The Man I Call Strong

Chapter 14: Millions on Mergers

As we get closer and closer, I can't help but think of how alike they all are. Dark hair, blue eyes, tall, thin, and gorgeous. "Guys, meet Aurora! Ian's new assistant."

Ian? Who's Ian?

They all smile broadly and walk towards me with so much enthusiasm. The happiness rolls off them in waves. I couldn't help but smile at their excited and sweet natures. Then one woman holds her hands up, giggling. "Okay. Okay. Introduction, girls!" They all giggle with glee. "Good luck with that, Aurora." They all giggle as a group again.

"Alright. I'm Rowena, the oldest. Besides for Lia, but who ever sees her anymore?" At that, they all start giggling. "I'm Lana!" A young woman sticks her hand up and places a graceful hand on her chest, gesturing to herself. "The second in command." They smile and laugh again.

"I'm Laura." Another one lifts her hand, her phone also in it. It suddenly dings and her attention is automatically brought to it. She then starts giggling and squealing. "Ian's coming! He said he got a day off because someone needed help moving in or something." Selena hugs my arm and brings me close. "They can get off topic very quickly. That one's Jenna. That one's Hannah. She's Lola, but sometimes we call her Luna because she likes stargazing at night, and then Victoria. And then there's me!" She jumps up after pointing out every single woman out to me. "Okay. So Ian's birthday is over the weekend and we need to get him something really nice." I smile at their enthusiasm.

"But shouldn't we wait for him here so that..." They all scoff at Laura's comment. "He owns and runs a billion dollar company, I think he can find a group of loud girls in a store." They all laugh together and move along towards the store. I stay in the back, not wanting to interrupt whatever they were taking about before I came. I noticed all their appearances. Rowena wore red high heels with tight jeans and a loose red shirt down to her mid thigh. Most of them had high heels on, in fact. I take in all their model-like bodies. I guess the whole family is gorgeous.

"Aurora! What are you doing back there, girl. Get up here with us." I notice they've all stopped to help me catch up with them. "You'd think the one in converse shoes would out walk the crazy group of girls with high heels." They all burst into giggles at Rowen's statement. Rowena seems to be the leader. They all follow her lead.

Once inside, I'm blown away at all the beautiful clothing lined up. "Ladies! Credit cards ready?" They all whip out a credit card and hold it in their hands. Selena hooks her arm with mine. "You can use mine!" She whispered in my ear with enthusiasm. I smile to her as we all start to walk as a group to the endless racks of clothes.

We pull clothes off the racks, show each other then either pick it or dump it. "I think you should try it on first." Rowen tells Hannah. She smiles and squeals with delight. We all wait for her outside the dressing rooms. When she comes out, her model body is dressed in a floor length, turquoise dress with a large turquoise jewel at the left hip. We all smile and celebrate. "It's perfect!" Selena squeals. Hannah smiles and walks back into the dressing rooms. "Aurora! You should try this on." Laura runs up with a one sleeved, dark blue floor length dress. My eyes widen. "I can't wear that." They all laugh. "Why not?"

"Go try it on."

"Yeah, come on, Aurora. We won't be too harsh of it doesn't look good." I giggle and go to try it on, my self concerns melt away. I see a pair of black stilettos getting thrown over my stall door. "Selena found those." I laugh in response and pull on the dress. When I look on the mirror I can't help but feel beautiful. The feeling was so warm and endearing. I actually felt beautiful. I suddenly remember the girls outside my stall and walk out of the dressing room. I come face to with a tall, dark haired man in a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt.

"Mr. Strong?"

It takes me a moment to recognize the business man I know through this laid-back, casual appearance. "Yeah..." Selena gestures to Mr. Strong. "... Ian. I thought you knew him already." Selena looks at me with confusion. I stutter and stumble over my words. "She knows me as Mr. Strong, Ena." Mr. Strong eyes the dress I'm wearing. He slowly makes his way back up to my eyes. I blush crimson as I look to the rest of the girls. "You should so get it, Aurora." I chuckle. "I can't get this? I can't afford it." Selena holds her credit card up. "We can." I shake my head with dread. "I could never take money from you guys." The girls all laugh and look at each other. "A third of us are models, the other half are doctors and Rowena's a lawyer." Rowena looks at my with her eyebrows raised and a smile on her face at Lana's comment.

"Oh, yeah... Then there's Ian. He's a nerd." Lola elbows Mr. Strong in the arm lovingly. They all start giggling. "Like you aren't," Mr. Strong tries to defend himself. "Hey, a doctor is way different then a man who started his own business and rents over twelve houses for more than a thousand a month." My jaw drops as Mr. Strong roles his eyes and picks up his ringing phone. "Strong." The girls all giggle at his taunt voice and start mocking him, picking their phones up and mimicking his greeting. Mr. Strong rolls his eyes dramatically and continues talking. They turn back to me and smile at my dress. "You should buy it, Aurora." I sneak a glance to Mr. Strong and see him look at me. I blush and shrug. "I... I guess. If you really don't mind buying it." They all smile. "Great. Now, we need to get you-know-who a birthday gift." Rowena whispers to everyone. I go to get undressed. When I come back out, the girls are gone and it's just Mr. Strong, on the phone.

"Just tell him to up the bid... No, I do not tell him to withdraw. Get me Rick, now." He sighs and looks up. "Hey, Rick, I was wondering if you could get me a meet with the Drakesen Company. They were wondering about a merger." I frown. Don't merge, you'll waste hundreds on costs and debts and junk that the other company might have. 'Say something.' I grumble and walk over to Mr. Strong. "Uh--M-Mr. Strong?" He turns around and sees the cowering nineteen year old before him. "Yes?" 'Speak!'

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop. But... Um... Don't you think merging with a company you don't know very well might be a bit... foolhardy?" I hear a voice on the other line. "Hang on, Rick. Here's my assistant. Talk to her about it." I gasp as Mr. Strong hands me his phone. I put it up to my ear hesitantly. It's still warm from when Mr. Strong had it to his ear. I smell his cologne on it as I hear the slightly deeper voice on the other line. "Hi, Uh-- could you pull up the business reports of the company you want to merge with?"

"Sure thing, sweetheart." I hear clicks and typing. "Want me to send it to Strong?" I stutter at first as I look to the large, broad man in front of me. He nods, urging me on. "Yeah. Please." I hear a chuckle on the other line. "You're a quiet one, aren't you? Good luck with Strong."

"I heard that, Rick." I turn to Mr. Strong to see him with another phone to his ear. He smiles as Rick chuckles. "I sent them to you're phone, Strong."

We stood there for at least an hour before the girls walk over to our little Strong Enterprise mini-meeting. "The workaholic secretary and the nerd CEO? Wow." Luna comments just as I hang up on Rick and Mr. Strong. "We were just finishing up some work. The girls chuckle, until Rowena gasps with excitement. "Aurora! You should come to our annual family-business ball. Our parents do one every year with a new theme. This one is a costume ball."