Present Day

John fixed his tie, trying to ignore the look on Talbot's face. "I'd advise you to say nothing."

"I wasn't going to say anything except I think we need to give Andy a raise."

"I'll agree to Andy's raise on account of his speed and his discretion."

Talbot coughed, "And I should be commended."

"For what?"

"For getting you back with your lady love."

"Any part you played in arranging it had nothing to do with our resolution." John accepted his coat from Carson, shrugging into is and waiting a moment for Carson to adjust it for him. "That was personal and we worked it out ourselves."

"Either way, I played a major part in it and I should be rewarded for going out on a limb. That might not've worked."

"But it did."

"Still a risk." Talbot pulled the door open, "Though how you're going to look that man in the eye today without saying anything is beyond me."

"How'd you mean?" Talbot raised an eyebrow, John risking a look over at it as they walked to the car tried to keep his face blank, "I honestly have no idea why you think I'd struggle to be anything but professional in the face of Alex Green."

"See, now I know you're lying." Talbot climbed into the car, waiting the moment it took John to join him. "I spoke with your maids so I know the two of you had more than a good time Friday night and Saturday morning because Mrs. Green didn't leave until noon."

"So?"

"So?" Talbot smacked his forehead with his open palm. "We've got a board meeting this morning at Green Incorporated where you'll have to stare down Mr. Green, who you already hate with a passion that burns hot enough for you to buy him out of his company, and with whose wife you had raucous sex with this past weekend. How'll you do that without crowing your victory?"

"By smiling and being confident."

"That's it? You'll just bite it all down with a smile."

"I didn't get this far by being stupid."

"Having an affair with a married woman seems pretty stupid to me."

John scoffed, "This from the man who wants a commendation for helping me get with said woman."

"I didn't expect you to keep to this meeting or stick with your plan once you'd seen the light in this regard."

"What regard?"

Talbot huffed, "I thought you two would run away together and leave me your millions or something."

"Dream on Henry."

Talbot shrugged, "I thought it was the least I deserved given that everyone thought we were a couple for the longest time."

"It doesn't help that you're with me all the time and you live in my house." John pulled his phone from his pocket, flipping through the notifications. "But I guess if there's a rumor I'm sleeping with a married woman then everyone'll know I'm not sleeping with you."

"That's not a guarantee."

"Really?" John turned to Talbot, who only shook his head while addressing his own emails. "People must think I'm more progressive than I really am."

"You'd be surprised what people say about you on the fringes."

"Don't enlighten me." John called to Andy in the front of the car, "And Andy, you're getting a raise."

"Thank you sir."

John sat back, "Is everything finalized?"

Talbot nodded, digging a packet from his briefcase to hand over to John. "We finalized purchase on Friday and once it goes through the accountants we'll be full owners by end of next month, middle of the one after on the very outset."

"Perfect." John flipped through the documentation, "And how are Barrow and O'Brien doing?"

"Digging themselves a nice little hole according to Murray. He says 'hello' by the way."

"In his most professional voice I imagine."

"I don't think he has another one."

"No," John tucked his phone away, "Probably not."

The car pulled up to the building and John got out before Andy could get around to open the door. Waving him off John looked up at the glass windows, scanning over them a moment before Talbot tapped his shoulder. "It doesn't do anyone any good to pretend you're awed by this."

"I'm just wondering which one holds our cowering Mr. Green."

"Why would it matter?"

"Just so I know which one I'd throw him out of if I didn't mind going back to prison." John strode toward the doors, Talbot matching his strides with their long legs.

"If you plan on any of that leave me out of it." Talbot opened the door, tucking in right behind John. "Once was enough for me."

"That's why I said 'if I didn't mind'." John pulled his ID from his wallet to show the woman at the front desk. She compared it to her documents and handed over a temporary badge. "Thank you."

"Mr. Green'll send someone down to retrieve you for the meeting momentarily."

"Thank you." Talbot cut in before John could speak, leaning on the counter, "Are you always this kind or did you add additional charm just for us today."

"Wow," The woman smiled him, "I've never been called charming before there was a drink on the line."

"Would you like the next time I say it to include a drink?" Talbot winked at her and the woman stood, leaning closer to him.

"That depends. How amendable are you to a three-way?"

"Depends on who number three is."

"My girlfriend."

Talbot shrugged, "The more the merrier I think."

"Then let me point her out to you," The woman pointed just over Talbot's shoulder and he turned only to have his jaw drop.

"What's this?" Mary set her purse on the counter and John could barely contain his laughter as Talbot struggled to regain his composure. "Henry, how wonderful to find you here."

"I'm here with Mr. Christian." He pointed at John, who waved at them, and then tried to find words to fill his mouth while it flapped open and closed like a suffocating fish.

Mary chortled at him, "I just adore how quickly Mabel here can come up with a story to leave men like you dumbfounded."

"What?"

"Mabel Lane-Fox," The receptionist stuck her hand over the desk, shaking Talbot's rather limp one. "I'm actually engaged… to a man, if that makes it better."

"I'm not sure anything makes this better." Talbot grumbled, returning her shake while refusing to meet Mary's eyes.

"Mary?" Everyone looked up to see two men in suits coming to join them. "They didn't tell us the Crawleys would be making an appearance at this meeting."

"My father thought it appropriate to check in on his portion of the investment." Mary hugged both men, kissing their cheeks before pivoting to introduce them to Talbot and John. "This is Mabel's fiancé, Tony Foyle, and my good friend Charles Blake."

"I'm the general manager of Green Incorporated." Tony shook Talbot and then John's hands. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Mr. Christian. I've heard so much about you."

"I do hope I live up to the legends then." John returned the shake before taking Charles's hand. "Are you an investor here as well?"

"Yes and no. I manage companies, similar to what Tony here does, but not this one. I'm here as a representative of a few investors that sit on the board. They're abroad and couldn't be bothered to put down their drinks on whatever distant beach they're occupying right now."

"Maybe they're the smart ones."

"Maybe but I get paid by the hour so the more time they're on the beach the more I get paid." Charles opened his hand toward the lift, "If you'll follow me. Thank you Mabel."

"Not a problem Charles. And Mr. Talbot, the offer's still open."

Talbot reddened, hurrying to follow Tony and Charles into the lift while Mary hung back a moment to keep pace with John. He snorted, jerking a thumb back toward Mabel, "That was probably the highlight of my morning thus far."

"I'm sure."

"Did you plan that?"

"I know Talbot is attracted to attractive women and so I took advantage of a chance to keep him on his toes." The lift filled so Mary waved them up before hitting the button for the next one. "I think we should all be more on our toes."

"Is that a veiled threat, Mrs. Crawley?"

"Take it as you like, Mr. Bates." Mary lowered her voice on the last part, leaning more toward him. "I'm frankly surprised you're coming to this meeting yourself."

"I owe it to the majority holders to introduce them to the new owner."

"When you say majority owners you're talking about yourself and Jack Green yes?" Mary waited but John refused to answer. "You're really something."

"How'd you mean?"

"I'm not an idiot and you can't possibly forget that I was there on Friday. I saw you leave and then I saw Anna rush after you like Hell was whipping her heels." Mary entered the lift, hitting the button for the right floor. "You don't have to be a great magician to know what happened that night since you're still standing and so is she."

"What'd you assume would happen?"

"Personally I hoped she'd throw the fire irons at you but I guess we can't all be so lucky we get exactly what we want."

John snorted, "And you wanted Anna to harm me in some way?"

"After what you put me through trying to find something to tear her apart I wanted to do a lot more than that."

"You did mention that I didn't know enough about the details of her marriage."

"I should hope, since you took no care at all in the subject of ruining it, that you know more about it now than you did then."

"I know what she told me about it and that's all I need to know."

"If you need to know what I know about it all," Mary stepped toward the opening doors, "Don't hesitate to ask. I want to bury that bastard six feet in the ground if I can."

"Anna mentioned you got her the proof she needs for a divorce." John followed Mary, keeping his voice low as they walked around the glass room that held the large meeting table where Tony, Charles, and Talbot were already taking their seats. "Is she still going on with it?"

"Far as I know. She visited with Murray this morning to discuss updating some paperwork but divorce, especially for people in her position isn't as easy as it is for other people."

"Assets and shares?"

"More like an exacting pre-nup and other ridiculous legal limbos." Mary rolled her eyes, smiling at Tony as he opened the door for them. "It'll all work out Mr. Christian, never fear."

"I don't." John took his seat next to Talbot, nodding at the few other people around the table they had yet to formally meet. He leaned toward Talbot, keeping his voice barely above a whisper, "What'd you get out of Tony and Charles?"

"Tony let slip that he's aware there's new majority share holder and it's driven Mr. Green to flip his shit." Talbot sniggered, "And Charles is here representing us on two of his five companies but he's no idea."

"We'll keep it that way." John eyed the two men, "What's your feel on them personally?"

"They're intelligent, reliable, and honest. Good men if ever I've met some."

"Then we'll keep Tony. Given him management control and share management of our ownership here, and get Charles away from the others to manage more of our international holdings."

"Yes sir." Talbot flipped out his phone, typing almost fast enough to send his fingers into veritable blurs. "They'll be enacted by end of business today."

"Perfect."

The door opened and John gripped the armrests of his chair tighter as Alex Green entered the room. Anna followed him, her eyes flicking to John. For a moment they widened but she checked her emotions and took the seat next to Mary, across from Talbot, while Green strode to the head of the table.

"I apologize for being late, everyone, but I had a meeting run long this morning and I couldn't put it off."

"Stroking his dick inside some prostitute more likely." Talbot hissed at John, sliding his phone to John for him to flip through the photos there. "Courtesy of Mrs. Crawley from this morning."

John nodded at Mary, who only shrugged and leaned over to whisper something to Anna. Anna smiled at her, putting a hand over the one Mary rested on her shoulder, and rubbed a moment before dropping back to the tabletop. The door opened again and John grinned to see Jack enter the room. The boy pulled at his suit jacket, coughing as he nodded to all the members in the room, and took the empty seat to the right of his father.

"Why are you late, Jack?" Green hissed and Jack pulled something from his pocket, passing it to his father. Green opened it, scowled, and stuffed it into the interior pocket of his jacket. "We'll discuss this later."

"As interesting as I'm sure your personal affairs are, Mr. Green," John spoke up, straightening in his chair while drawing the attention of the room toward him. "I'm sure we've all scheduled other commitments today that'll also need our attention. If there's nothing to stop this meeting going forward I think we should begin."

"Yes, Mr. Christian. You recently purchased the shares Mr. Bricker used to own in this company." Green opened his hands to him, "Welcome to our family here at Green Incorporated."

"Then it would seem you're not being informed as to the developments in your own company, Mr. Green." Mary spoke up, writing something on the notepad in front of her before passing it to Charles, seated next to her. "Mr. Christian owns the majority of shares in this company."

"And how would you know that, Mrs. Crawley?"

"I'm well informed."

"Not as informed as you think." Green pointed to Jack, who kept his gaze steady on the far wall. "My son and I control eighty percent of this company."

"Not anymore." Charles passed the note on to Tony. "It seems that Jack Green sold his shares almost six months ago."

Green paled, whirling on his son. Jack did not look at him but he did not cower either. "They were to do with as I pleased and I decided to invest my interests elsewhere."

"You did what?"

"Christian Enterprises is an internationally growing company with diversified interests and that returned on my investment in two months." Jack stood, pulled his jacket straight, "I came here to inform the board that I can no longer have a spot on it since I work as an intern at Christian Enterprises main office for Mr. Christian."

Green's face contorted like he wanted nothing more than to spit fire at his son but directed his rage at John, raising a shaking finger with barely controlled fury. "You did this."

"Technically speaking Jack approached me with the offer of his shares and I accepted it." John stood, buttoning his coat. "As majority shareholder I'd like to put to the board a request to officially remove Alex Green as President and CEO of Green Incorporated and designate someone else more qualified for the position in his place."

"Seconded." Mary held up her hand, "With immediate effect."

"Thirded." Tony nodded at Mary, "I'd like to put forward Mrs. Anna Green as acting CEO."

"Seconded." Charles smiled, pointing to Jack, "With Jack Green as President."

"Seconded to the second and thirded to the first." Talbot turned to John, "Still need a third."

John smiled at Jack's face. "Thirded."

"Then it's all settled." Mary stood as well, "It'll be up to the new president and CEO to choose the next time we have this meeting but I doubt it'll get more fun than this one was."

"You can't do this." Green pounded the table with his fist, sending it vibrating. "I'm still a shareholder in this company."

"You're down to owning less than twenty-five percent of this company and, honestly," Tony shook his head, "With you out of the decision making process we might actually see some success in all this."

Green rounded on Jack, grabbing at the boy's jacket, "How could you betray me? How could you do this to me?"

"Remove your hands or I'll remove them for you and then have security remove you from this building." John was next to Green in a moment, his tone even but the menace in his voice enough to have Green's shaking hand immediately retreat. "Now gather your things and get your sorry ass out of this building before I put you through this very high window."

"You think you've won, don't you?"

"If this is winning, Mr. Green," John towered over him, "Then you've never seen it. And no, I haven't won. Not yet. Not by a long shot."