I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant. The valet driver took the keys from me as I exited my car. He looked at me with a disapproving side gaze as he got into my car. I am sure he was used to parking high-end luxury cars and not a regular no-frills vehicle like mine. Most of the money I made went straight into a savings account. I wasn't going to blow it away on an expensive car.
"Yes," the man inside said as I came up to the podium where he was standing. "Deliveries are in the back," he said as he looked back down at the large pad.
"I am here to meet my boss," I said waving my hand over the pad to get his attention.
"Name?" the man asked as he looked at me.
I gave him the name of both Samuel and Jack. He looked at me with widened eyes. "You're the person they are waiting on?" he said looking down at my jean pants and dark green shirt. I wasn't told it would be formal, so I didn't plan on dressing the part.
"Yes," I nodded.
"This way," he motioned.
"Derek," Samuel said as he stood up. "I should have told you it would be formal wear, that's my fault."
I looked at the man and smiled as he walked back to his post.
Jack shook his head at me obviously disappointed.
"I think you know everybody," Samuel said as we both sat down. I nodded at Jack and Tammy. I knew Samuel and his wife Jane from one of the office parties. The other two men and their wives I remembered their faces but not their names.
"No," I shook my head as I sat beside Samuel.
"Well," Samuel said as he motioned to one of the men. "This is Lester and his wife Cassandra, and on your right is Timothy and his wife, Tabitha."
"Hello," I nodded.
"That was quite an idea you had," Timothy said. "Blew mine right out of the water," he said with a half-smile.
Now I knew where I had seen these two before. They were on the floor below, no doubt they were interested in the partnership as well.
"Yes, we know," Tabitha shook her head. She turned to look at me. "It has been all he has been talking about since yesterday."
"Sorry," I shrugged.
"No need to be sorry," Jack shook his head. "It is the nature of the job. We don't get paid to be nice."
"Well said," Samuel nodded. "I brought the four of you here to go over the two remaining ideas as well as meet each other in a less stressful environment."
"It also helps that he really likes the food here," his wife shook her head. "Any reason he can give to the board for coming here and having them flip the bill is a good reason."
"Guilty," Samuel nodded. Jane was the poster board woman for being a trophy wife. She had medium length blonde hair and a perfectly cut face with a smile that looked like it should be on Television.
Slowly the food came out, and the conversation turned to Jack's idea. The other two were entirely on board with going forward with Jack's idea over mine.
I had to admit they made good points. It would be less of a hindrance and most cost-effective. While mine was a huge gamble as well as using money that we might need to stop the buyout.
The wives sat in silence, for the most part, sometimes putting a word in now and then. Tammy smiled at me as she looked across the table. "What about Derek's idea?" Tammy asked. "From what Jack told me last night it had the highest percentage of actually working."
"Jack?" Samuel asked.
"It does," Jack nodded. "Let's face it. My idea would only stop the buyout for now. What happens if they try again and again."
The other two men nodded their agreement. They began to discuss my idea to which Samuel became more talkative and involved. It seemed like he was waiting for things to go in my direction. He slowly leaned down by his side and produced an envelope. He took out four papers and slid them across the table to us.
"The board agrees with you Jack," Samuel said. "Sorry, but they are leaning towards Derek's idea. It is the biggest risk, and if it fails, then we will lose the company. If it works, it will stabilize us for years to come."
"Congratulations," Jane said nodding her head as she smiled at me.
"Thank you," I smiled. Jack looked at me with a stern look. I knew that look he was not happy. However, to hell with him. This was my opportunity, and if he couldn't understand that, then he could take a long walk off a short pier.
"Well," Tabitha said. "With that settled, we should be going."
Timothy nodded. "Will see you at work tomorrow," he said as he held up the papers in his hand. "Light reading for tonight."
Lester and Cassandra followed close behind leaving the five of us behind. Samuel got up to answer a phone call. Jane snuck over into his seat.
"No significant other?" she asked.
"No," I replied looking over at her.
Tammy smiled one of her usual smiles. "I think he is playing the field."
"He has more important things to think about than getting married at his age," Jack said as he drank some more of the wine.
"That's enough for you," Tammy said she took the glass from his hand.
"Yes," Jane replied. "We don't want a repeat of the other night."
Jack shook his head. "I will go and see if Samuel is ready to go."
The two ladies watched him go. "So," Jane said as she leaned closer to me. "Tammy has told me that she has told you our little secret."
I looked at Tammy. "She also takes the classes."
"I was the one that told her about them," Jane smiled.
Now I remembered her face. She was the blonde in one of the videos. It was hard to picture little miss perfect dancing to some of those raunchy songs that were playing. "Oh," I said.
"Oh?" Jane smiled looking over at Tammy.
"He is a bit shy," Tammy shrugged.
Jane leaned in closer so that she was almost in my lap. "She also told me you have a nice cock," she whispered.
Her hand moved on to my lap and squeezed my crotch. I quickly looked around the crowded restaurant. "Don't be afraid, I won't do anything," Jane said as she let it go. "I just wanted to see for myself."
"You ladies ready?" Samuel asked as he came back to the table.
"More than ready," Jane said as she stood up.
I walked them outside. Jack was already in his car motioning for Tammy to hurry up. I shook my head at him as the car pulled away. Tammy waved at us as they drove away.
"Don't mind the three of them," Samuel shook his head. "The board, as well as Neil, are pleased with how far you have come in a short time. The three of them have been trying to impress Neil for the past seven years, and you have done it in less than two. That will make you an enemy to many people."
"Too bad for them," I shrugged. "Like Jack said we don't get paid to be nice."
"Exactly," Samuel said. He pulled out another piece of paper from the small folder under his arm. "This is the names and phone numbers for everyone on the board. They want you to call them with a time they can get with you individually."
"Individually?" I asked.
"Yes," Samuel said as his car pulled up. "Let's just say some of them aren't convinced you came up with that idea by yourself. Meeting them individually will give you a chance to prove them wrong."
Samuel got into his car. "See you tomorrow."