Page 10 of Open To Negotiation

I waited a few moments for him to give me more. When it was clear he wasn’t going to, I spoke up. “Yeah, I assumed given the last name. So, you moved your company here?” He wasn’t an overly communicative man it would seem.

“No, we’re opening a branch of the business here. Me and my key business partners have moved. Our London office is running on its own now.”

“Why Calgary?” I couldn’t help being nosy. Plus, it seemed like the last thing they wanted to do was talk about the company I worked for. I also didn’t bother trying my usual topics like ‘how about the weather?’ and ‘do you watch hockey?’ Both were always safe since our weather was always unpredictable and I’m pretty sure you had to sign a blood oath to love hockey before you were allowed to live here.

“I lived here when I was younger, and I’ve always wanted to return.” His tone was short and he didn’t look at me as he spoke. I had a feeling he didn’t want to be discussing this with me, which made me wonder why he replied honestly in the first place.

“So tell us about you, Quinn West,” Noah stepped in, saving Theo from my follow up questions.

“I’m not that interesting, so let’s pass on me.” I smiled over at Noah and changed the topic looking at Oliver. “So, Oliver…”

“My friends all call me Oli,” he interrupted me with a wink.

I caught Theo sending him a dry look out of the corner of my eye, but I just smiled at Oli and continued on.

“So, Oli, what does Knight Enterprises do anyway?”

“That’s a loaded question, it would be faster to explain what we don’t do. But we started when Knight sold an application, then we used the money to become an investment company and have since expanded into commercial real estate and private security. We also like to buy out a company from time to time.”

This was not the kind of client I was usually sent to eat with.

“Richard mentioned that someone is a son of one of our investors.” I looked around the table.

“You mean Dick?” Noah smiled at me which I ignored.

“That would be me,” Theo said. “My father and I don’t share the same last name.” His shoulders were stiff and he pulled his phone out of his pocket and focused on it instead.

“I don’t know the names of our investors so I wouldn’t have known anyway,” I said pointlessly since he didn’t look back up.

I tried not to be disappointed. Even if this was just a business lunch, normally people at least pretended to be interested in talking with me. The dismissal from him was clear.

But that was okay.

Good even.

“So, Quinn, have you ever been to London?” Oli asked, pulling my attention away from Theo.

“I have actually,” I said, letting out a breath as we fell into a more comfortable conversation.

The rest of lunch was spent chatting with Oli and Noah. We talked about London and then they asked me about what they had to go see in Calgary. Considering I didn’t get out much, I didn’t have any great ideas, they seemed more well versed in the offerings of the city than I did.

Theo didn’t rejoin the conversation, alternating between eating and responding to things on his phone. I tried my hardest not to pay attention to him but it was a challenge. Especially because whenever I gave any personal details away his thumbs paused, like he was actually listening to me. I saw his eyes move to my face a few times but then he quickly went back to his cell.

When the bill came, I pulled out my wallet but his large hand covered mine. “I’ve got it,” his voice rumbled beside me.

I pulled my hand out from under his, not liking the zing that happened when we touched, and snatched the bill from the table, holding it against my chest. “This is a business lunch, I was asked to take you out by my company. I will be expected to come back with a receipt and to file an expense. I will be the one paying for it, which you agreed to.”

“Technically we never agreed,” Oli said as he stood up, sliding his suit jacket back on.

“I don’t need anything from you,” Theo grunted. I hid my wince at the harsh tone behind his words. “I’m sure your boss will pat you on the back for getting a free meal.”

My eyes narrowed at the insinuation. “Watch it,” I said as I held the bill close to me with a glare at him.

“You’re not paying.” Theo’s tone was firm, and it was annoying me.

“Of course I’m not. Elevate is,” I said with a tight smile on my face. “I’m sure as a businessman yourself you are aware of what a write off is.” Noah snorted but cleared his throat trying to play it off when he got a quick, harsh glance from Theo.

“This was not a business lunch,” Theo’s eyes returned to mine. The intensity of them was a little intimidating.