Match Made in Corporate Heaven
He did not see it coming. He should have but he did not. Now he was the sole heir of a multi-million-dollar communication corporation. He was also Chief Executive Officer of a multi-billion Fortune 500 conglomerate. He barely knew how to keep one company afloat let alone all four of them constituting the conglomerate. William James Wellington had grown up as the privileged son of J. R. Wellington the British corporate magnate of Wellington Communications, Inc.
William sat at his father's former desk and looked at the different factions that made up the conglomerate: W Magazine; W TV Studios; J W Advertising; and J W/Scarlet London Corporation which was managed by J.W.'s best friend Henry Scarlet and his daughter Eliza H Scarlet. All corporations were based in New York City except for J W/Scarlet Corp which was based in London. Out of the four the most successful was the jointly owned company. Part of that reason had to be since her father's death in the last year, Eliza had spent money so the bottom line was a little low, but at the last quarter meeting, JR Wellington had mentioned to William that he should take note that all signs pointed to a strong 4th quarter and end of year profits.
"Yes Father," William returned. He had just stopped in long enough for the total corporate meeting and he had espied Eliza Scarlet down the board table representing her father who had perished under suspicious circumstances the previous month.
That was only a month ago. Little did William think his own father would perish from an embolism later that night. So now he and Eliza were both orphans.
There was a knock-on William's office door. A very pretty dark-haired woman poked her head in.
"Duke," secretary said. "Ms. Eliza Scarlet is here to see you."
William scowled and scratched his bearded chin. "I was hoping she wouldn't be here just yet", he responded in his Scottish brogue.
"What do you want me to tell her, William?"
"Send her in," William said resigned. Then he signaled for his secretary, Arabella, to shut the door and enter in.
"Yes, Duke," Arabella said taking a seat on the edge of the desk.
"I just want to say thank you for the lovely breakfast."
Arabella bent over and kissed the new head of W Communications.
"My pleasure, sir," Arabella giggled. "Will I be seeing you tonight?"
"Probably. I'll let you know a little later, Arabella."
"Ok, I'll send Eliza in," she said as she sashayed her generous figure to the door and then blew William a kiss before she opened it to allow Eliza Scarlet to enter.
William, a tall broad-shouldered well-built man of over six feet with a blue/green eyes, dark brown wavy hair and beard rose from behind the large glass desk and greeted Eliza with a smile.
"Eliza," William said as he gallantly bent and kissed her hand. "thank you for coming. I did not know you would be able to get here as fast as that."
"William," Eliza said her big blue eyes not leaving the man who had kissed her hand. She was a bit smaller than William in her stocking feet, but when she wore her blue stilettos which matched her favorite blue suit which she wore she could at least reach his broad chest and see into his eyes.
"There are such vessels called planes, William. I returned after a considerable time to allow you to mourn your father."
"Thank you, Eliza. However, I am a bit busy, you know, still sorting through the paperwork."
"Do you need some help? I could help you read some of those reports that I know you can understand but do not want to."
"What reports would those be?"
Eliza smiled lowering her eyes flirtatiously.
"I like your hair short, Eliza. It's very attractive," William said standing in the doorway trying to get her to leave.
"You've seen it short before William. Remember last summer?" Eliza had deposited her purse in the leather seated chair across from William's desk and then decided to leaf through the mess that purported to be reports. She picked up a file and started to rifle through the stapled papers.
"You should not really need the hard copies, William. All these files and reports should be accessible on your computer."
Hovering at the closed door to his office, William looked away, sighed noisily, and strode to his desk removing the papers from Eliza's grasp.
She pulled the stapled papers from William's fingers and said, "This is what you need to be analyzing. Your profit and loss statement. This one is for the entire corporation. This is the disbursement statement, general ledger information, list of vendors and last but not least a comprehensive list of your employees."
"Thank you, Eliza. I can go through these much faster if I do it alone."
"You won't do it alone, William. You'll have Arabella come in here and sit on your lap while you share a glass of scotch."
"How little you think of me, Eliza. I am an educated man and can run this company now that my father has left it to me. Do you hear that? To me," William said bending down bringing his face close to Eliza's. He felt something he had not felt for a long time. He suddenly wanted to kiss Eliza. Hard on the mouth. He had not felt that attraction for her since they had been pushed together at a procedural board meeting when they were in their teens.
He rose and said more gently or less sarcastically, "Really, Eliza. I know I owe you a meeting about your company, but now is not the time."
"Well, I can help. You know I was raised to read these reports. I have a Masters of Business Management, Bachelor's in Management amongst other educational degrees.
"Yes, Eliza, I know. All you need is your Doctorate and we'll all be genuflecting at the font of Eliza H. Scarlet," William commented smirking.
"No need to get nasty, William. I am just saying that out of all your companies, I know mine is most profitable. I would like to help keep the main one thriving if I can."
William nodded positively. "Yes, but you really should go now. I can call you at your apartment later."
"Why don't you come over and we can have a late supper."
"Why don't I pick you up and we can go to my club."
"Are they allowing women in that all male place now?" Eliza asked sarcastically.
"How about I pick you up and bring you to my apartment? At least I can cook," William said.
"I can cook…somewhat," Eliza said.
Eliza gave him a wavering look as if she really was not sure she wanted to be that alone with him. William knew as well as she what happened or almost happened twelve years ago when he was 19 and Eliza only 16.
Eliza came around from his desk.
"Ok, William, pick me up at eight. However, I think you had better break the news to Arabella, hadn't you?"
William just rolled his eyes.