Chapter VIII
CPOV
I'm exhausted. I think I'm going to puke any moment. Thank God it's Friday. My days were jam-packed with back-to-back meetings and reports that need approval. Of course, I love what I do, but I also have my limits. I'm just a human. I'm regaining all the time I've spent for a woman I know so impossible to locate. Hell! I can't waste forever looking for someone when there are so many in the market. Ros said that she's dreading this week for GEH as it might be deserted by next week. I must admit that I'm really in a foul temper these past weeks. I unreasonably fired people I feel so incompetent to be part of my company.
The weather seems to be agreeable in my gloomy mood today. Looking at the glass window, I think it's going to rain. I heard Andrea from the intercom that Ros was already here. I respond to let her in.
"So? Did they sign?" I asked Ros while crossing my arms and leaning on my desk. She didn't respond right away but made herself comfortable on the sofa, remove her heels, and raised her feet on the table. So, we have bad news e. I know I've been bugging Ros about this company for years. She and her team have been working nonstop to gain SIP.
Three years ago, it was a quiet one for mergers and acquisitions, but there was one notable exception. Kavanagh Media purchased Barnes & Noble, valued at 894 million dollars. With the acquisition, Kavanagh, the private equity firm that owns U.K. bookstore chains, put her daughter in charge of B&N. At first, I think it is not a wise move that he let her daughter took charge of it. There are rumors that Mr. Dalton Kavanagh will soon retire and he's just preparing her daughter to take over.
I met Katherine Kavanagh multiple times in certain events in Europe and at first sight, she's just a blonde bimbo, a spoiled brat that flashes her eyes to get what she wants. I'll admit that I underestimate her abilities. In three years, she doubled the sales and created films and documentaries. They announced two other big deals when she reigns.
One film they produce was featured and won at Cannes Film Festival. I could watch their film entitled I, Daniel Blake and I must admit that it really deserves the award. I'm not really a fan of watching films because it's just a waste of time but there's always an exception. The award-winning film portrays so many people about the bureaucracy and often complicated welfare system. It brings focus to the extreme poverty that people experience daily. It really gets my attention since I know exactly what it feels and somehow it hurts to ask for help. Very worst of anything that can ever happen to anybody. They made it so intriguing because they decided not to reveal who wrote that damn masterpiece. Kavanagh really played the media so well.
Last year, educational giant Blackwell agreed to merge in an all-stock transaction to Kavanagh. The deal comes against the backdrop of a rapidly changing educational publishing market, particularly in college publishing. The merger will bring together two companies that publish materials for higher education, English-language teaching, professional, medical, and library reference markets. It dawned my attention since I have supported various scholarship programs. I can see that in the future Kavanagh media will fully gain the Blackwell. It dawned my attention that it's a good business and investment. So, I explored and started my vision to have Grey Publishing.
I remember when Elliot called me three years ago. He said that he wanted to have lunch with me and he's just around the corner. I know I have been very busy because I started studying how the media and publishing work. It really drained me because it's not really my forte. But something tells me to pursue this and if I can't beat them, then I'll join 'em. I'm Christian Grey!
When I get to the resto across the road, I was so shocked to see the blonde bimbo with Elliot. We were formally introduced, and I get to know my future competitor in the market. I take it as an advantage to get updates on what they up to, but she's too inquisitive about my liking. She's so irritating and asking too many personal questions. Her tenacity did not even affect Elliot over me because he's just looking at her the entire time like a fool. Really! I've never seen Elliot this quiet. He always wants to get attention from a woman he will bed later and leave after. Elliot blushed when Kavanagh asks about his works and stuff. Ew! What's wrong with him!
The air suddenly shifted when Kavanagh mentioned her friend will be here shortly. It hits me with a ton of bricks that my fucking brother wanted me to entertain the friend so that he can flirt with her newfound toy girl. He's full of smiling on me like he was posing for a toothpaste commercial, and that's all the confirmation I need. I know my eyes can speak so I stare at him saying fuck you! I will not deal with this matchmaking thing he has in mind, and I will definitely not waste my time on this friend. I texted Taylor the code whenever I wanted to leave so that he can intervene. I must get out of there before the friend arrives.
I lean on my table and put my hands inside my pocket while patiently waiting for Ros. I can't demand now. I know I've been a pain in the ass this week to all of them, but I can't lose her and turn to our competitor.
"Roach didn't sign again." She said coolly while resting her head and looking at the ceiling. In the last two years, I wanted to buy SIP. It has been stagnant for years. I think they only recovered their sales two years ago, but it wasn't enough for their loss. I've been reviewing their files and I can see what they're lacking. I know I can change it.
"What! Why? I thought it's already settled. They agreed on all the terms -
"Yeah, yeah, I thought that, too. But he said that someone also wants to buy SIP and they will decide once he heard what they have to offer. Nevertheless, our offer is still on the table."
"Fuck! Who the hell has the urge to compete with me? ", Fuck! Who the hell!
"Relax Grey! Based on what I've heard, it just some newbie wannabe. It is not even in our league. I'm confident that Roach will not let them takeover. He's really an idiot if he does that. "
"Ros I get that he wanted to retire, so he's selling but it been so long and it's not good for us. To hold our offer from some wannabe out there is not a good sign. Give him an ultimatum. If they ask for more, pressed them. I will not wait for another year for them to decide. I want it NOW!"
Ros only raised her eyebrows at me but does not dare to say something. She knows that I'm desperate for this.
I've been sitting at the veranda from my rooms for hours since I got home and I'm nursing a wine looking at the Seattle nightlife. All the nightlights to me seem grey. They are so colorful but too lifeless to my eyes. It's quite boring now since I don't have a sub I could play with. My thoughts are flying from Detroit. I still wonder about the girl and now I hate when I'm not doing anything. It's past 9 pm so I scroll my phone and I'm deciding whether to call Elliot or Mia. I bothered Elliot since I haven't seen him for the past weeks.
He answers after two wings.
"Hey bro, wazzup! Hold on! I can't hear you, ", Elliot speaks. Idiot! I haven't spoken yet. I rolled my eyes.
"Bro? I'm good. Do you need something?"
"Hey Elliot, I was wondering if you want to hang out tonight. Beers and Mariners maybe?", I hate that I sound hopeful.
"Ow. Too bad bro. I'm at the bar with Kate. We're here in Portland with her friends. Well, I didn't get to invite you co'z it's a kind of moment thing. But next time, come with me so you can meet her friend An-"
I hang up before he can even finish his sentence. Honestly, I'm tired of hearing of this friend named Ana. I know and hear many things about her. Thanks to Elliot who has been telling me all of it for years.
I don't have time for love shit he's trying to pull. My life will be more complicated if I let this friend of Kavanagh intervened. She will probably expose my lifestyle to Kavanagh, and I will not let that happen. Kavanagh should better not divulge any secrets about her because Elliot will tell it to town.
I just texted Elliot to enjoy his time, and I have no time to hear another story about Ana. He texted back that I'm missing life. Hell! I'm not even curious about her or be bothered to look for her pictures. All my thoughts are all on the certain brown-eyed goddess I encounter last year. I want to know her name and how is she now. But it seems so impossible since her image is only engraved in my mind. I rest my head, looking at the Seattle nightlights, imagining that she's here sitting with me. Fuck! What the hell is wrong with me. Thinking about her only makes me hard, and the setting is too romantic for my liking.
I, Daniel Blake is a 2016 drama film directed by Ken Loach and written by his long-time collaborator Paul Laverty. It stars Dave Johns as Daniel Blake, who is denied Employment and Support Allowance despite his doctor finding him unfit to work.