The Joint Venture Gets Complicated
Chapter 20 - Janice and Jeremy Join the Family
On another bright sunny morning, Emma and I took the breakfast chores. There was no sign of the naked nymphs who usually had coffee duty. We did two trays of coffee and juice and I offered to climb to the third floor.
Given the time change from London, I wasn't surprised to find open eyes after knocking on the door and being told to enter. Jeremy joked, "I say, the CEO should not be a serving maid."
"Be quiet, Economist, and enjoy your brief vacation. The serving maids are temporarily out of action. Too much pub crawling, I suspect."
Janice held out her hand for a squeeze. "Alec, that was the most lovely welcome yesterday anyone could imagine. And extra special because we were alive and not burned up in a stupid airplane."
They sat up for coffee and juice, Janice unselfconsciously pulling the sheet up to cover her breasts.
"Tell us, what mix of work and play do you have in mind for today?"
I smiled, "CE doesn't believe in those terrible Powerpoint briefings in windowless conference rooms. I'm afraid you will have to absorb a first round of introduction to the project from the incredibly talented women you met last night. Probably outdoors, which they love. There is a swimming pond, a running route, sunny dells in the trees, and soon the lab building will be functional."
She sighed and relaxed against Jeremy's chest. "I told you last night, and I'll repeat it this morning. You can't possibly be truly starting a company in this divine fashion."
"You look so beautiful right now, nestled in your lover's arms, it is hard for me to say there will be tough moments ahead. Anna climbs into my arms, like you do in his, and worries all the time. But then she stuffs one of her fantastic boobs in my face, grabs me for sex, and all the troubles disappear."
Janice's face was blushing as Jeremy whispered in her ear. "No, not now. We have to work."
He spoke up, "What did Alec just tell you? There is a cure for your worries and you are about to receive it."
Janice pulled the sheet over her head and Jeremy waved at me. I closed the door carefully.
Most everyone else was in the kitchen when I returned. "How is the third floor this morning?" Anna was giving me an intent look.
"Jeremy is treating Janice's worry problem."
"You are kidding. After last night?"
"She is very high strung. I told her the agenda was to absorb the CE program from all of your talented selves. I said you preferred to do that outdoors."
"This is not like you, Alec. What is going on?"
"I have advice from the HR Department that socialization with newcomers is important. I am delegating that to you. Jeremy and I are going for a sail, and will do shopping with your list while we are down the hill. Any more questions should be directed to Emma."
I was in my office attending to email when a familiar voice whispered in my ear, "You are an even better guy than I thought."
I rolled her over my shoulder into my lap. "Not possible. I'm just a dumb CS engineer with a curious cock and some wonderful girlfriends."
As I suspected, there was nothing under the dress. I pinched a prominent clit and said, "When there is snow, parts of you are going to freeze."
Another voice from behind, with an Asian accent, asked, "How does a curious cock take care of girlfriends buried in fleece and goosedown?"
Now I had two diminutive bodies in my lap, both squirming under curious fingers. "An always hot sauna, probably more than one, is required."
I kissed them gently and asked, "Is there a business purpose to this visit?"
The Controller relaxed and asked, "Should I talk money with Janice? They probably need some."
"Write her a check for $5,000. Say that is the standard advance and ask for travel receipts so you can write another. Find out where she wants to bank and assist if needed. Have you talked to the bank guy about commercial credit arrangements? Some of our equipment purchase orders will probably need letters of credit to go with them. Maybe we should segregate some of my royalties and use that account for collateral."
"Damn, every time I get close to catching up, there is another avalanche of homework. You are putting a lot of trust in a nineteen year old."
"No, I am surrounding you with people who will offer help whenever you need it."
I turned my attention to the General Counsel, who pursed her lips and demanded a second kiss.
She giggled, "Alec, we should make a tutorial video about how to launch a startup. The scene of morning staff meetings with the Controller and General Counsel will go viral."
She was also bare under her dress. And moist as well. "And is there a business purpose for your visit?"
"Beth and I have been working on Intellectual Property documents. Since we have the right people here, shouldn't we set aside a couple of hours for a discussion so I can turn these into complete working drafts to take to Sam for review?
"Yes. Absolutely. Tell me, now that I have delegated the calendar, how long are we staying here?"
"Emily and Clara and I are flying on Sunday. The rest of you are bringing the van down as soon as you are comfortable with where the various plans and homework stand. That doesn't count time for you and Jeremy to be troublemakers."
They were leaving my lap as Janice and Anna walked in, holding hands.
"Your lap, Alec? Really!" They leaned over the back of my chair for a kiss. I asked, "You seem to be socializing well. No hair pulling yet?"
"We are not here to tease. Is it possible to discuss business? We are too big for your lap."
We wandered out into the sunshine, talking work. Janice had been probing Anna for ideas on where to lend her talent to startup chores.
"What about ones with some overlap to the JV?" I asked. "Maybe financing angles? How to tap venture money without selling ourselves short?"
Her hip pressed mine. "That would be good. Jeremy will help. He knows a number of major players from his family interests. They are longtime international merchant bankers in the UK."