6 - Black Gold

If there had been any doubt that they were official business partners, there was certainly no doubt about it now.

"Well Mr. Lord, I must say I'm already impressed," Audrey admitted as John pulled the car down the drive and around in front of the building.

The Black Gold Cooperative building was large and modern but with an exotic flair to it, making it stand out strikingly against the landscape. It had a sprawling field surrounding it, a grand doorway with gold lettering BGC above. If the outside was this impressive, she couldn't wait to see the inside.

Max was beaming. "Well I am truly glad to hear that, Dr. Laurel. However, you haven't even seen the most exciting part yet - please allow me."

She laughed as he offered her his arm. She wrapped her hand through his arm and he led her, she on his arm, through the front doors and into the sweeping building. "Welcome, Dr. Laurel, to Black Gold Cooperative! This is where all the magic happens!"

He had insisted on picking her up at the museum with his chauffer and bringing her to his place of work for what he called 'the grand tour'.

The revolving door led into a simple lobby. A TV sat by the front desk, blaring the Black Gold commercial she just loved so much.

"Life is good - but it can be better. And why shouldn't it be? Everything we've dreamed about is right at our fingertips..."

"You just love to hear yourself talk, don't you."

"Always." He winked. "Morning ladies," he then addressed the women behind the front desk.

"Good morning, Mr. Lord."

"This is Dr. Audrey Laurel from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History," he introduced her to his staff members, as though she were someone very important visiting on a business venture.

"You make me sound a lot more exciting than I am," she told him as he led her past the lobby and deeper into the building.

"Oh, now I don't think that's true," he said, shocked by her statement. "I for one think you're very exciting!"

"Well, thank you, Mr. Lord, I appreciate it."

The quaint lobby led out into a sprawling sitting area, made of light marble, lit up from the giant skylight above.

"Wow... This is gorgeous."

"Why, thank you! I'm glad you think so! I had a large hand in the design myself."

"Oh, I bet you did." She didn't doubt it at all, not for one single moment. It was all big and flashy, just like his personality.

He pressed the elevator button and led her inside the gold-coloured lift.

"No music? Usually lifts have some sort of tune."

"Any recommendations?"

"I'm a hardcore rock 'n' roll fan, myself."

"Perfect!"

The top floor was much less busy than the lower floor had been, not that the lobby itself had been all that busy. In fact, it had been quite the opposite, she having seen very few other people about the building. There certainly wasn't as much action taking place here as she had been expecting for such a bustling and successful company.

Those were the first warning signs, and, looking back, she wished she could say she caught them, took note of them, but alas, she did not. Not until later, when it was too late.

Still, Maxwell showed off his workplace with as much passion as she imagined she had showed off hers to him. He explained to her how he had built this company from the ground up, it starting out as just a room in the college he had studied at, with him as the only employee, taking on any and every roll that was needed, and how it had grown into the successful business it was today.

"It's my baby - well, it was, until my real baby came along." He chuckled and smiled warmly upon mentioning his son.

"Does he take after you, your son?"

He surprised her by answering, "Oh, I hope not." Noticing her surprise and confusion at his answer, he explained. "What I mean is, I hope that Alastair will be a lot more successful and brave than I am."

"Well it appears to me that this has been a very successful endeavor. And you said you built it from the ground up, and by yourself. If that's not brave, well then..." She trailed off, not needing to continue. She had made her point, or she hoped she had.

He gave her a warm smile which confirmed that she had. "Thank you, Audrey, I appreciate it. I needed to hear that."

"We all need a little reassurance and reminder now and again."

"We certainly do."

There came a knocking tap tap at the door. Raquel peeked her head in. "Mr. Lord, I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but your ex-wife is calling." By the way she said it, Audrey could tell she meant, 'your ex-wife is calling again'.

"Tell her I'm busy, Raquel."

"I did, but she won't hang up without talking to you, she says she'll stay on the line as long as needed. It's about Alastair-"

Now Max looked panicked. "What, what about Alastair?"

"Nothing bad, Mr. Lord, just about the end of the school year."

Max breathed a sigh of obvious relief. "And it can't wait?"

"Apparently not."

Max heaved a heavy sigh. "I'm terribly sorry, this is embarrassing, not to mention unprofessional."

"No, no, personal lives can catch up with our work lives," Audrey assured him.

"Can't they just. Excuse me for just a moment, I promise I won't be long."

"Please, don't worry. Take as long as you need." His ex-wife clearly wished to speak with him.

With another nod from her he disappeared into his office to take the call. He emerged about ten minutes later, looking apologetic. "Audrey, I'm so sorry, but I unfortunately don't see this call ending soon..." He did not sound at all pleased by this.

"Max, it's fine," she assured him. "I understand. I should be going anyways. Thank you for the tour, I enjoyed it."

"Of course, any time. And now you know where to find me."

She chuckled. "And you, me."

Whew, sorry for the delay! This chapter took longer than I'd hoped, but I've been working on so many stories at once, as usual! Thankfully though, here we are - I'll try not to delay the next chapter quite as much but I also won't make a promise just in case!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)