Company Intelligence Pt 04

Readers would get a greater appreciation of the context of the story and its events by reading Parts 1 to 3 inclusive. Sex, intrigue, duplicity, serious money and the end justifies the means approach to business centre what is out there in the world of big corporate takeovers.

The takeover of X co Ltd was happening outside the public forum. Information was being created, stolen, circulated and manipulated. What is fact and what is fiction is commonly a very blurred line of reality when so much money is involved. The players are all seeking those key bits of data, those facts that no-one else knows, those edgy stats that indicate any form of weakness and most importantly knowing who really are the opposition teams and what are their strategies. No formal offer documents had yet been lodged with the NYSE, although X co Ltd had lodged a Notice of discussions commencing and the opening of a data room in their Houston office. The share price had creeped up to $30.

James and Marina had been there several times before. Their strategy was never the same. The basics were:

1/ Make up your mind as to whether you want to be taken over and if so at what price;

2/ Get together your team of people, get them intimately involved in the contest, reward them handsomely, lawyers, merchant bankers, accountants, computer modellers, IT gurus, security analysts and to be clear as crystal "spies";

3/ Find out who in your office were on the other teams payrolls and use them as mechanisms to circulate "fake news";

4/ Work 20 hour days and watch everyone, even those in your own team; and

5/ Use whatever means to get knowledge of your opposition groups and see where their weaknesses were and feed the hell out of them if need be to get the advantages required in the last few days as the fights break out.

They had their strategy worked out a month ago, so now they were just tweeking away, playing their cards and manipulating.

Of all the people on their team, Charles and his firm were one of the most trusted, but even they were being watched. Not that Charles knew exactly, but his experience showed through in this tough game that was just heating up. As far as Charles was concerned he never wanted to cross to the wrong side of the law knowing the NYSE would be watching, with the FBI and the local police (although the police really did just focus on personal security unless provoked).

Charles was worried where any of these takeovers progressed, especially into the space where the money got so huge that the lesser mortals and the drug cartels funding these takeovers had no limitations on "persuasion".

Charles calls his lady at home: Hi there honey, have some great and maybe not so good news.

Pam (as her identical sister Sue): Ok the good stuff first.

Charles: One of my new clients heard we are off to Louisiana for our Casino weekend and they want us to join them in their favourite casino just across the border, all expenses paid until Monday morning. Private suite, flash out dinners on Friday and Saturday nights in a private room and massages and beauty parlour all in.

Pam: Like what's to dislike there. The beauty parlour there is brilliant. I hope your client knows how much this is going to cost him.

Charles: He doesn't care. His wife set this up, Marina and she is a high maintenance woman, so I guess you will have stacks of pleasured moments all weekend.

Pam: Well I am counting on that big fellow, in more ways than one. My memory is the promise was no underwear while inside at the Casino... Now that goes both ways does it not?

Charles ducked that question because he knew he may need to be flexible all weekend with James and Marina being quite demanding for the big bucks he and his firm were contracted to receive.

Charles: Sorry honey, the negative is they want me for around 2 hours per day in their joint strategy meetings on Saturday and Sunday and to keep an eye remotely on their computer systems while we are there. I have organised Frank and Eddie will do most of the computer monitoring back in Houston and I will have a couple of others doing some analytics in their office over the weekend feeding us encrypted reports, so I am expecting just meetings and a bit of laptop checking. But you can be enjoying yourself in the spa and your beauty treatments, while I slog it out in boring meetings knowing you getting ready for some private time, maybe?

Pam with a devilish inclination in her voice: Now Charles, you realise that I will be waiting for you up in our room watching some soft porn like 50 Shades or reading some romance novel thinking about you and wanting to make love like the honeymoon. Remember your promise darling. We don't want to keep that moist pussy of mine abandoned and lacking attention, now do we? There is going to be a lot of stray men up there... and ...

Charles had heard that style of line before many times over many years and as always just brushed it off: You will never need a stray man while I am around young wife. Think honeymoon...

Pam: Fine by me darling. Just remember that promise. And what should I take in the way of clothes for these dinners and maybe a bit of gambling later? Risque, semi -formal or adventurous conservative?

Charles: I can hear your mind working overtime, but we don't have time for shopping this time. Marina has dictated semi -formal for men with suits and ties. I don't think Marina and James are gamblers anywhere other than on the NYSE, but we may get a few rolls in down at the tables ourselves after hours. Adventurous conservative?

Pam: There are some outfits that are in the cupboard and have been sitting there for a while now just needing an excuse to come out and play. Do you trust me?

Charles, a somewhat muted: Yes, but it is winter so nothing too brief or you may freeze.

Pam again in devilish tone: You will need to trust me on this one then won't you?

Charles: Maybe we need to let Marina and the trophy wives do the risqué and skin exposures, but I leave that to you. Here is Marina's mobile. Give her a call. Keep it very private please.

One thing though we need to leave around 2.00pm, so if I can grab my clothes on the way through and we leave around then down the freeway before it clogs for the weekend escapes.

Pam: Hi Marina this is Sue, Charles wife. Do you have a minute to talk clothes for the weekend. My man is not driven by clothes, so he has left it with me to talk over girls stuff.

Marina proved to be the perfect hostess, although clearly the dominant woman in the conversation.

Marina in her deep Spanish accent: There will be a range of people and ages, darling. There will be the typical barby doll wives of the lawyers and merchant bankers that are trophies collected along in their second and third marriages by these guys. Big boobs, blond hair and silly laughs. The wives of accountants and computer nerds will be the more conservative and well skilled conversationally. Two or three of the wives from our security people are hard to read darling, so take care with them and try to be friendly even if they just want to talk about their new Mustangs, their holidays in Vail and their fake tans. James and I are kind of pushy as you would expect, but at our dinners we ban work conversations so our guests can relax with their partners. James loves classy women and he will look to chat with you when we swap spots around the table tonight.

My guess is you want to know about clothes.

My recommendation is to be yourself, but get to know these people and how they dress tonight, before you choose for tomorrow night's big dinner. There will be plenty of French champagne tomorrow night to drink, because I ordered it darling. So the dolly birds will be flashing plenty of boobs and skin. While James enjoys the scenery, he does appreciate class, which is why he married me. We will be in the private dining room, so wear clothes that embellish you and accentuate your curves and femininity and draw men's eyes to you because you are inwardly beautiful. Make up is better understated, as is perfume that will entice but not overcome your man. Jewellery is so personal, but needs to compliment your cleavage and ears for your man to dally.

Enjoy your beauty parlour darling as I have set up two appointments for you.

Most of all bring your smile and get your man to bail you out rather than put up with some of the guys who can be annoying with their giant egos.

Sorry got to go. And this mobile number is totally private. No one gets it OK? I will need to talk to Charles about that tonight. Bye.

The mobile clicked off and Pam took in the multitude of messages that came out in that ever so short chat. She sat for a while and made her decisions. Adventurous conservative, listen more and stay close to Charles. She also thought about her and Charles private time together and she knew exactly how to package that into her luggage. Her skills as an actress, a temptress from her plays and her role as a wife would be well tested over the coming few days.

The home phone rang at 1.30pm as Pam wondered who would be ringing at this hour. She assumed it would be Charles running late.

Pam: Running late?

Sue (Pam Johnson): No just getting warmed up, with champagne in right hand and a spunky male checking me out over lunch.

Pam: Sorry sis assumed you were Charles. Just am off for a long weekend with Charles before the kids get home on Monday.

Sue (Pam Johnson): Oh you really have settled in in more places than one I expect?

Pam just let that one go over her head: Pardon me but am racing after Charles dropped on me an hour ago he needed to leave at 2.00pm, so am expecting home any minute. Can I help with anything?

Pam Johnson was slightly put aback, but could not blame anyone but herself for what was happening at home. She opted for the fast life and was seriously fortunate she could avoid major issues with Charles and the kids with real sister Pam stepping up to an extraordinary role as substitute wife. Sue was a bit of a bitch and selfish to the extreme at times, so real sister Pam was just going to let her do her thing while she hurried the conclusions of their cell call.

Sue (Pam Johnson): Four of us from the Divorce Club are off this weekend to scrape up some loose men down in Louisiana, so I was going to use some of your men gathering gear out of the closet and your clothes from your last show. Assume you OK with that.

By the way your phone is working well, along with your new Ipad, so OK to use your emails and whatever?

My plan is to have a no cost plenty of men between my legs weekend, doing a big catch up job for the years that I have missed out at home.

Sue just kept droning on and talking about herself as if her sister was not there. Truth is sis wasn't really because her mind was elsewhere getting herself ready.

After 15 minutes of Pam holding the home phone away from her ear while she put her choices on their home bed, Sue eventually finished her blah blah blah, with a "Don't do anything I wouldn't be caught doing" and "don't forget your pill". Looks like I've got to go, my new man has just got out of the lift and he looks like he needs attention.

Pam: Sounds like you need the last bit of advice first sis, along with I trust Pam Johnson enjoys every minute of her escape not getting caught. Just keep it private or both our reputations will be trashed. Your absolutely crazy to dump Charles and your kids like this, but I do love you dearly.

Sue: You don't know everything Darling about little me and you won't want to in a month maybe even know me. But I am just going for it. Pardon me sis but he has his hand down my groin and you know what that means. (A muffled pleasurable grown is audible). Bye...

Pam: Bye...as she heard Charles entering via the garage.

Pam: Sorry honey, sister was just doing a dramatic over her weekend away with the girls.

Charles just lifted his eyebrows as if questioning.

Pam: Better you don't ask I fear. That sister of mine is going to be a big problem for me not to far down the line, the way she is going on as if she doesn't have a care in the world. Men, big dicks and fast times, mixed with plenty of French Champagne.

Charles: Anything you want me to do?

Pam: Just don't blame me OK and be ready to help me bail her out when the time comes. And it will as a crash and burn. No more looking like twins, honey if that is OK with you? I have to change away from our twins image now or else we are going to bear some of that crap.

Let's forget her and get going? And don't look at my clothes on the bed I want to surprise you (said with a huge smile, loving hug and kiss promising many more later).

Pam donned her denims and boots, managed her clothes in her bag and was off with Charles tapping her on her rear as a friendly suggestion to the near future.

The Interstate 10

They were on the Interstate 10 by 2.00pm with a 2 to 2.5 hour trip confronting them on a cold grey afternoon and with mild traffic.

Pam: I guess this job with Marina and did you say James? This is going to be another hush hush tell no-one anything type of job. I worry about you with these types of jobs. Security is one thing and another is personal risk for us and the kids. I know you don't want me to worry, but there has to be a reason we make so much money and you avoid telling me anything that could get me and the kids in strife. Can we make a deal (as Charles looked across at a worried face)?

If something is going pear shaped for whatever reason you tell me immediately and we get the hell out of there and cut our losses?

If the law is after us or your clients, you tell me so I can distance me and the kids as best we can from the mess?

I have never wanted to get to the bottom of our money and assets, borrowings or business because of this cloak you have, but who do I talk to if I need to if and when, is that Joe back at the office or Lee back at our accountants in Houston?

Charles took these questions on board and was very quiet for 15 minutes as the SUV trundled eastward along the I10.

Pam read the signs and just looked out the SUV window watching the birds on the lakes, the misty areas around little villages and some of the crazy drivers swapping lanes in their overpowered V8's creating the occasional bit of havoc.

Charles: Honey, yes I agree you need to know some of that stuff and yes you shouldn't know some other stuff. I never do anything illegal, which is why Joe as an in-house lawyer is so important to us to make sure.

After another delay: Lee is a typical Chinese accountant who is fastidious with our accounts, books and whatever, but you need to know a lot more about the business before you go near him. He is a solid friend who will support us and you if it gets to that.

With an even longer break: The people we are going to spend time with over the next three days are clients with serious money. Huge money and they are paying our firm big bucks to do this contract for about a month. They probably would sell their souls for money, so no I do not trust them and yes I do nothing unless I get proof of what they are telling me to do. I don't want you to be alone with any of them at any time, other than around a dinner table or the like and with me beside you. That sounds a bit dramatic, but these are not people you or your crazy sister would have ever experienced.

On the funny side, my guess is a couple of the security guys will be carrying, so don't dance with them or you may accidentally get a sore rib or two. If they have ladies with them, they will also almost certainly be female security agents there to protect all and sundry; so in reality I don't see we are at risk personally and probably we are safer there than what we would be at a casino in Houston playing the tables from some drunken lout.

My biggest issue here is to make sure we are not bugged and our computers are not hacked. So why would anybody even be interested in you or I?

The next three days may be difficult in some ways dealing with these very different people to what we enjoy as company, but most of all I am over the moon that you can come with me and keep me away from these guys as much as we can justify as being on a second honeymoon. Sounds like a lot of fun to me.

When we get home next week how about you come down the office and you can see some of our non-secure stuff and maybe help out?

Pam was no fool, but she thought let it go, you've had your say and you've got the answers you need right now. Let it go and get into the mood.

Pam turned on the radio for some great up beat music and just looked across at Charles and smiled. That smile said it all.

The rest of the trip across the border was just beautiful scenery, birds, fantastic houses and great new cars zooming by along the I10.

The Casino

Eventually they crossed into Louisiana, took the off-ramp, circled the lake and dropped their SUV off with the porters at the casino entrance. Trundling their roll-ons through the revolving glass doors, the familiar sounds of a big hotel and its gambling facilities buffeted their ears. There were people everywhere and most particularly at the check in desk lines.

A casino is always such a vibrant place with people scurrying around, catching up with friends and the ever so frequent bars, coffee shops and open atriums. It takes a while to digest all that you are seeing and relate it to a practical reality, one that if you miss will haunt you for your stay. There were the dolly birds, the mutton dressed up as lamb, the business people getting set up for a Conference, the ridiculous mega-rich with their Texan hats, the staff with their pristine uniforms and people who probably could not afford to be there but what the hell.

The line to the desk was shortening before Pam was able to get to grips with where she was and why she was there. Have fun and be careful were well implanted after her heart to heart with Charles in the SUV. She looked at Charles who seemed very intent in taking in all in front, on the screens and watching one particular group moving to the lifts deliberately as somewhat of an organised group. Some of those individuals looked rather surly at best and others merchant banker types with giant egos.

Pam knew she needed to keep a close eye on those people if she saw them again during their stay.

Pam: Honey I just need to visit the ladies. Would you please look after my bags for a minute?

Charles noticed the devilish grin and grinned as his lady wandered off. He loved watching her rear as it disappeared down the corridor and through a marked door 25 metres away.

By the time she returned Charles and their bags had just reached the check-in counter, with Charles intent on dealing with the multitude of questions from the receptionists.

Pam took something from her purse and ever so discretely put it in Charles coat pocket and patted it to ensure Charles knew what she had done.

While the receptionist was programming their keys Charles put his hand into his coat pocket to determine what had been just deposited. It was soft, silk like, with elastic or a similar stretch fabric. Small and slightly moist at one point. His fingers curled through its content and assessed how he should react. He looked at his lady and smiled knowingly.

There was no delay in finding an inner lift to take them towards 1204.