Page 28 of Vivacity
Why is the self-control thing so hot???
Bree:
Anything that involves bringing a man unwillingly to his knees is hot
Athena:
Amen sister
CHAPTER 14
Sophia
My first week of being Ethan Kingsley’s EA with benefits proceeds in a pretty linear fashion. In between countless meetings with his strategy team around the transaction, Ethan uses me in a ridiculously restrained, tightly rationed way: quick BJs and gratifying but too-short fucks on his desk, basically.
It feels as though he needs my orgasms as much as he needs some of his own. I suspect they represent wins for him, reminders that my satisfaction is within his control. All of which is great for him, but he still hasn’t kissed me, and I still haven’t seen the guy naked, and the latter in particular isseriouslypissing me off.
I sit down with Topher, his long-time PA, who is as nerdily impressive as he is impressively nerdy. He has an MBA from London Business School and is more than qualified to be Ethan’s EA, except for the fact that he’s lacking a vagina. I like him instantly. He’s probably mid-thirties, married with three young kids. I get the distinct impression that he finds dealing with Ethan’s anal retentiveness and hissy fits to be a welcome reprieve from life with a triumvirate of rug rats and is delighted to put in whatever hours are needed.
I feel for his poor wife.
Most interestingly, Topher’s worked for Ethan for nine years, a datapoint I file away for when I need it. The things this man could tell me if he wanted to. I definitely need to coax him out for a strong drink at some point. It shouldn’t be difficult, given his apparent aversion to being home for bath time.
I also enrol at the epic gym in Kingsley HQ’s basement. It’s sleek, minimalist—shocker—and extremely well kitted out with everything from a wall of Theraguns to an IV station. Best of all? I hire myself a PT. Caio hails from Rio. He’s drop-dead gorgeous, moonlights as a dancer, and promises to be very entertaining. I like my workouts, but you’ve got to keep things fun, you know? I can’t maintain glutes like these babies through willpower alone.
By Friday, I have a pretty good idea of the lay of the land. I meet most of the rest of the executive suite, all of whom seem proficient, decent, and less wankerish than Ethan’s dad, who I steer well clear of. He absolutely strikes me as the kind of guy who builds allies and weaponises those allegiances when he needs to. I’m Team Ethan, and I’m not about to give Richard any ammunition.
My initial instincts about Ethan were correct. This guy most definitely isn’t a Social Eight. It strikes me that he takes little interest in his vast network of employees. Everyone seems well looked after, but it’s probably because he feels obligated and, I’d hazard, because he knows that people who are well looked after are less likely to act up and cause headaches. This guy does things by the book.
The biggest event of my first week is that as of the market close on Thursday—last night—we’ve hit the three percent threshold of ownership in Montague stock, meaning Kingsley Hotels has triggered the need to disclose its stake to the market.
I have to say, the way Ethan and his strategy team have handled it ischef’s kiss. At this point, they’re not required todisclose anything about their intentions. All they need to do is notify the market of their stake as a statement of fact.
And that’s exactly what they do.
The disclosure they released after the market close was short and dry and deliberately anti-inflammatory.Kingsley Hotels has acquired a three-point-one-percent stake in The Montague Group. The investment represents a strategic holding in a well-managed fellow hospitality company. Yada yada yada.
Obviously, this hasn’t stopped the market from reacting for a second. It’s ten o’clock on Friday, two hours after the FTSE opened, and already The Montague Group stock is trading up nine percent on speculation that it’s in play. The hedge funds and risk arbitrage funds are circling, hoping to make a quick buck on a quick bet, and with every percentage point the share price ticks up, Ethan looks like he’s about to have a coronary. The spreadsheet that’s permanently open on his desk shows the acquisition getting more and more expensive for the Kingsleys. The more the Montague share price rises, the more of a premium price the Kingsleys will have to offer to placate shareholders. To make matters worse, it looks like plenty of hedge funds are placing their bets by buying the target and selling the acquirer.
Still, there’s no way to avoid market speculation. This is how the game is played. It’s all standard practice. The beauty of the way Ethan’s approaching it, in my opinion, is that he currently controls the narrative. The plan. The Montague board may know exactly what’s coming, but the market can’t know for sure. And if he wants to reverse course and pull out of this deal at any point, the market will be none the wiser.
The three percent stake disclosure is more of a warning shot across the bow than an overt declaration of war, and it leaves most of the cards in Ethan’s hands.
Played like a true Eight.
Swoon.
What follows isa brutal text exchange with my friend Nora Montague, who’s all too aware of my brand-new position.
Nora:
3% stake?????? HOLY FUCKING SHIT.
Can’t discuss it, obviously
Is Theo spitting fire?
He’s throwing his toys very, very loudly. But he said Miles is fucking furious
