her brown eyes darted nervously around her phone screen, her anxiety palpable.
‘Oh, hi Sharon,’ Alexis looked up, only just realising her best friend and roommate had entered the room. Without answering Sharon’s question her eyes went back down to her phone. The two women were only recent arrivals in New York which explained the huge number of unpacked boxes that still filled the kitchen and hallway of their Greenwich Village apartment. Sharon and Alexis had met at boarding school in Surrey, England when they were both unceremoniously delivered by their families at age 14. Being new to the school, where most of the students had already lived together and formed friendships, was hard, and the two girls quickly became devoted friends. Alexis was conscientious and always worked harder than her natural intelligence required. She’d have spent her entire school life in the library had she not been lucky enough to befriend the free- spirited Sharon who’s family had just moved over from the States. After leaving school they had moved to London, where Alexis had worked her way through law school and then qualified at the London office of a large US law firm. Meanwhile, Sharon had turned her talent for being the life of any party into a PR and events business. London had suited them both very well but when Alexis had a brief but intense relationship end abruptly and frankly horribly, Sharon had held her friend together and the two women had decided to move to New York a few months ago for a fresh start.
Sharon handed Alexis a cup of coffee from the pod machine that they’d unpacked after the first day and looked concerned but not surprised at her friend’s obvious nerves. Alexis was petite, only 5ft 2 with long and wavy thick brown hair cut with a heavy fringe. Her complexion was alabaster and rose and she had large, brown doe-eyes that, together with her small mouth gave her face a doll-like look, much younger than her 27 years. Alexis had hated looking so young when she and Sharon were at school trying to sneak into bars at the weekend. Thankfully though as school came to an end, her breasts, hips and bum had finally got the message and although still small she had a pleasing womanly shape.
Although close like sisters, the two women looked nothing alike. Sharon was blonde, tanned and 5ft 8 with a feminine but athletic body. Her eyes were brown and always brimming with laugher or mischief. Most men that they met fell practically in love with Sharon on sight. Spending any time around her made it easy to see how she’d been such a hit in the social world of PR and events. It was also how she’d hit it off last night with the hot guy who was currently in her room. Although for some reason he decided to pick now to stroll into the kitchen in nothing but his underwear.
‘Did you guys say coffee?,’ said the tall near stranger with beautiful dark skin, black hair and a hint of a Louisiana accent. He had the decency to look a little bit bashful as he smiled at the women.
‘Er yeah, well, she did,’ said Alexis, pointing at her friend, not really able to deal with the unexpected guest while she was trying to prepare for her meeting. Sharon had begged her to come out to a new bar in Manhattan last night but she knew she needed a clear head. Clearly the lack of a wing-woman had not held her back though.
Alexis rose from her box, clutching Sharon’s arm to avoid falling backwards on her heels.‘I’ve got to head out. See you tonight.’ She hurried towards the door picking up her Fendi laptop bag and Burberry trench as she left.
‘Don’t worry honey, you’ll nail it,’ Sharon called warmly after her friend as she heard the front door of the apartment close.
‘Nice to meet you,’ said Sam at the same time. His eyes were already falling back onto Sharon, who looked absolutely gorgeous in her vest top and boy shorts. She smiled at Sam and he felt his cock beginning to stir again, recalling at the fact that he didn’t need to head to the airport for at least another hour. Sharon looked back at Sam with a coy smile, her eyes appraising his athletic body and warming with remembered lust.
‘Maybe we could have our coffee in bed?,’ Sam suggested with an easy charm.
‘Hmm sounds good,’ Sharon smiled suggestively and walked towards her bedroom door, removing her vest top and letting it drop to the floor as she crossed the room. Sam, holding two coffee cups, laughed and followed behind her.
***
At 7.30am Alexis was already in the coffee shop in New York’s financial district as arranged. Having secured a small table at the back of the busy shop, she blew on the froth in her cappuccino and looked again over the licensing agreement between Boltr and Infinity Marketing Communications Inc., part of the Infinity Equity Group. Her coat and bag were in her lap and she was making further highlights and annotations with a ballpoint pen, occasionally muttering to herself to the amusement of passers by.
As she thumbed the pages again, she looked up and saw Peter and Ned enter the cafe and waved at them through the throng of customers. The two men were looking hugely out of place among the New York businessmen and women in their sharp suits. Peter and Ned were the founders of Boltr. They’d met in high school before studying at MIT where they’d fallen in love and found that they wanted to be partners in business as well as life. Alexis had no doubt they were geniuses, their fraud prevention programme was gradually being acknowledged as one of the best in the market. Although they had gained some early investment from backers they had met while at MIT, they were not at home in the business world which was glaringly obvious due to the hoodies and baseball caps they had chosen for this meeting. Alexis bit her lip as she greeted them, trying not to show that their choice to ignore her email suggestion of ‘business attire’ was putting her further on edge.
Alexis had not been in New York long when she’d met Peter. After hearing him speak at a forum for business founders, she was drawn to his childlike energy and enthusiasm for his product. Ned was much more reserved, but clearly no less intelligent. After looking over some agreements for them as a favour, Alexis had ended up working as their in-house lawyer for the last few months. It felt good to be helping clients that she actually liked and to feel part of this odd little group as she navigated her new life in New York.
The trio waited nervously for time to pass. Peter talked at 100 miles an hour as usual. His hyperactivity and boundless optimism reminded Alexis of her mother’s treasured labradors back in England. Ned was largely silent, but looked at his partner with affection. He clearly took strength from Peter’s good natured chatter. At 7.50 they walked to the offices of Infinity, a block away from their meeting point. Alexis looked up at the imposing glass building. Its cold exterior seemed to go on endlessly towards the sky. She took a big breath through her nose and closed her eyes. She knew that the boys were hugely intimidated and nervous about the future of the business they loved. It was her job to stay confident and try to put them at ease. She turned and gave them both a smile, and with a lightness she didn’t feel said, ‘Come on then, let’s see what these guys have got to say shall we?’. Without looking back, she led the way through the revolving doors.
After the security checks in the imposing marble lobby and a seemingly endless elevator ride they were shown into the meeting room with floor to ceiling windows on the back wall. It was dominated by a long table, surrounded by 20 chairs. They chose seats at the side opposite the door but Alexis remained standing and looked at the imposing New York skyline behind them. They didn’t have to wait long before two men arrived. A handsome man with black hair an easy smile introduced himself as Scott Lang, VP of Security Technology. He shook everyone’s hand good-naturedly and proceeded to make sure everyone had water. Alexis barely noticed Scott though. All of her attention was on the taller man in a black Tom Ford suit who was looking brooding and bored behind his associate. For a moment the room went silent around her as she took in his godlike beauty, quite obviously staring. He was the most handsome man she’d ever seen and rendered Alexis speechless for a few moments before she admonished herself to get her shit together and remember why she was here.
Where Scott was accommodating and warm, Bucky walked into the room and felt any patience for this undertaking draining from him. Why the hell had Hank got him to take this meeting? These guys looked like a pair of kids in their baseball caps and the one who introduced himself as Peter was grinning like an idiot. Expecting to see their lawyer ‘Alex’, he scanned the room for a third man. Instead he saw something much more intriguing. A petite, very beautiful woman wearing a simple black dress that showcased a perfectly formed little figure. Although there was no outward change in him, his body surged with a lightening shot of arousal as she turned and locked him in an assessing gaze. He felt like her large eyes were seeing something within him and refused to break eye contact first.
‘Good Morning Mr Barnes’ came her confident English accent as she held out her small hand to shake his. ‘Alexis Ross, attorney for Boltr’.
Oh, he was going to enjoy this meeting after all.
***
The group indulged in niceties for the first ten minutes. Peter and Ned babbled excitedly about their latest upgrades, Scott nodded and smiled encouragingly and Bucky gave the impression of listening. Rarely moving his gaze away from Alexis, that little mouth had him riveted. The way she would smile politely at her clients when they made some little boast about their product. The sight of her little tongue as it touched her white teeth while listening to the room. Those huge eyes looking over at him from time to time. He couldn’t help but imagine how those eyes would look up at him with the same challenging stare if he had her on her knees. How it would feel to squeeze his large cock into that little mouth… What was she doing to him? What were they even talking about now? Bucky forced himself to focus. He wanted to move this along now. He could think later about how he could to get Miss Ross into his bed as soon as possible.
‘Look gentlemen, Miss Ross, thanks for your time’, began Bucky, sounding not at all thankful as he cut Scott off mid-sentence. Scott sat back and noted something on his pad, if he felt offended he didn’t let it show.
‘We need to address the elephant in the room. By my calculations your cash flow is in the toilet. You can afford to keep trading at your current rate for about…,’ he looked upwards pretending to grasp at a calculation and let out a sigh, ‘three more months?’
He noted that Alexis’ nostrils flared at this pronouncement but he continued on, his tone polite and almost friendly. ‘You owe us a lot of money, and we’re getting worried about your ability to repay. We’d like to offer you an out, a deal that benefits both sides. I know you’re very passionate about your product, but I think you have to be commercial here.’ Bucky paused now for effect and Alexis resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She was finding his tactic of acting like the white knight immensely patronising.
‘We’ll forgive the debt,’ Bucky continued, ‘but we want your company. With your current liabilities this is basically a distressed sale’, he took out his Mont Blanc fountain pen and quickly wrote an amount on the pad sitting in front of him before sliding it over to Alexis.
‘I think this is more than… generous,’ he added, addressing that last comment seemingly to her alone and emphasising the word ‘generous’ in a curious way.
Alexis took the pad from him and raised an eyebrow, passing it to Peter who then shared it with Ned. They’d expected Barnes to play hardball but this was insulting, and his patronising little speech made her really want to put the prick in his place. Alexis let out a large breath and furrowed her brow.
‘Mr Barnes thank you for your…insights,’ she began, ‘but I find it hard to believe that “generous” has such a different meaning here in America as it does in the UK?.’
Barnes betrayed a little smirk, but she continued.
‘That offer is pitifully low,’ Alexis stated never taking her eyes from him, her stare challenging him to disagree.
‘It’s a fair price in the situation’ said Barnes, his gaze meeting her challenge and showing no embarrassment at all. ‘We’ve sunk a lot of money into you and as it stands, you’ve no way to repay that.’
Alexis’ nostrils flared. Bucky knew he was getting under her skin but she was doing her best not to show it. He was having a marvellous time.
‘The only reason Boltr is struggling with cash flow Mr Barnes,’ Alexis began, ‘is because your group is refusing to pay invoices and charging extortionate interest on its debt. We came here to find a way forward, not to be insulted. You know how damaging your behaviour is to a business the size of Boltr. Why have you stopped paying us? Is your cash flow… how did you so eloquently put it? In the toilet?’
‘Sorry if my language offends Miss Ross,’ Bucky fired back immediately, ‘but this is business and it’s not always eloquent. I don’t have time to sugar coat it, want my money.’
‘Yes, and we want ours for services provided,’ she countered back, still remaining outwardly calm. Bucky could tell she was riled up though because her cheeks were blushing ever so slightly. He’d intended to say barely anything in this meeting, Scott was probably wondering what the hell was going on but he didn’t care, he was enthralled.
Sure enough Scott interjected, his tone much more conciliatory. He couldn’t help notice how Bucky and this attorney were glaring at each other and it was not what they’d discussed before this meeting. ‘Miss Ross, we’ve been reserving payment on those invoices for good reason, there’s been issues with the service and..’
‘Have there really?’ Alexis rounded on Scott, but her eyes never really leaving Bucky. ‘What issues are these? We’ve received no complaints and nothing has been logged with our tech support. Your California office asked for 120 extra licences last week.’
She opened a file on her laptop and examined the screen with exaggerated puzzlement that made Bucky inwardly smirk. ‘Where in these KPI monitoring reports have any issues been flagged to our support desk?’ Scott had no immediate response and looked over at his CEO. Before Bucky could speak again though, Alexis took the floor. She was impassioned now, her large eyes sparking. He could tell she was inwardly pleased with the point she was about to make and he wanted to hear it.
‘Let’s be frank here,’ she began. ‘Your loan terms are outrageous and now you’re trying to find some trumped up breach of contract to fuck with us.’ She looked directly at Barnes as she swore, he knew the choice of words was not accidental and he felt his cock twitch. ‘Very clever,’ she continued, ‘except you’re not the only show in town Mr Barnes. Tony Stark calls these boys up at least once a month offering to collaborate with Boltr. When I told him about how you were trying to put them over a barrel, he was very happy to offer to repay your debt in full and only take a minority stake. Stark Tech sees the potential of Boltr’s tech and has a different interpretation to you of what is to be considered generous.’
Bucky fired back in a flash, his tone turning dangerous from the mention of his biggest rival Tony Stark. He didn’t know why but the idea of Alexis meeting with that flashy bastard, talking to him even, was making him lose his cool.
‘I think you’ll find that you can’t work with Stark Tech. We have a three year contract with Boltr and that includes a non-compete. That means you’re mine,’ he practically growled at her. Scott was shocked by this display from his usually calculating and robotic boss. Peter and Ned looked at each other, baffled.
Meanwhile Bucky’s last words had made Alexis tremble internally a little, the idea of being his in any way sending a shock through her spine. No-one would know though as on the outside she didn’t miss a beat. ‘I think you’ll find we can terminate that contract on the basis that you haven’t paid your invoices in four months, despite numerous demands.’ She glared at him accusingly. ‘And your non-compete is forfeited thanks to your material breach. Do try and read your contracts before you seek to accuse us of breach Mr Barnes.’
Bucky stood abruptly from his chair but Alexis forced herself not to flinch at all. He narrowed his eyes at her. ‘Well if you want to take us to court Miss Ross, be my guest.’ He then stalked towards the door, like a lion that has made a leap to kill its prey and missed.
‘This meeting is over,’ Bucky decreed from the doorway. ‘Good day to you gentlemen, Miss Ross.’ He left without shaking their hands and a stunned Scott shot up awkwardly and quickly said his goodbyes before following behind his boss.
Alexis, Ned and Peter remained sitting at the large table in silence. Alexis was breathing heavily, her rage evident.
‘That went… well’ said Peter.
***
Email from James Buchanan Barnes to Peter Parker and Edward Leeds, cc Alexis Ross.
Dear Sirs,
Thank you for the informative meeting this morning. I attach a revised offer for the entire issued stock of Boltr Inc. I think you will find that by any interpretation, it is generous.
As well as the enclosed terms, I would also personally like to insist on the condition that the deal is negotiated entirely on your behalf by Miss Ross. I will make myself personally available for a negotiation meeting at our offices next week.
I trust this is acceptable.
JBB
James Buchanan Barnes II
CEO
Infinity Equity Inc .