(See first part for disclaimer, notes, spoilers, etc.)
Chapter 4: "The Shark from New York"
Maxwell Richards, Sr. sat behind his massive cherry wood desk. A small onyx clock kept the time as the pendulum moved slowly from side to side. He rolled his eyes discreetly as his eldest son, Max, droned on about Richards Enterprises latest acquisition.
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
"Fine, fine," he interrupted with a wave of his hand.
Max immediately stopped talking and closed the leather folder that he was reciting monetary figures from. Maxwell glanced at his two other sons. William, the middle son, lounged comfortably on the dark brown leather sofa. His legs stretched out in front of him and a cigarette dangled from his fingers. Gregory stood against the wall, his arms folded across his chest. A bored expression completed his casual stance.
"Good work, Max," the older man said. "Gregory. Go."
Gregory cleared his throat and stood at attention. "What I've been working on is a project that would essentially secure our future on the West Coast. In the past, we've had trouble breaking into the close-knit community of businesses there. We've long searched for a company to partner with. And I think we've struck pay dirt. AJ Deschanel," he said as Max groaned, "has been assuming more power at Deschanel Shipping since his father announced he was retiring several months ago. He's looking to expand."
"I still can't believe that Armando is retiring." Maxwell looked at Gregory. "What the hell does he plan on doing with his time?"
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
"My sources tell me that his health has been failing. His doctors want him to take it easy." Gregory walked closer to his father, stopping a foot away from the desk. "I've been in discussion with AJ and we've nailed out a tentative arrangement. We partner with Deschanel Shipping. We invest in some deals with them, providing them the capital to do so. In return, they get to expand and we get an 'in' with the California companies. As well as make a tidy profit for very little work."
Maxwell smacked his hand down on the leather blotter. "Excellent. When's the deal being finalized?"
"I'm flying out to California in a few days. Meet with the Deschanel's and make sure everyone's satisfied. I hope to be out there no more than two days and I'm leaving as soon as the ink dries."
"You should take a few days and enjoy yourself," William piped up. "The weather's great this time of year. Good for golfing."
"The chicks are great in California too," Max added with a leer.
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
Gregory frowned. "Not going to happen. I don't want to be out there any longer than I have to. It's bad enough that we're doing business with AJ. I don't want to see him more than necessary." He glanced down at his gold watch. "If that's all, I'm going to call AJ and let him know I'll be out there the beginning of next week." Maxwell nodded and Gregory turned to leave as Max started to recite more figures.
"Call AJ Deschanel and put him through when you get him on the line," Gregory called over his shoulder to his secretary as he walked into his office. "And Gladys? Call Sabrina Porter and tell her I'm pushing dinner back to 8:30 p.m." He stood in front of the large window that overlooked lower Manhattan. In the distance he could see the lines of cars moving across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Gladys poked her head in the open doorway several minutes later. "AJ Deschanel is on the golf course. I left a message that he is to call you ASAP. And…" she trailed off.
"And what?" Gregory asked as he turned away from the window.
"Ms. Porter. She's requesting to speak to you because the change in dinner plans isn't convenient for her. I told her that you were in and out of meetings, but-"
Sighing in aggravation, Gregory sank down into the leather chair behind his desk. "Tell her I'm busy. Then call her back in an hour and tell her we'll have to reschedule." Gladys nodded and left the office. When the door closed shut, Gregory leaned forward and plucked the autographed baseball from the metal tripod it sat on. Tossing the ball in his right hand, he sat back in the chair. His eyebrows furrowed in contemplation as he continued throwing the ball up into the air gently.
The thought of dealing with Sabrina's temper tantrum was enough to turn him off ever wanting to see the young socialite again. But the thought of spending the evening alone was an even bigger turn off. With the final toss of the baseball, Gregory sat it back on the stand and hit the intercom. "Gladys? Call Regina Addams and see if she's interested in the 8:30 dinner reservation."
Olivia sat at her small vanity in the corner of her bedroom. She leaned in closer to the mirror as she held the tweezers to her eye, plucking her eyebrows into gentle arches. The door flew open and she jumped in surprise, jerking the small metal instrument dangerously close to her eye. "AJ," she chastised, "don't scare me like that." She sighed and continued shaping her eyebrows.
AJ dropped a stack of folders onto the bench at the foot of the bed and crossed the room. Standing behind Olivia, he put his hands on her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. "Sorry Angel. How was your day?" he asked as he turned and sat on the bed, pulling off his shoes.
"Fine," Olivia answered. "Bette came over for lunch and we did some shopping."
"You've been doing that quite a bit. Going out with Bette."
She turned around in surprise and stared at AJ for a moment. "No more than usual. Bette and I always go out on days I don't volunteer at the hospital."
"Really?"
"Really." Olivia pursed her lips and turned back to the mirror. "So, what's gotten you so excited that you're going around slamming doors open?"
Grinning like a schoolboy, AJ stood up and walked back over to Olivia. "I have just nailed an incredible deal with a New York company. This is the dawn of a new era for Deschanel Shipping."
"That's nice," she responded with barely feigned interest. AJ though was too caught up in his excitement to notice that his wife didn't quite share his jovial mood. "Which company?" she managed to ask.
"Richards Enterprises. Not the first company I would've chosen, but a good one nonetheless."
"Oh? What's wrong with it?" Olivia put down the tweezers and ran the sterling silver paddle brush through her long dark hair.
"Nothing. The company is fine. It's the person that I've been negotiating with that I'm not thrilled with."
"Who?"
"Gregory Richards. Have I ever mentioned him?" He continued after Olivia shook her head, "He's one of the most arrogant men I've ever met. Shrewd and calculating. A real shark."
"He can't be all that bad if you've agreed to work with him." Olivia watched AJ's tirade through the mirror and suggested playfully, "You sound a little jealous."
AJ froze and recovered from the look of guilt that washed over his face. "Jealous!" he scoffed. "Of a man like that! Don't be ridiculous. A man like that has no soul and would sell his mother to finance a deal." He turned away, repeating the ridiculousness of Olivia's observation.
Olivia rolled her eyes and decided to change the subject slightly. "So, when is this 'shark' from New York arriving?"
"Beginning of next week. And I've asked Maman to plan a dinner party to welcome Gregory to Sunset Beach. She could probably use your help, Angel."
"Oh, I'm sure," Olivia muttered. Covering with a cough, she said more clearly, "I think I'll just leave the details up to Julianna." She put the brush down on the top of the vanity and turned around to face AJ. "She's better at those sorts of things than I am."
"Alright. But I want you to look smashing. We're going to remind Gregory whose company sought who." Kneeling in front of Olivia, he begged, "Please be charming and gracious when you meet him. I don't want anything causing this deal to fall through."
"When have I not been charming?"
"That's my girl," he said with a smile. Staring into Olivia's bottomless blue eyes, he rested his hands on her knees. "Why don't I go shower and then you and I can…." Forcing a smile, Olivia nodded. AJ stood up and stroked her cheek with his finger. "I'll be back in a moment," he promised.
"I can hardly wait," she said under her breath as she watched the bathroom door close behind AJ. She waited until after the showerhead was on for a few minutes before she walked quickly over to the walk-in closet. She felt around in the closet as the sunlight faded from the sky. Pulling a shoebox off one of the side shelves, she removed a small pink plastic box from it. She popped open the box and took out the small, dome shaped rubber disk and the small bottle of spermicide. With lightening quick hands, she prepared the diaphragm and bent down to insert it.
AJ was back quicker than she imagined, coming out of the bathroom as she shoved the shoebox back onto the shelf. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and stood in the doorway of the closet. Ready or not, she thought to herself.