STAY THE NIGHT (The Phillips Family Book 1) (14 page)

   
“
I asked her if she wanted me to send her a wedding invitation.  She said she'd be in her bed in the fetal position sobbing the day that happened.
”

    He laughed harder. 
“
This strikes me funny, but she shouldn't be discussing the men who work here with the people who visit the building.
”

   
“
Don't cause her trouble, please.  It's innocent fun.  Do you have second thoughts about me attending your important meeting?
”

   
“
No.  Are you afraid you'll be bored to tears?
”

   
“
Not bored, but I fear if I gaze at you with adoration it might distract you.
”

     He smiled and said,
“
Is that what you plan to do?
”

   
“
I admit to being bewitched, bothered, beguiled and besotted with you.  There's a good possibility that I may embarrass you.  How will you introduce me or will I be the mysterious observer?
”

   
“
That's a lot of B's you named and I'm happy to be the cause of those B's.  Let me be serious for a moment.  I want you to be my partner in every aspect of our life together.  I'm pleased that you're interested in attending this meeting.  I will introduce you and I suggest that you tell me how you'd like me to explain your role.
”

   
“
Let's not cause an epidemic of speculation and coffee-break chit chat.  Refer to me as a consultant who will apprise you, and you alone, of my impressions.
”

    Cray chuckled. 
“
That will work.  I expect a full and concise report of your findings to be delivered tonight during our recuperative periods.
”

   
“
Oh,
”
she said her eyes twinkling,
“
the oral report should be done before any dalliances.
”

   
“
A written report, darling, that I can read during our respite.  Oral activity takes place when we're not resting.
”
  His phone buzzed.  He lifted it to his ear and said,
“
Send her in, please.
”

    Mona came bursting through the door and Cray said,
“
What gives with having my secretary announce you?  You usually come bursting through the door like the place is on fire.
”

   
“
Voyeurism is not my thing,
”
Mona said. 
“
It is conceivable that I'd catch you in a compromising position.  Your secretary told me you had a visitor.   Hi, Angelica.
”

   
“
Visitors never stopped you from barging through the door.
”

   
“
Angelica is not a creepy crawler,
”
Mona said.

   
“
What am I missing here?
”
Angelica asked.

   
“
Nothing important.  Trust me,
”
Mona said.

    Cray spoke. 
“
My baby sister has a weird notion that she must protect me from unsavory females and that includes any woman who's alone with me in my office regardless of the purpose of the visit.  She treats me like I'm a damsel in distress.
”

    Mona laughed and sank to the leather sofa in his office. 
“
I never considered you a damsel in distress.  If memory serves, damsels are female.  Now that you mention it though, you were a Prince Charming at the mercy of a barracuda who wanted to sink her fangs in you.
”

   
“
Is there such a thing as a vampire barracuda?
”
Cray asked laughing.

    Mona said,
“
They're rare, but you had a knack for finding them.  Thank God you've come to your senses.
”

   
“
Is that my cue to say thank you?
”
Angelica said smiling.

   
“
No, I'm the one who needs to thank you,
”
Mona said.

   
“
Let's discuss reptiles and vipers,
”
Cray said. 
“
In other words, the snakes you hook-up with on an ongoing basis.
”
  Cray turned to Angel. 
“
Mona has a revolving door policy with so many men it's pitiful.  The pitiful part is that they're all past their sell by date.
”

   
“
Witty, Cray, but I'm not laughing,
”
Mona said.

   
“
That's because the truth hurts,
”
Cray said.

    Angelica shook her head and said,
“
Has it always been like this between you two?
”

    Mona laughed and said,
“
Pretty much.  We love each other and are very close.
”

   
“
We go in the meeting in ten minutes,
”
Cray said. 
“
What's the consensus, Mona?
”

   
“
They understand that you want Grayson Mills, I saw to that in the email I sent.  As I walked around the different departments this morning, they had their heads bent to the task.
”

   
“
What's your opinion?  Am I being foolish and hard-headed?
”

   
“
You needn't ask,
”
Mona said,
“
I'm with you one hundred percent, so if you're foolish, I am, too.
”

   
“
I'm introducing Angelica as a consultant.  That's what she suggested and I agree.  You handle the meeting and we'll sit back and observe.  If our people present a viable solution, go for it.  You know I'll back you.  Now if you don't mind, I'd like to kiss my consultant a couple of times in the next few minutes.
”

    Mona rose, smiled and said,
“
Angelica, he can be a pain in the ass, but you'll never find a more loyal and trustworthy advocate.  See ya in a few.
”

    Cray introduced Angelica to the assembled group when they entered the conference room and led her to a chair on one side of the large table.  He sat beside her as Mona took her place at the head of the table.

    Angelica, surprised and pleased at the informal atmosphere, she marveled at the warmth and esteem the employees held for Cray and Mona.  Each department head gave his or her adjusted report as to how they could purchase Grayson Mills. 

    Stephanie, who headed the investigating acquisitions department said,
“
I spent the morning on the phone putting out feelers.  Some of Grayson's suppliers of raw materials assured me if their accounts receivables were caught up to date, they will stick with us.  Mona and Cray, it's you who need to seal the deal, but the guy I talked to indicated that prices were negotiable.  That's not why I called because that's not my job.  I called to see if any of them were for sale.  I got one bite and the rest of the information came while we chatted about the industry in general.
”

    Sam, the CFO, spoke last. 
“
Here's the bottom line, Mona and Cray.  We can go higher on the per share offering.  If we do that, we won't be profitable as fast as we thought, but the best I can figure is it keeps us in the red for only an additional quarter.  That's doable and if we get lucky it won't take that long.
”

    Cray leaned forward and said,
“
Mona if I may make a few comments?
”
  She nodded. 
“
I commend every one of you for your hard work and willingness to put forth the extra effort to make this happen.  I, too, spent part of the morning on the phone with Zachary Grayson.  After beating the subject to death, I asked him what he wanted that will make him sell.
”
 

    Cray laughed. 
“
I should have done that weeks ago.  He wants two things.  He doesn't mind being a subsidiary of Phillips Enterprises, but he wants the business to keep the name of Grayson Mills.
”

    The group laughed with Cray and he said,
“
Yeah, I know.  Hell, I assured him we'd be honored to keep the revered name.  Second, he wants to be on the board of directors for another three years when he'll step down and retire.  Done and done.  Folks, we're going into the textile business.
”

    Mona said,
“
This meeting is adjourned.
”

    Back in Cray's office, he turned to Angelica and said,
“
Well, honey, that's the way we do it here.  What's your impression?
”

    She walked into his embrace and said,
“
They love you and Mona and it's obvious why that's true.  They admire and respect you as their leader, but you remain approachable and that works to your benefit.  Your employees want to do well on your behalf.  I'm so impressed.  You didn't tell Mona you had it in the bag because of your talk with Mr. Grayson.
”

   
“
No, I wanted to surprise her and teach her a lesson.
”
  Angel cocked her head in interest. 
“
Mona tends to admit defeat before she's explored every available option.  I've called her on it numerous times, so now she keeps her defeatist attitude to herself, but it's there and knowing her as well as I do I recognize when she's given up, but goes through the motions on my behalf.
”

   
“
She didn't believe the deal would go through because of the obstacles,
”
Angelica said.

   
“
Right or she feared we'd pay too much for Grayson.
”

   
“
You had an ace up your sleeve.  You decided to contact Mr. Grayson on a one to one basis,
”
Angel said.

   
“
Yes.  Our previous meetings were with an entourage of his people and ours.  He's a courtly, southern gentleman and since his company has been in the family for generations he wants to leave a legacy.  I respect that.  He's old enough to be my father.  This morning on the phone I treated him with the courtesy he deserves and he responded with openness and honesty.  Our team is tough and heavy-handed.  That's what it takes most of the time.  This time we needed to use a gentler approach and it worked.
”

   
“
You're leaving him his dignity.
”

   
“
Yes and we'll benefit from his knowledge with him on the board.
”

   
“
Win win,
”
she said smiling.

    He returned her smile. 
“
Yes.  It's best that way.
”
  He glanced at his wristwatch. 
“
We can go downstairs to the attorney offices anytime.  It will get rowdy.  They're a drinking crowd. The partners mandate that employees staying for the party take a cab to work.  The partners pay the cab fare so no one will be driving drunk.
”

   
“
Explain why you use this law firm when your family is loaded with lawyers.
”

   
“
My family's firm is in White Plains and when I first ventured into this business I didn't want them aware of my company's financial and business dealings.  It's cleaner this way and Dad understands.
”

   
“
How large is the firm?
”

   
“
Eleven partners, twice as many junior associates, paralegals, secretaries.  It's big and they bill in the millions of dollars every year.
”

   
“
How rowdy will it get?
”

   
“
A Roman orgy has nothing on them by the time they stumble for home long after we'll be gone.
”

    She grinned. 
“
Sounds like fun.  Suppose I want to stay until the bitter end.
”