Chapter 2

Corporate City Finance, Company Email
To: My English Muffin

CC: Mike

From: James Bond

About: The bait is out
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We’ve just sent the letter of proposal over to them over at Ishida, so I suspect we should be receiving a reply quite soon. You’re lucky Mike and I were there to help you. I don’t think ‘It is my desire to purchase your stocks and bankrupt your subsidiary, Locklear Construction (the company where I have encountered service and efficiency to run a company that levels the inadequacy and incompetence of a two-year old suffering from severe debilitating dementia). I refuse to hyphenate my name and I am more than willing to discuss an alternative.’ Would make a very good impression. All for the best, my man, all for the best.

Andrew,
“Corporate City Finance – Financial Advice worth the price!”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grant Industries, Company Email
To: The Greek Freak

From: The Vampire

Re: The bait is out
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I still believe my version was concise, to the point and truthful. None of that frilly, flattering nonsense you two seemed to have written. But I digress – I do seem to continually forget that we are corresponding with women here. My brutally honest words might make them cry. I’m a sexist bigot and I have come to terms with that.

All for the best,

James,
“Business and pleasure don’t mix them together – and I am still the man who signs your paychecks.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grant Industries, Company Email
To: The womanizing five-year old

From: Your tremendously patient Legal Representation

About: Reeling them in

Attch: Ishida-International-response.doc
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I’ve just received an email from Ishida International they’re willing to meet us, enclosed are all the details including a time and date. Be there, and bring your best behavior and please try not to seduce anyone, especially not the head. She’s a bitch at best.

Sincerely hoping for your compliance,
Michael

“I own a Porsche”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grant Industries, Company Email
To: The audacious arse, three doors down

From: Your tremendously patient BOSS

Re: Reeling them in
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Treat me like a child again and that company car will no longer be yours.

Threatening your Porsche ownership,
J. Grant – YOUR BOSS – I own you :D

“Beware, I sign your paychecks”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ishida International, Company Email

To: Michael McArthur, Grant Industries

CC: Andrew Theophilus, Corporate City Finance

From: Alana Ishida, Executive Office, Ishida International

Re: Proposal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ishida International
Innovation and couture, a step to the future

April 19th, 2008

Representatives of Grant Industries,

We have recently received your letter of proposal to merge with our esteemed corporation, Ishida International, and we express our utmost gratitude for taking such an enthusiastic interest in associating yourselves with our company. We are pleased to inform you that we accept your proposal and believe that such an alliance will be a highly beneficial to both corporations.

Regretfully, it has also come to our attention that you have received less than satisfactory service from our subsidiary, Locklear Construction. We are pleased to notify you that such transgressions of Locklear Construction have been immediately rectified and we apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Our representatives kindly offer an invitation to discuss the details of your proposal at 7:00pm at the Le Magnifique on Friday the 22nd of April, 2008, where we have taken the liberty to procure reservations.

Anticipating a positive step towards the future,

Yours Sincerely,

Alana Ishida
President, Ishida International
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grant Industries, Company Email

To: Alana Ishida, Ishida International

From: J. Grant, Grant Industries

Re: Invitation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ms. Alana Ishida,

Here at Grant Industries we are delighted to hear of your acceptance and are pleased to accept your invitation. Locklear Construction will most definitely be a topic of discussion.

Looking forward to our meeting,

James Grant,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Grant Industries
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Good Evening, Miss Ishida – is it?”

“Yes, good evening Dr. Dwyke… nice, comfortable chair you have here.”

“Thank you, so how are you?”

“Forgive me, but why am I attending this session?”

“You are here because the Department of Occupational Health and Safety has decreed that you be here. You are a charming young woman and the CEO of one of the major international corporations, you must be suffering from a lot of pressure and stress considering your young age and position of authority. So, how are you this evening?”

“Oh right, I’m meant to be telling you how I feel aren’t I? Ok… I feel impatient, apprehensive and… honestly, angry.”

“Do you know the reason behind these emotions?”

“Impatient, because no offence intended Dr. Dwyke, but I really don’t think I need to be here and I regard my mental health rather highly. Apprehensive because I’m on my way to a business dinner that could be the turning point of the best financial decision of my life (which adds to my impatience), and angry… I don’t really know why I’m angry, I just am.”

“Ah…not to worry, you’re not alone there.”

“Simply out of curiosity, what do therapists write on those notepads?”

“That is for me to know and you to wonder Miss Ishida.”

“Right…is there anything else you need to ask of me?”

“Yes, now, why do feel that you don’t need to be here?”

“Well, I’m a young, creative twenty-eight year old woman who is at the height of her career. I’m driven, ambitious and know exactly what I want, I am the head of one of the most successful and thriving corporations around. What else could a woman want?”

“Love, companionship, family perhaps…?”

“Ah, but such fairytales do not exist Dr. Dwyke. I believe you have encountered too many patients that believe they do.”

“So you have no thoughts of finding love and settling down?”

“Haha! Amusing doctor, finding love yes, but settling down? No. If I settle down I now I will be trapped into the strenuous confines that women around the world believe to be their destiny: to grow up, get married and have kids. I am an independent woman Dr. Dwyke, I do not intend to be trapped at the height of my life making smiley faces out bacon and eggs, mopping up chocolate colored vomit and driving my kids to soccer practice every Saturday morning. No, thank you.”

“So… you do not wish to be shackled down by the chains of domesticity?”

“Yes. Precisely, couldn’t have put it better myself.”

“Ah…”

…

“… Is the fact that you’re scrawling a rather long sentence on that notepad of yours, a merit to my mental health?”

“Miss Ishida, do you fear intimacy?”

“What? Are you suggesting that I am incompetent in bed – never mind. I don’t have any problems, Dr. Dwyke.”

“Miss Ishida, please tell me about your childhood.”

“What?”

“Your childhood, Miss Ishida”

“Forgive me Doctor, but if this carries on any further I will be late for a meeting with James Grant from Grant Industries.”

“What?”

“Grant Industries”
--

From the desk of Dr. L. Dwyke, Psychiatrist

Patient: Kiara Ishida

Notes: - Reserved, will relax once comfortable
- Head strong
- Independent
- Proud
- Evasive: In denial
- Fears Intimacy
- Slightly paranoid
- In denial
- Evades question about childhood
- Will be partners with James Grant, they’ll either tear each other apart or work like conjoined twins – let’s hope it’s the latter
- I’ll have my work cut out for me
- Desperately needs another session

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You have received a text message from: Kiara
Hey, sis I can’t go 2 meeting held up @ psychiatrist.
He won’t let go. I’ll try make it.
In bathroom trying 2 escape.
Tell me about it later.
Dwyke is coming.

Sent: 18:55:09
22/04/08

You have received a reply from Alana
Fine. Leave me with vultures. U owe me.

Sent: 19:00:01
22/04/08
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Good Evening, you’re a stunning young woman I’m assuming you must be Miss Alana Ishida, is it?”

“You flatter me Mr. Theophilus, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Ah! And one can only recognize that face who’s graced the cover of every business journal in the city! Mr. Grant it’s a pleasure to meet you, how are you this evening?”

“Fine, very fine… but I don’t think I’m the only one that’s looking very fine this evening.”

“Erm…”

“Shall we go inside?”

“Yes, Mr. Theophilus -”

“Please, call me Andrew”

“Ok then, yes Andrew I think that would be a very good idea.”

“Would you stop that, you said one sentence to her and you were already flirting!”

“Shut up, Michael.”

“I told you not to seduce anyone.”

“And I told you that I’ll confiscate that beloved Porshe of yours. Besides, she’s not the head now is she? She’s the President.”

“She happens to be Kiara’s sister.”

“Well, she’s quite the looker with that exotic Asian beauty of hers… here Michael. There’s Rachel’s number. Tell her I’m breaking up with her.”

“You haven’t done it yet?”

“Hey, what are employees for? Now I need to get in there before Andrew starts weaving his Greek God, Eros seduction tendrils around Alana so I can snag her for myself.”

--

Greek_god28: So what do you think?

MASTER: I’m quite satisfied actually.

MickeyMouse: I’m not.

Greek_god28: Pray, tell, why?

MickeyMouse: I think if Jay would stop ogling her chest every once and a while, then Locklear Construction would have been an in depth topic of discussion. Instead you spent the time seducing her, like I specifically told you not to.

MASTER: This coming from the lawyer whose online name happens to be “Mickey Mouse”

Greek_god28: Shut up the both of you. That isn’t a topic that should be discussed. We should be concerned about the business here.

MASTER: Like you can talk. You were the worst culprit of all, sitting inside her personal space, laughing at her jokes and grinning like a complete idiot.

Greek_god28: Precisely.

MickeyMouse: I’m confused…

Greek_god28: Alana Ishida shouldn’t be a topic of discussion, solely because she’s agreed to have lunch with me tomorrow afternoon. :P

MickeyMouse: Hey! Not you too! D:

MASTER: YOU’RE FIRED

Greek_god28: u serious?

MASTER: I’m not talking to you.

Greek_god28: I’m not fired. I’m too indispensible.

MASTER: THE DECEPTION!

MickeyMouse: Now you’re just overreacting.

MASTER: YOU FOUL UNWORTHY PREDATOR! I AM REVOKING YOUR PAYCHECK! I TOLD YOU TO BEWARE!

Greek_god28: Now, James

MASTER: THE BETRAYAL!

MickeyMouse: Oh, the onslaught of italics…

MASTER: Shove it Mickey!

Greek_god28: WHO WILL BE THE NEW CEO?

MASTER: Don’t change the subject – hey, wait. I haven’t the foggiest clue how you could even ask a question as ridiculous as that! I will be the CEO of course, they’re merging with US. I’M the CEO and I will REMAIN the CEO.
--

RING-RING

“Hello?”

“Hello Alana, so, how did it go?”

“Oh, hi Kiara, well um, better than expected – what kept you?”

“It’s all because of that godforsaken, senile old man. He’s absolutely delusional, and he demands that I have another session with him! I had to go to the bathroom to escape him, and I stayed in there so long that he now thinks I have agoraphobia!”

“Ouch, don’t scream.”

“Sorry, I’m on my way home now, so they’ve agreed to our terms?”

“Yes, but there are-“

“How are they? Do you think that they’re deceptive? Scheming? Planning to uproot us once they have the power?”

“Kiara, no, it’s all fine, everything is going smoothly. In fact, I’ll be on a date tomorrow.”

“What about Locklear Constructio- when the hell did you find time to find a date?”

“Now, sis, don’t be mad at me, it’s just that Andrew is a really nice man and he’s very witty and intelligent -”

“Andrew? Who the hell is Andrew? Andrew Theophilus? James Grant’s Financial Advisor? Are you suffering from dementia AND insanity? We’ll be working closely with them soon! I can’t have my employees traipsing about, snogging beside the water dispensers and trysting behind pot plants!”

“Speaking of business, there have been some negotiations…”

“Excuse me - don’t try to change the subject! Whatever happened to sisterly solidarity? Whatever happened to being single, independent women?”

“Well, it’s not all bad. I must say, even though he did try to make a pass at me, James Grant is very hot.”

“What? Alana I’ve seen the cover Forbes Magazine, he’s a Vampire.”

“Don’t you think that’s hot?”

“He’s a bloodsucking, womanizing, underhanded business man with absolutely no morals or ethics… I mean did you see that harpy he was with last week? I checked him out, he’s the perfect candidate for a drastic change.”

“So you ‘checked him out’ eh?”

“Shut up, you know what I mean.”

“Yes I know you do like your research to be thorough.”

“Alana!”

“Ha ha, ok so speaking of that, who’s going to be the CEO of this new company?”

“How can you ask that question? Me, of course”

“… right.”