WOLVES AND MANSIONS

CHAPTER FIVE

WOLVES AND MANSIONS

If there was one thing he knew about Frank, it was that the man was all about time – if you were late, you were out of luck.

Frank was the son of Louis Grant, a multi billionaire thanks to his success in the pharma industry. he had a bit of a fatherly obsession with Jace and wanted to be a part of his company so badly that he practically begged to be his partner. 

Jace, being the stubborn man he is, refused and went solo. But Frank wasn’t going to let go that easily and he decided to invest in the company instead, giving him some sort of control.

And now in a surprising turn of events, Jace found himself driving to Frank’s family home on a Sunday evening after being summoned. Which did not bode well for the outcome of the meeting as frank took his weekends off so seriously that he practically worshipped them.

The thought of frank getting control over his business in any way was faintly nauseating but Jace had to let Frank have his fun, since he needed his money to achieve his dream of dominating the market. 

As he drove, he couldn’t help but glance at the towering skyscrapers that surrounded him. He imagined what it would be like to have his own company headquarters in one of those gleaming buildings, with a view of the city that would take his breath away.

But those dreams were still a long way off, he gripped the steering wheel of his car as he wound his way up the road to Frank's palatial residence. From his vantage point, he could see the city skyline spreading out before him like a jigsaw puzzle made of glass and steel.

As he approached the gates of the gated community, Jace couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the thought of living in such luxury. He wondered if the residents inside knew how good they had it, or if they were too busy counting their money to notice.

But there was no time to dwell on such things. Jace pulled up to the impressive mansion, its columns and grand entrance signaling that Frank took his wealth and status very seriously. Jace stepped out of the car, smoothing his hair and straightening his tie. He had to look professional, even if he felt like he was about to be thrown to the wolves. With a deep breath, he approached the front door, bracing himself for what was to come.

“Here goes nothing,” he muttered to himself with a wry grin. As he rang the doorbell, he wondered if he should have brought a gift. A fruit basket, perhaps? Or a nice bottle of wine? Nah, that was too cliché. He’d have to rely on his charm and quick wit instead.

He tried to calm himself down by imagining Frank as a friendly, approachable man. But as the door swung open, Jace was met with a stone-faced butler who barely acknowledged his presence.

“Mr. Grant is expecting you,” the butler said, gesturing for Jace to follow him. He followed the butler through the ornate halls of the mansion nodding appreciatively at the delicate construction.

As they approached the study where Frank was supposed to be waiting, the butler opened the door and bowed out of the way signaling for Jace to go in. The study was an opulent room filled with dark, mahogany wood paneling and a massive fireplace that could fit three people inside. The furniture was all antique and probably cost more than most people made in a year.

Jace settled into one of the plush leather armchairs as the butler left and let out a sigh. He glanced around the room, taking in the ornate furniture and artwork. The study was as grand as he had expected it to be, with tall bookshelves lining the walls and a large mahogany desk at the center of the room. The smell of leather and old books permeated the air, and Jace wondered how much the butler was paid to maintain the room.

He fidgeted in his seat and checked his watch. Frank was now fifteen minutes late, and Jace knew that the man did not tolerate tardiness. He began to worry that the meeting was going to be a disaster, and he would be sent packing with his tail between his legs.

Just then, the door creaked open, and the butler poked his head in. "Mr. Jace, I'm sorry for the delay. Mr. Grant will be with you shortly." The butler disappeared again, leaving Jace alone with his thoughts.

Jace shifted in his seat once more and began to study the desk in front of him. It was cluttered with papers, and he couldn't resist the urge to straighten them out. As he did, he noticed a folder labeled "Jace Enterprises" tucked away at the bottom of the pile.

His curiosity piqued, Jace reached for the folder, but before he could open it, the door opened again, and Frank strode into the room. Startled, Jace quickly dropped the folder back onto the desk and rose to his feet, extending his hand to Frank.

“Good evening, Frank. Thanks for having me.” Jace tried to sound as confident and poised as possible, but his nerves were getting the best of him.

Frank was a middle-aged man with a hairline that was in an estranged relationship with his scalp and a glare that could put a drill sergeant to shame. He walked into the room with an air of superiority and entitlement, making it obvious that he was used to always getting his way.

Frank gave him a tight-lipped smile as he shook his hand. “Jace, good to see you. I hope you didn’t mind waiting. I had some business to attend to.”

Jace tried not to let his annoyance show. He was the one who had been kept waiting, after all. But he pushed the thought aside and tried to make his face a picture of calm professionalism.

“No problem at all. I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me,” Jace said, taking a seat in one of the plush armchairs in front of the desk.

Frank took the seat opposite him, his eyes scanning him over from head to toe.

“ it’s good to see you, old boy,” Frank said, his voice dripping with fake warmth. “I’m glad you could make it. So, tell me, how’s the business coming along?”

Jace cleared his throat and smiled at frank. “Well, Frank, I must say things are going quite well. We’ve secured some new investors, and production is ramping up as we speak.”

Frank leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “That’s all well and good, Jace, but you know I’m not one to beat around the bush. I’m interested in taking a more active role in the company. And I’m not talking about just investing, if you catch my drift.”

Jace’s stomach sank. He had a feeling this meeting was going to take a turn for the worse. “Frank, I appreciate your interest, but I’m afraid I can’t just hand over the reins like that. This is my business, and I plan to keep it that way.”

Frank’s face darkened, and he leaned forward, his beady eyes boring into Jace’s. “Listen, Jace, I didn’t become a success in this town by taking ‘no’ for an answer. You need me just as much as I need you. Don’t make me take my money elsewhere.”

Jace gritted his teeth, but kept his composure. “I understand your position, Frank, but I have a vision for this business, and I can’t compromise that just to appease you.”

The two men sat In silence for a moment, the tension palpable. Finally Frank gave a grim smile that didn’t reach his eyes "Young man, let me give you a piece of advice. In this world, it's not always about having a vision. It's about knowing how to navigate the waters and make the right connections. And I can tell you right now, you're not going to get far without me and the rest of the investors on your side."

Jace bristled at Frank's condescending tone and the open threat, but he knew the man was right. "Okay, Frank. What do you suggest we do?" A smug grin crossed Frank's face. "I'm glad you asked, Jace. I have a few ideas in mind, let's discuss the details over dinner."

“Sounds great,” Jace said through clenched teeth. “Where are we going?”

Frank chuckled. “Oh, we’re not going anywhere. I’ve had my chef prepare a meal for us here at the house. It’s almost ready, in fact.”

As if on cue, the butler appeared in the doorway. “Dinner is served, sir.”

Frank rose from his seat, gesturing for Jace to follow. “Shall we?”

As Frank struggled to peel himself out of the plush leather chair, a sudden commotion at the door caught both men off guard. Before Jace could make sense of it, the door swung open with a bang, and in walked a woman in a whirlwind of motion and noise.

Jace had to stifle a chuckle at the sight of her. She was a small woman with a riot of curly blonde hair that seemed to have a mind of its own, She was dressed in a short, tight-fitting cocktail dress that left little to the imagination.

 “Oh, Frank, you didn’t tell me we had company,” she pouted, waving a hand in Jace’s direction. Frank’s smug expression faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. “Yes, dear, I’m sorry I forgot to mention it. This is Jace, he’s the owner of Jace Enterprises. Jace, this is my lovely wife, Tiffany.”

Tiffany smiled sweetly at Jace, clearly oblivious to her inappropriate attire. “It’s so nice to meet you, Jace,” she purred, leaning in a little too close for comfort.

Jace tried his best not to stare, but it was hard not to notice the ample amount of cleavage on display. “Uh, nice to meet you too, Tiffany,” he managed to say, feeling a little flustered.

Frank, meanwhile, looked positively delighted by the whole situation. “Well, since we’re all here now, let’s all sit down to dinner, shall we?” he said, gesturing towards the door.

Jace couldn’t help but feel like he had stumbled into some kind of bizarre soap opera, but he followed Frank and Tiffany out of the study and into the dining room, trying his best to keep his eyes on his plate and not on Tiffany’s revealing dress.

As they sat at the table, Frank leaned forward, his eyes glinting with a cunning glimmer. “I need a sign of trust, Jace. Show me what you’ve got in the works and I’ll know I’m making the right decision.”

Jace couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Frank was actually suggesting that they hand over access to their prized products in exchange for his trust? It was like watching a cat ask for a mouse’s trust before pouncing on it.

Tiffany leaned in, her cleavage almost spilling out of her low-cut dress. “It’s really a small price to pay, Jace,” she purred. “Think of all the benefits that come with Frank’s partnership.”

Jace tried his best not to stare, but he couldn’t help it. He was like a moth to a flame, drawn to Tiffany’s curves like a magnet. It was like Frank knew that Jace had a weakness for beautiful women and was using it against him.

But Jace knew he couldn’t let his desires cloud his judgment. He had to think about his company, his employees, and most importantly, his wife. He took a deep breath and looked Frank straight in the eye.

“I’ll consider your proposal, Frank,” Jace said, his voice steady. “But I need some time to think it over.”

Frank’s face twisted into a sneer. “Time is not something we have in abundance, Jace. You either trust me or you don’t. It’s that simple.”

Jace felt a wave of panic wash over him. He knew he couldn’t make this decision on his own. He needed help, and fast.

Jace cleared his throat nervously, still feeling uneasy about the entire situation. “Well, if you decide to drop by, I can organize a tour of our office for you,” he said, trying to sound confident.

Frank raised an eyebrow. “A tour, huh? That sounds interesting. I might just take you up on that,” he said, smirking.

Jace tried not to let his fear show. He knew that Frank could make or break his company with a single decision, but he also knew that he couldn’t just give in to his demands. “Great, just let me know when you want to schedule it,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

Frank nodded, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh, don’t worry, Jace. I’ll be in touch,” he said, before turning to Tiffany and resuming their conversation.

Jace breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that the next few days would be critical, and he would need to do everything in his power to keep Frank happy. He couldn’t let his guard down for even a moment.