Ed looked particularly handsome this morning. He was wearing a beautifully cut suit Alec hadn’t seen before, and his blue tie brought out his eyes. For a fleeting moment, Alec allowed himself a fantasy where he pulled Ed towards him by that tie and pushed him to his knees, messing up Ed’s perfectly coiffed hair with his fingers while Ed sucked him into oblivion.
“The car’s waiting downstairs,” Jen said, snapping Alec’s attention back to the present like a rubber band.
Adrenaline and anticipation rippled through Alec in a heady rush. There was nothing like the feeling of a deal done, of closure after weeks of negotiation and work. It was intensely satisfying. Right until the last minute, there was always the fear that something could go wrong and bring everything crashing down around them. Another hour and, God willing, it would be in the bag.
Ed looked nervous in the car on the way over. He jiggled his leg, and Alec wanted to put his hand on it to still it.
“Calm down, Ed. It’s going to be fine,” he said instead. “If you go in there looking nervous, it will unsettle our client.”
Ed flushed. “Sorry. I didn’t even realise I was fidgeting. Feel free to kick me if I do it in the meeting.”
Katherine chuckled. “This really is a formality, Ed. It’s rare for anything to go wrong at this stage, especially when both parties want the sale. Mackenzie was looking to sell and is happy with the deal we’ve negotiated. The team has done well.”
“Alec’s a slave driver.” Ed grinned. “But he knows how to get things done. It’s been a great experience working under him.”
Alec glanced at Ed, wondering whether that was a deliberate innuendo or a Freudian slip, but Ed didn’t seem to notice what he’d said.
“Alec has done an excellent job with this deal,” Katherine replied. “His team was a great place for you to gain some experience, Ed. I’m sure you’ve learned a lot.”
Alec hoped they’d assume his flush was due to Katherine’s praise rather than Ed’s choice of words.
When they reached the hotel offices, they were ushered straight into a meeting room. Maxwell greeted them with warm handshakes and a broad smile. If he had any exchange-day jitters, he hid them well.
“Mackenzie and his people are about ten minutes away, then it’s all systems go.”
Much to Alec’s relief, the meeting went without a hitch. Once they’d signed and witnessed the purchase agreement, the mood in the room changed from thick tension to happy exhilaration. There was more handshaking and exchanging of pleasantries. Coffee was served, and Alec worked his way around the room thanking the Scottish legal team for their hard work and congratulating both parties on the sale. “So, Mr Mackenzie, do you have plans for how to spend your retirement?”
“Travelling,” the older man answered with a smile. “My wife’s been on at me for years to see more of the world. So hotels will still be a big part of my future, only staying in luxury ones in faraway places rather than running my own.”
“That sounds good. I hope you enjoy it.”
“I’m sure I will,” Mackenzie said warmly. “Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome.”
Katherine called Alec into her office shortly before the end of the day. Alec had spent the afternoon tying up a few loose ends of paperwork, but he’d been struggling to concentrate, still buzzed and elated after the events of the morning.
“Are you still on cloud nine?” she asked as he took a seat opposite her. “It always takes me a while to come down.”
“It’s a good feeling.” He nodded. “But I’m already looking forward to the next one. What are you going to give me to tackle this time?”
“There’s a retail chain acquisition in the pipeline that we’ll be pulling a team together for soon. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.” There was a smile on her face.
Alec raised his eyebrows, heart kicking up a notch as he tried to keep his voice casual. “Oh yes?”
“You’re going to get an invitation to a meeting with the board to discuss the outcome of your partner application next week. I don’t know for sure what the decision is yet, but I know you’ve impressed them, and your work on this deal was a big factor. I think your chances are good.”
Alec stared at her. A smile spread across his face and excitement rose as her words sank in. This was it. This was what he’d been working towards for years, and he was so close to getting what he wanted. He didn’t dare let himself hope too hard. “Thank you,” he finally managed.
“You deserve it, Alec. I only told them what I believe. You’ll be an asset to the firm. They’d be mad not to offer it to you, in my opinion.”