“Yes sir.” I checked my watch. “It should be coming in in two minutes or so.”
“Do we have the data on market share for each country in the EU?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. Right here. I have them alphabetical by country or in this list, by potential sales.” I handed him the papers and he scanned them quickly.
“I also have information about our competitors there and had Hunter put together a list of benefits of our products over them.” I handed him the information. “If he knows Strong is coming to Europe no matter what and will be dominating the market, it might sway him. FOMO and all.”
Ryan glanced up at me. “FOMO?”
“Fear of losing out?” I shrugged. “The point is, it can entice him to make the deal so no one else can.”
He studied me for a moment with those deep blue eyes. Andi was right. He was handsome. He had all the makings of a billionaire playboy, but he didn’t fall into that trap. He was singularly focused on the company.
“You’re excellent at your job, Ms. Nichols.”
It felt good that he recognized my work. “Thank you, Mr. Strong.”
“I need to close this deal today. I’ll do pretty much anything to make it happen. The window of opportunity is closing if we want to be ready for distribution in the fall.”
As his assistant, I felt the pressure he was under as much as he did. I knew that today was pretty much do or die for this deal. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
The computer on his desk chimed.
“Show time,” he said, poking the mouse to answer the video call.
Mr. LaMont appeared on the screen. He wasn’t much older than Ryan, and like Ryan, he worked in his family’s business, having taken it over when his father retired. Unlike Ryan, he seemed like a man who enjoyed life. Or maybe it was just the European look to him. While Ryan’s tie was done tight, Mr. LaMont didn’t bother with a tie, and instead wore his shirt with the top few buttons undone. His dark hair was combed back but had a windswept look like he’d just gotten out of a convertible after driving along Cote D’Azur.
“Mr. Strong. How are you?” Mr. LaMont’s French accent came from the computer.
“Please call me Ryan. I’m doing well. How about you?”
“Very good. Very good. I’m eager to celebrate a deal with some wine and perhaps a little love with my wife tonight.”
Ryan’s cheeks tinged with pink. That was the other thing about the French or maybe it was just Mr. LaMont, but he was fairly outspoken about the many sensual aspects of life, including sex. I wondered if he’d ever asked Ryan if he got laid.
“Well then, let’s get to business,” Ryan said. “I believe my assistant sent you all the details from our last call. Did you have time to review them?”
“Yes, yes. And they do look quite favorable.”
“So you’re ready to sign?” Ryan held his hand out and I passed him the contract we’d put together. He had one and Mr. LaMont did as well.
“I have to be honest, Mr. Strong…er… Ryan. My concerns aren’t about the terms of the deal.”
“You have concerns?” Ryan kept his face impassive, but I could see tension gathering in his broad shoulders.
“Not about the terms, but about Strong Incorporated.”
Ryan’s jaw clenched. “Oh? The company profits are up by eight percent this year.” Ryan launched into his spiel about the company’s financial strength, but as he did, I noticed Mr. LaMont’s eyes begin to gloss over. Having done my research on LaMont, I wondered if his concern was less about company stability. LaMont took over his business from his father, who took it over from his, and so on back for nearly a hundred and fifty years. This was a man seeped in family history. And I’d learned that he seemed to favor doing business with other companies that had long family traditions.
I jumped in to help Ryan. “Don’t forget that Strong Incorporated was star
ted fifty years ago by Margaret Strong, Mr. Strong’s grandmother. Even as she gets ready to retire, her four grandsons are already deeply involved in the business and committed to continuing her legacy.”
Ryan didn’t look at me, and I worried that perhaps I’d overstepped.
Mr. LaMont smiled. “I am aware of your company history. It is one reason I’m negotiating with you. You may be aware that we much prefer to work with family businesses. They offer stability and a legacy that each generation wants to protect. However, with all those grandsons Ms. Strong has, none are married or settled. They have no children to carry on the business.”
“They are still young,” I said. Afterall, Ryan was only twenty-eight and he was the oldest.