Present Day

John and Talbot stood in the lobby, watching Jack Green run inside the building to join them at the lifts. He held up his mobile, showing them the time, "I'm not late."

"No, you're not late. Punctuality is the first test and you've passed. Well done." John nodded and Talbot opened the lift doors. "Ready for test two?"

"I am." The three of them entered and John made a show of pulling out his mobile with a timer. "First off, I want to work as Mr. Talbot's intern here, since I'm only sixteen, but I've studied his methods and I think I could do just as well, if not- excuse me sir- better than him in a year or so and move up the ladder."

"With what credentials?" Talbot bit the inside of his cheek and John could see him trying to hold back a laugh.

"Here's my CV. I already passed all my A levels with high marks. I'm currently in my second year at University. Oxford, that is. And I'm taking a sabbatical to better know my father's company."

"Green Incorporated?"

"That's right." Jack took a breath, "I have access to the full trust my grandfather left me in the way of forty percent of the shares of the company while my father owns another forty percent. I'd be willing to sell those shares to you, at market price, for a seat on his board and yours."

"You'd sell me half of the controlling share of your father's company for an internship?" John whistled, "That's not very bright."

"But sir, it is. My father doesn't know that I've been listening to his business conversations in his office for years, ever since I was a boy, and I've got a knack for it. Better than he does really, and that's why he doesn't want me taking any part of it. He's afraid I'll spoil the business but I've had more than enough lunch meetings behind his back with the sons or daughters of those people he wants to deal with to know that I could land those deals better and faster."

Jack paused, "I know Christian Enterprises has been slowly buying up the other twenty percent of the shares and that you want a controlling interest in the company. I believe you could take the business in a better direction and increase my take on it all if I gave you that controlling interest."

The doors opened and Talbot stepped between them to prevent them closing as John eyed Jack. "You'd sell me your shares for the chance to do what, exactly?"

"Run my father's business." Jack shrugged, "One day. I'd like to graduate first but, for now, I can tell you what I know, learn from you, and then buy the business back from you when it's time."

"You play a long game for someone who's only sixteen."

"I've been playing this game since I was six, Mr. Christian."

John sucked the insides of his cheeks a moment before speaking. "And what makes you think that you, a sixteen-year-old, has what it takes to run a company or even work with Mr. Talbot here?"

"Well, sir," Jack grinned, "I've kept you occupied for two minutes when you only promised be thirty seconds so I'd say I'm pretty compelling."

Talbot turned to John, trying to hide his own smirk, "I'd give the kid a run for being the next me. What do you say Mr. Christian?"

"I'd say it's a good thing we already moved another desk into Mr. Talbot's office." John checked his watch, "And that work starts at eight-thirty."

He extended his hand to Jack, "Welcome to the company Jack."

"You won't regret this Mr. Christian."

"I'm sure I won't."

Twelve Years Ago

John pulled the man by his collar, tossing him back to join the man in the middle of the makeshift ring. "It seems you've made yourself rather a nasty bunch of friends here Mr. Talbot."

"It's a habit Mr. Bates." They stood back to back, John raising his fists to the crowd.

They all wavered a moment, eyeing one another for a brave soul to step forward first. One of them did, a new man, and John squared his shoulders to land a straight left on his nose. The inmate stumbled and John hit him with his right to crack against the man's jaw. He hit the ground and did not get back up.

"Anyone else?"

The crowd dispersed and John took Talbot by the scruff of the neck, moving the away toward the other groups milling about the yard to lose themselves before the guards could find the perpetrators. John released Talbot once they were far enough away and glared at him. Talbot raised his hands in defense.

"Look, all I said was-"

"You're not supposed to speak at all. Didn't you listen to a word I said when you got here?"

"I did but I couldn't just let that man-"

"Henry!" John barked and Talbot quieted. "You need to keep a low profile. Incite their ire and it's not the governor you'll have to worry about but the other men here. They'll skin you alive and wear it as a badge."

"I can handle them." John raised an eyebrow and Talbot coughed. "Okay, maybe not well or on my own but we make a good team, you and I."

"Sometimes I ask myself how you got in here Henry and then I realize, you thought you were too smart for your own good." John turned toward the bell and jerked his head, "Come on, best get you back before mother worries."

"That's funny." Talbot grumbled, "And it was insider trading I'll have you know. I happened to scoop a few extra pounds from a few places I shouldn't have."

"With brains like yours I'm sure your family feels it's a waste to have you here."

"My aunt does but, at the end of the day, I'm all she has now so she realizes I made a mistake." Talbot shrugged, "A year is nothing. A slap on the wrist really."

"A year is not nothing." John replied, his gait catching a little. He grimaced and rubbed at his leg. "A year makes or breaks a man. In your case it could kill you unless you learn to shut your big mouth."

"I heard you got in a knife fight your first week inside."

"It was my third week and yes, I did." John held up his hands. "Suffered some nerve damage but they only tingle when it rains."

"Then the story about your leg?" Talbot led his question, falling into line behind John to grab a tray. "What about that?"

"Third month of my second year here." John massaged it again, limping forward in line to get a slop of watery potatoes on his tray. "After they moved me from maximum for being a model prisoner."

"I heard you got shot there."

"Shattered my knee when they arrested me, yeah." John dodged the flying result of gravy haphazardly deposited on his potatoes. "But the nerve damage came when they cut off the circulation to my leg by hanging me from the shower heads."

"How'd you get out?"

"With difficulty." John hobbled to a table, wincing as he stretched out his muscles to ease the spasms. "But that's all in the past now."

"I heard what happened at New Years." John stared at Talbot across the table. "How you killed that man."

"He had a weak heart," John dug into his tasteless food. "It couldn't be helped."

"They're all scared of you now though. You frighten them."

"And everyday I have to keep frightening them or else I'll get more of these." John pulled up his sleeves to show Talbot his arms, covered in scratches and burn marks. "Now, unless you want to leave here looking like me or not in a body bag, I'd suggest you keep your head down and your mouth shut."

They ate in silence for a moment before Talbot spoke, "What if I told you that I could be of help to you if you'd be of help to me?"

"How so?"

"We're already cellmates and you've been real good to me here, I won't deny it. But," Talbot leaned farther over, lowering his voice, "When they caught me they didn't get everything."

"Are you trying to tell me you've got money stashed somewhere?"

"I've got almost a billion pounds stashed somewhere." Talbot grinned, "And if you ever get out of this hellhole, and keep me alive until I serve out my time as a good little boy and they parole me, then I'm willing to split it evens with you."

"Who says I'm ever getting out?"

"If I had the money I could do it for you."

John snorted, "I like your offer Henry, I won't deny it's got its merits, but I'm never leaving this place. That's what happens when they string you up for murder."

"But if you could?"

"And go back to what, Henry?" John shrugged, "My girlfriend left me the moment they hauled me away, my friends all deserted me, and there's no job in the world that'd take me."

"I thought you had a wife."

"She's the only one I don't hate."

"Why not?"

"Because she was kind enough to finally sign the divorce papers." John pushed away his tray. "Just survive this, Henry, and that'll be payment enough for me. I promise you that."

Present Day

John stood up from his desk, Talbot entering the room with a stack of files. "Leave those for tomorrow Henry, I've got to call it a night on this one."

"I intended to leave them for you tomorrow. I know how you hate to feel your time in the office is wasted." Talbot set them on the edge of John's desk, exchanging them for another set. "Though, while we're on the subject of work, I want to discuss Jack."

"What about him?"

"Well, he's incredible. He'll put me out of a job soon."

"I doubt that Henry." John grabbed his jacket, sliding his arms through before buttoning it. "He's never going to know me like you do."

"But he knows this business to the point where he reminds me of me before I got myself pinched."

John paused, "Are you suggesting he's insider trading?"

"No," Talbot shook his head, "I don't think that at all. What I think is that boy's a natural."

"So?"

"So," Talbot adjusted the files in his grip. "Make him the weapon of destruction."

John raised an eyebrow, "How'd you mean?"

"If you want to bring down Green Incorporated, as you're determined to do, then use him to do it. Drive the dagger in with the betrayal of the son, as it were."

"You want me to turn that boy against his parents?"

"I was specifically thinking his father but I guess since we added his mother to the list I don't see why she can't bite the big one with him." Talbot walked with John toward the glass doors of his office. "You never did tell me what she did to you."

"She left me."

"Was she-" Talbot stopped, "Was she the girlfriend you mentioned?"

"That's her." John pushed the button for the lifts, contemplating. "I was arrested when we were about to celebrate our year anniversary as a couple."

"That's rough."

"I guess it meant less to her than it did to me." John walked into the lift, "But, maybe she didn't like that her roses and chocolates were scattered all over the pavement and the dregs of the card that were left ended up as evidence."

"Women can be funny creatures. Fickle to a fault."

"Are we talking about Mrs. Crawley?" John smirked and Talbot swallowed.

"No."

"Shame. You'd be good together." John winked, "See you tomorrow morning Henry."

"Goodnight John."

The doors went to close until a hand stopped them. John looked up as Jack entered the lift, cringing. Stepping to the side John allowed Jack to take the spot by his side as the doors closed again.

Jack turned to him, "Sorry to take space in the lift Mr. Christian."

"It's a public transportation system Jack. Everyone's got to use it."

"Sometimes people want to be alone. Think by themselves and all that."

"Are you one of those people?"

"Me?" Jack shook his head, laughing, "No. I enjoy other people. I like to study them. Learn everything there is to know about them."

"You should've read psychology, not business."

"I'm doing both sir."

"And what do your parents say to that?"

"My dad thinks it's a waste." Jack rolled his eyes, "But he thinks everything I do is a waste."

"That's a shame."

"It was when I was younger but not now. I've learned that my biggest ally is my mother so I don't bother cracking the nut that is my father."

John bit his tongue to keep back a response, "And, if I may ask an impertinent question, what makes your mother so special?"

"So many things." Jack brightened as the lift doors opened then his face changed, like an idea just struck him with a bolt of lightning. "If you wouldn't find me impertinent, Mr. Christian, I could ask you join us for dinner."

"I wouldn't dream of cutting in on a personal, family dinner Jack. Even if you have worked here for a month."

"That's just it, sir." Jack kept pace with John out the doors toward his car. "It's a bit of a celebration. My mother's got to attend my father at some conference in Edinburgh so they won't see me before I have to get back to school next term. We're meeting for dinner as a send off."

"That's in another week yes?"

"Yes sir. But I'll still able to work. I've got the schedule all arranged with Mr. Talbot and it's a good chance to work on the train."

"Sure we're not overworking you Jack?"

"I'm made for this job sir." Jack stopped as John handed his case to the driver and stood by his open door. "And I think my parents would love an opportunity to meet you in person. I talk about you so much they practically know you already."

"I doubt that." John went to duck into the car but stopped. "Alright, if you don't think I'd be intruding."

"Absolutely not sir."

"Then get in." Jack's eyes widened and John smiled at him, "I'm not going to make you get your own ride there if you can give us directions as we go."

"Do you mean it sir?"

"Yes. Andy?" John addressed the driver, "Please take our destination from Mr. Green here and make sure to inform Mr. Talbot that he'll have to take dinner tonight with those clients without me."

"Very good sir." Andy closed the door and Jack turned to John.

"I didn't know you had plans sir."

"They're old clients and they'll understand my absence. Mr. Talbot's more their friend than I am."

"Are you sure, sir?"

"Trust me Jack, I know how to persuade people but not the way Mr. Talbot can." John sat back, "Buckle in."

After a moment Jack, bouncing his hands on his knees, spoke, "Can I ask how you met Mr. Talbot, sir?"

John chuckled, "I thought you studied him."

"His methods sir."

"Don't you know that method is trained and taught from a young age?"

"Of course sir but I also think people surprise you all the time. They rise above themselves." Jack pointed his hand at John. "Take you, for instance."

"What about me?"

"You came out of nowhere ten years ago. A meteorite just busting through the business world. You snapped up enterprises and businesses left and right without rhyme or reason until, two years ago, when you unveiled your global supply network that had you running everything from production to distribution. A self-sustaining community all on its own."

"And that impressed you?"

"It opened my eyes, sir." Jack shook his head, face covered in awe. "I couldn't believe that one man could have a vision like that."

"When one wants to achieve big they've got to dream big Jack. I hope you know that."

"I sold you my shares sir."

"And then reinvested them in my company so tell me," John turned slightly in his seat, "What've you learned so far?"

"Never put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify, simplify, and above all mystify."

John laughed, rubbing a hand over his face, "I think you belong on the side of the poets and philosophers, Jack. Not in business."

"I think I should've done a great many things sir but, the benefit for me, is I'm still young. I can do and be all those things."

"Is that what you want?"

"It is." Jack shrugged, "My mother always told me we should dream of the life we want and then work as hard as we can to achieve it."

"Do you always listen to your mother?"

"Every chance I get."

John nodded, "That's good. I wish I'd listened to mine a bit more often. Would've saved me a lot of heartache in a bad marriage."

"You're divorced sir?"

"It's been…" John counted in his head, "Fourteen years now."

"Do you regret it?"

"Not for a second. Best thing that woman ever did was sign those papers for me. Ah," The car stopped and a valet opened the door, "Seems like we're here."

They got out of the car and Jack led them into the restaurant. His head, about the height of John's, scanned the room before pointing to a far corner. With a wave of his hand he motioned John to follow him and they made their way through the tables to where a woman and a man sat.

The same blonde woman and auburn headed man from the opera. Jack made his way to the woman first and she pushed out her chair in eagerness to hug her much taller son. When Jack greeted the man, he rolled his shoulders back and stuck out his hand. The man begrudgingly shook it, without standing, and returned to his phone.

John stepped forward as Jack's animated voice reached his ears over the general hum of the room. "And this, father, is Mr. Christian. He's my new boss."

The man looked up, eyes narrowing a moment, and stood slowly. "So you're the famous John Christian?"

"I don't know about famous." John extended his hand and the man only shook it for a moment before dropping it. "But I do know when I stand in front of the man representing the dynastic Green Incorporated. I'm honored to meet you, Mr. Green."

"As well you should be." Green took his seat, picking up his phone again. "As well you should be."

"Mr. Christian?" The woman frowned and then she turned to John. "You're my son's new boss?"

"I am, ma'am." John took her offered hand, kissing it. "He speaks very highly of you."

"Couldn't possibly speak more highly than he does of you." Her eyes had not left him, as if looking for something in his features or his face. "Excuse my rudeness, I'm Anna Green."

"Pleasure, Mrs. Green." John smiled, "It's truly a pleasure."