Dean Winchester had walked into the offices of Xaphan Motors full of bluster. Seriously, what the hell sort of name was 'Xaphan Motors' and who really gave a crap about a car manufacturer that sold most of its product off-shore? Dean had been emailing Castiel Gregory for three months now, trying to set up a meeting about Xaphan's staffing issues. Every time he read another of Castiel Gregory's precisely worded and spell-checked emails, he felt curiosity and a healthy dose of scorn for this businessman who probably spent most of the day in his ivory tower, or on expensive 'business' lunches while his employees worked their asses off for little recognition beyond their pay-packets.
To be fair, from what Dean had heard from Castiel's employees, the man wasn't at all rude or demonstrative. It sounded like the man was just distant and unable (more likely, unwilling) to meet with his employees and speak honestly with them about the state of the company. Instead, the twenty people who were losing their jobs had received polite letters advising them that, due to pressure from the financial markets, and falling sales across the world, their positions were no longer tenable.
However, when Castiel Gregory actually walked into the meeting room, dark hair mussed, and shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows, Dean felt prompted to reassess his initial opinion. Firstly, Castiel was probably one of the earthiest, sexiest men Dean had ever seen in his life. Dean had been expecting some uptight, nerdy bean counter in a fancy suit to walk through the door. Instead, he was faced with a slightly dishevelled but determined looking man who looked battle-ready. As Castiel walked up to the end of the room in which Dean and Anna were standing, his gaze was calm and steady, his stride, confident but not in the least cocky. And wasn't that just the hottest thing Dean had ever seen in his life.
Castiel held his hand out and shook Dean's proffered one, "It's a pleasure, Dean."
Dean Winchester shook Castiel's hand and replied, "Likewise."
Blue eyes met green.
Dean felt the bottom drop out of his world.
Castiel figures Anna would be the lawyer to represent the union's interests at the meeting. His sister had rebelled, in that tiring and clichéd way of the poor little rich girl, and refused any part in the Gregory family business. Instead, Anna won a scholarship to Stanford and completed a law degree. That alone might have been acceptable to the most of the Gregory clan, but Anna did one better and started working for a law firm for which 80% of the clientele was union.
Castiel makes a mental note to fire Crowley for omitting any mention of Castiel's sister when he announced the AWU rep's arrival.
Castiel, Dean and Anna conducted a few awkward pleasantries, and Dean couldn't help but notice tension between the siblings. Dean had always known Anna's background, and, at first, he had been suspicious of her, but her knowledge of industrial law and her commitment to the rights of workers had changed his mind and they had become friends. Although Anna had never really spoken about it, Dean knew that the Gregory's didn't approve of her career choices. Dean found himself wondering what sort of man Castiel was, if he had been there for his sister, or if he had been throwing stones. Dean wondered, because, try as he might, something reckless in him wanted to get to know Castiel, and not just in the biblical sense. Though Dean had to admit to himself, with a ghost of a smirk, that was a big part of it.
The next two hours were spent in serious negotiation; Dean outlined the union's concerns over Xaphan's redundancies and Castiel gently volleyed back facts and figures pertaining to the company's losses over the last quarter. Anna often sat silently, carefully watching her brother and Dean trade information back and forth. She spoke up only on a few points of law, and spent most of the time looking at the two men before her and nursing the beginnings of a broken heart, as she realised the man she pursued was looking at her brother with shining eyes. Anna had never seen Dean like this before. Usually, when Dean Winchester entered into any negotiations on behalf of the union, he raged like fire, eyes hard, voice stern as he argued relentlessly for the best outcome for the members.
This Dean burned differently. The essential points of his arguments never wavered, but instead of claiming them, outright, as fixed, he was attempting to coax Castiel around to his point of view. Coaxing. Anna didn't believe Dean was capable of it outside the bedroom. The one time they'd had sex, Dean had murmured soft words into her hair and brought her to orgasm with his fingers, with his words. His voice then was gentle, and, at the time, she'd thought it quite passionate.
Anna, ever pragmatic, admitted silently that what she had experienced with Dean that night, had none of the spark, the passion, of the exchange between the two men before her.
Dean and Castiel exchanged deft speeches like they were dancing. It was flirtatious and seductive, and yet it wasn't. Anna remembered Castiel as such an obedient little soldier, grey and quiet, submitting to their father's every demand without argument. And now, in front of her, he was transformed, his responses calm and logical and giving every indication that he acted of his own will instead of merely parroting what had been driven into them as children. Even as her own heart ached, Anna felt a blossom of pride for her little brother.
Dean was arguing a point about cost reduction across the table. His face was eager as he explained to Castiel some of the measures that other small companies had taken in order to retain staff. Small, fleeting smiles flashed across his face, almost as though they were involuntary, as though Dean was enjoying this.
Castiel watched the man across from him with no small degree of wonderment. His brain was half-soft and his cock was half-hard as he focussed his gaze on Dean's face. The other man was arguing about cost cutting, Castiel could figure that much out, but never had such mundane subject matter been presented so fervently. Dean's eyes danced as he sought Castiel's across the table, and his little smiles were making Castiel feel distinctly and uncomfortable aroused.
Dean was leaning forward now, strong forearms braced against the conference table, "So, what do you think, Cas?" he asked, flashing white teeth briefly at Castiel.
When the hell had he started using a nickname? Castiel wondered fleetingly before his brain finally kicked into gear.
"Dean, please believe me when I say I have explored every possibility. Our overheads are basic," Castiel adds, looking seriously into Dean's eyes now, as if he wants him to understand, "I don't sit in the lap of luxury while the people who work for me suffer."
Dean is smiling, as though he expected the rebuff and relished it, "Yeah, but Cas, it's the things you don't see that matter. A whole raft of subsidies and exceptions that Xaphan could be eligible for, if you only made a few changes to the business model. You see…"
Anna tapped Dean on the shoulder and rose from her seat, "Gentlemen, I think you can handle this from here on in, I need to get back to the office. Dean, call me if you need anything."
Both men stood, Dean nodded his head, "Thanks, Anna."
"It was good to see you again, we should…make an effort to catch up properly," Castiel said to his sister, his voice solemn now. Dean looked over at him, brow furrowed slightly, as though he were trying to discern whether Castiel was being sarcastic or was always this formal around family.
"Of course," Anna said, picking up her briefcase and flicking her eyes once more between the two men.
But Dean and Castiel were already back to looking at each other, gazes locked as if there was no one else in the room with them.
Anna smiled at them both, conceding defeat, and left.