CHAPTER SIX:THE COST OF ONE MISTAKE
1070 Words
The familiar chime above the entrance echoed as I stepped into Beck's gym.
It was well past closing time, so the place was unusually quiet. A few trainers wiped down equipment while soft music played through the speakers. Beck had insisted we meet here after work instead of our usual restaurant, claiming he wanted to "keep an eye on things."
In reality, he just didn't want to leave his gym.
"There he is," Beck called from behind the reception desk. "The busiest man in London."
"I could say the same about you."
He scoffed. "Please. I own a gym. You run a multinational tech company. We're not the same."
Morgan chuckled from one of the leather couches in Beck's office.
"You two started without me?"
"We've only been here for three minutes," Beck replied.
I loosened my tie as I sat down.
"So, what was so important that I had to come here instead of going home?"
Morgan sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.
"I needed legal advice today."
I frowned.
"You're the lawyer."
"Exactly."
He slid a contract across the coffee table.
"One of my associates reviewed this supplier agreement for Beck's new gym expansion."
Beck folded his arms.
"And he somehow managed to miss the most important clause in the entire contract."
I picked up the document and skimmed through it.
It didn't take long to find what they were talking about.
My eyebrows lifted.
"Automatic renewal for fifteen years?"
Morgan nodded.
"With annual price increases."
I looked at Beck.
"You would've been stuck paying whatever they wanted."
"Exactly."
I placed the contract back on the table.
"When did you catch it?"
"This afternoon."
"Barely an hour before Beck was supposed to sign."
Beck shook his head dramatically.
"I nearly became the proud owner of the world's most expensive gym membership."
I couldn't help laughing.
Morgan pointed at him.
"It's not funny."
"It is now."
"I've already spoken to my associate."
I looked at him.
"You fired him?"
Morgan shook his head.
"No."
"He made a mistake."
"A massive mistake," Beck corrected.
Morgan ignored him.
"I'll supervise him more closely from now on."
I nodded approvingly.
"That's the right call."
Beck sighed.
"You lawyers are too nice."
Morgan smirked.
"Says the man who offered free memberships after someone accidentally broke three treadmills."
"That's called customer service."
"It's called bad business."
Before Beck could defend himself, he looked at me.
"Enough about us."
"How did your meeting go today?"
I leaned back in my chair.
"It didn't."
"What do you mean?"
"I had a meeting with representatives from Montclair Capital Partners."
Morgan nodded.
"The investment bank?"
"Yes."
"They're pitching the financing strategy for Sterling Group's acquisition of Nova Dynamics."
"The AI cybersecurity company?" Beck asked.
"The same one."
"So what happened?"
I sighed.
"The executive who built the proposal didn't show up."
Morgan frowned.
"They sent someone else?"
"One of her associates."
"And?"
"He wasn't prepared."
I remembered the meeting clearly.
"I asked him why they had chosen that valuation model over two other alternatives."
"What did he say?" Beck asked.
"He couldn't answer."
Morgan winced.
"Ouch."
"It got worse."
"They projected an outdated financial model onto the screen. The revenue forecasts were wrong, the assumptions hadn't been updated, and when I questioned him about the acquisition strategy..."
I shook my head.
"He admitted he hadn't worked on it."
Silence settled over the room.
Beck broke it first.
"So he basically walked into a meeting he knew nothing about."
"Pretty much."
Morgan leaned forward.
"What did you do?"
"I ended the meeting."
"You just... ended it?"
"I'm not trusting Sterling Group's next acquisition to someone who doesn't understand the numbers."
Neither of them argued.
They knew I was right.
"I called Montclair afterward," I continued.
"I told them I'd give them one final opportunity."
Morgan nodded.
"The person who actually created the strategy has to come to London."
"Exactly."
"If they believe in their proposal, they should be able to defend it."
Beck smiled.
"Fair enough."
For a moment, the room grew quiet before Beck looked at Morgan with a grin that instantly made me suspicious.
"So..."
Morgan looked up.
"No."
"I haven't even said anything."
"You've got that look."
Beck laughed.
"I was just wondering if wedding planning is why your associate slipped up."
Morgan rolled his eyes.
"It has nothing to do with my wedding."
"Oh?"
"You've been distracted for weeks."
"I have not."
I folded my arms.
"You smiled at your phone during a board meeting last week."
Morgan looked offended.
"Once."
"It was more than once," I said.
"And yesterday," Beck added, "you called Lisa 'my beautiful fiancée' in front of opposing counsel."
Morgan buried his face in his hands.
"I thought I muted myself."
Beck burst into laughter.
"You didn't."
"You should've seen their faces."
Morgan groaned.
"I hate both of you."
"No," Beck said with a grin.
"You're just in love."
Almost on cue, Morgan's phone lit up on the table.
❤️ Lisa Calling ❤️
Beck pointed dramatically at the screen.
"Speak of the fiancée."
Morgan picked up the phone with an embarrassed smile.
"I'll be right back."
The moment he stepped outside the office, Beck leaned toward me.
"Ten pounds says he smiles before the call ends."
"I'll raise you twenty."
Less than thirty seconds later, Morgan laughed.
Beck held out his hand.
"Pay up."
I slipped a twenty-pound note into his palm.
"I should've known."
A minute later, Morgan returned.
"What are you two smiling about?"
"Nothing," Beck replied innocently.
Morgan narrowed his eyes.
"I don't believe either of you."
"You shouldn't."
He sat back down, shaking his head.
"I swear, getting engaged has made you both unbearable."
"No," Beck corrected.
"Getting engaged made you unbearable."
I laughed.
"I have to agree."
Morgan sighed dramatically.
"I can't wait until it's your turn."
Beck immediately pointed at me.
"He's married to Sterling Group."
I shrugged.
"It's a demanding relationship."
The three of us laughed.
Outside, London's lights shimmered against the evening sky.
For a little while, there were no contracts to review, no companies to acquire, and no meetings to prepare for.
Just three friends enjoying each other's company after another long day.
None of us knew that somewhere across the Atlantic, the woman who had actually built Montclair Capital Partners' proposal was packing her suitcase.
By this time tomorrow...
She would be on a flight to London.
- Writer
