Page 18 of The Billionaire Babe

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VALERIE

I look around the boardroom and smile. This feels good. This feels right.

“Good to have you here, Valerie. About time we all got together,” Tennyson says, taking a seat opposite me, next to his two brothers.

“Nice to see you too. I tend to agree, a meeting like this feels somewhat overdue,” I say as I take everything in. Their offices are amazing. Not too different from Van Cleef, but just a little fresher.

“Well, I think we all know the choke hold our mother had on us for a long time. One I suspect might feel similar to that of you and your father?” Eddie broaches the elephant in the room.

“I assume he rejected your calls so you approached me?” I ask, not really thinking that, but trying to understand why they came to me instead of trying to work with my father. He is our CEO, and technically, they should be talking to him.

Tennyson barks out a laugh. “No offense, but the last person I want to talk to is your father,” he says honestly.

“Hmmm, he seems to have that effect on people,” I murmur, not giving anything away.

“We all know that you are next in line for CEO at Van Cleef Corp. We also know that you have what it takes. We’ve been watching you. We admire your tenacity, your work ethic. Which is why we are meeting with you instead of your father or anyone else.” Ben looks at me seriously, and I feel my chest swell with pride. I have worked hard. I am glad someone can see it.

“So what did you have in mind?” I ask the three men who sit before me, getting this meeting back on track. They look sharp, professional in their designer tailored suits, yet their smirks and grins put me at ease. We are friends. Not enemies.

“Well, now that Harrison is president, we want to invest in more local projects,” Eddie Rothschild starts, and I look at him and nod.

“We have a few of those,” I say with a grin, keeping my cards close.

“We really would be looking for something maybe in the South or Midwest. Somewhere that is the heartbeat of the country,” Ben says diplomatically.

“So you want something to show the American people that the presidential family is investing in them?” I clarify.

“Exactly,” Tennyson says with a shit-eating grin on his face. “We heard you are making moves in Montana. That may be something that we would like to get involved in.” He continues, and I pause. I keep my facial features schooled, but the comment surprises me. We have no business in Montana.

“I am working on Tennessee at the moment. A new hotel and retail precinct. I may have some options for you on that one?” I suggest.

“That would work,” Ben says, nodding and sitting forward, clearly interested.

“Will your father be okay with that?” Eddie asks, and I take in a breath.

“My father wouldn’t even like me being here today,” I admit. The three nod. They understand. My father would kill me if he knew I was taking this meeting. But in their boardroom, where we sit high up in the sky, I know that this is exactly where I need to be. Talking business and making smart decisions with people like the Rothschilds.

“We are happy to remain a relatively silent partner. Keep the build and the management to you, while we promote that we are investing in the country, in jobs, and in the economy through our partnership,” Eddie says, and I like the sound of his offer. It would be the first of its kind for our two families. The fact that we are even working together would make headline news.

“What kind of investment are you thinking?” I ask, wanting to know about the dollars.

“We would be willing to invest significantly, maybe something like thirty to forty percent.” Tennyson lays their cards on the table. I think about the offer, mulling it over for a moment. Thirty to forty is well in the hundreds of millions and would allow us to speed up the build and also allow us to invest and step into a new project almost at the same time.

“Forty percent. We call it a collaboration. We mutually invest in the town, the people, the community. And…” I say, watching them all closely, “…I want you to bring me Whiteman’s.” Then I sit back and wait.

It is a bold move negotiating with the Rothschilds, asking for their money but also more. But I am feeling confident, and I know they are a safe space.

“Whiteman’s?” Tennyson asks, his eyebrows pull together.

“Whiteman’s is the country’s biggest and best whiskey brand. We have been trying to get them on board for our hotels for years. I want them to be our exclusive whiskey supplier for the Tennessee project, and I know you can make that happen,” I say, smiling, wondering just how far I can push these boys. I know they know Tanner and Connor Whiteman well. As do I. But I have never been able to get them over the line on a business deal. They are very strategic in their business partnerships and don’t collaborate with many people. I also suspect that my father puts them off given he isn’t the easiest person to negotiate with.

“It’s not out of the question, but you might need to leave that with us for a few weeks…” Ben says, trailing off as he thinks.

“You got some balls, little Van Cleef.” Tennyson looks at me with a broad smile, appreciating my somewhat ruthless business tactics. But if I can get two for one, my father won’t be able to deny it. It is a smart and profitable decision, one that I brought into the business. It isn’t every day that I sit in their boardroom, so I am going to make it count.

I smile back at him, feeling renewed confidence seep into my bones. This is the start of something big; I can feel it. This is how I can make Van Cleef Corp more successful and push us into the future. This is my legacy. Not William Schmidt and his oil. This is what I want to do. I want that CEO position that is rightfully mine and this meeting today has all but proved that I am capable.

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