A dip of her head was the entire acknowledgement I got before she passed a document to me. On taking a glimpse at it, I saw that it was a non-disclosure agreement. I looked at her in question.
“Seeing as you are not yet a solicitor, and not as tightly bound by the laws of the lawyer-client privilege, I have had to get Mr Clarke’s permission to bring you on board. So bear in mind that this is a high profile case, even as simple as it is, everything that revolves around Mr Clarke is high profile. We don’t want this to get out before he is ready. Until my legal assistant is back from maternity leave, I would place you on cases involved with his companies and others.”
She paused, her gawk poking me. I knew she was trying to judge my reaction and see how I was handling it.
“Zina, I realise that this will be a rather climactic start for you, but remember that any first-year sit will do almost anything to be in your position right now. In fact, they are. They haven’t been informed I won’t be picking them because your previous summer placement as a legal assistant makes you a better practical choice. I cannot stress enough the importance of everything that has to do with this client. Sign or use the door if you think this is too up the ladder for you to start with.” She said, looking at me sternly as if challenging me to bolt.
I bowed my head while I read through the wordings, which were direct and layman enough for a starter like me. I signed it, praying to God that I did everything right. I handed her back the signed NDA, conscious of Mr Clarke’s lurking watch on me.
She tucked it into a file. “About a month ago, the company Zain for Mothers, a baby food solution company declared bankruptcy, and just last week Monday, Mr Clarke signed a letter of intent after he was approached. What’s interesting is that only he has been approached.”
I nodded, catching the drift. They thought something fishy was going on if he was the only one who had been approached.
“Despite that Mr Clarke is a business magnate, he has never been involved in any food production enterprise. It’s surprising if not a little bit suspicious that they didn’t pick a competitor or an affiliate, but someone who if we go through with this, will be new to it.”
She reclined, but her assertive eyes never left mine. “Now, while we intend to discern any ulterior motives, we are still interested in acquiring the company,” she explained.
“Can I ask a question?” I interjected, still avoiding looking at the Adonis sitting across from me.
She nodded, giving me an impatient look.
“Why did he sign the letter of intent if he had doubts with being solely approached? I would think his company would have an in-house team who would look into that, and have had that information beforehand.”
A smile hit the edge of her upper lip—she was impressed. “Hmm, hmm, I thought you wouldn’t ask.”
She sat up a little. “Mr Clarke has been itching to dip his feet into something new, which he does after every new venture of his takes off, which they always do. When this came, he opted to sign that letter under my advisement without further information, so that it would be out there, but he isn’t legally bound yet.”
“I see.” Not giving me that information from the get go was a test of my cognisance.
Passing a file to me, she continued, “those are the need to know information. Today, you will deliver to their solicitor the signed non-disclosure purchase agreement, which we are using to delay until we are sure. We have put several unnecessary and petty demands in that sealed envelope to make sure of the respite. Then, you go ahead and conduct a due diligence research while I’ll have the investigations and IT departments do that as well. Prepare a closing checklist and memorandum; I also put in there a list of appropriate documents, consents to assignments and releases which you would get. Forge ahead the adequate closing documents. In there are some financial statements, already prepared that you should file. That one should be done before the end of today.” She paused, a dangerous smirk on her face, waiting for me to look overwhelmed.
“This being your first assignment, I would be indulgent and give you till Friday to have everything else ready. If you have any problem, liaise with the other legal assistant working with me. She’s right in front of my office, occupying the vacant seat. And, only if you have something plausible enough for me to step in, then and only then should it be brought to me. Got it?”
“Got it,” I replied, managing not to stutter. I was grateful that she was kind enough to make a list of everything she just explained; it was a lot. But, I kept my cool.
She then turned to Mr Clarke, who I finally looked at, after taking it upon myself not to.
“Nik, I believe this meeting has ended.” She said, standing up and shaking hands with him.
I got on my feet with her, trying to avoid contact and started to walk out after her. That is, until his next words stopped me.
“Amelia, you mentioned Miss Wright is to deliver the purchase agreement immediately?”
“Yes,” she replied absent-mindedly.
“I would see to it that she gets there in one piece.” He declared.
I turned, my forehead wrinkling in surprise. I looked at Amelia, who seemed to be pondering on it.
She looked at me, expectantly. “Miss Wright, do you mind?”
With elation and a bright smile to accompany it, I said, “I don’t think that would be necessary at all. No need to get you off your busy schedule.” I didn’t bother to look at him, even though my last words were directed at the man in question.
“Miss Wright…” Mrs Amelia said pointedly, looking at me like she wanted to smack me right then.
I almost groaned. Obviously, no was never an option.
I quickly dug myself out. “But, if you insist, I’ll be grateful.”
“I insist.” He said, too pleased with the situation. I knew so, despite that nothing on his face spoke to it.
I truly wanted to scream, and at the same time, I had the urge to jump his bones.
Mrs Amelia said her goodbye, making it a point to remind me of what I had to have ready before the end of the day.
And then, there were two. I stood there, still as the dead, looking amiss.
“It’s high time you stopped avoiding looking at my face, Zina.”
The heavenly way he drawled my name had me almost dishevelled.
I didn’t look at him still. I just lowered my eyes to the ground, taking a step back as I perceived his voice to be near.
He was closing the space between us.
“Mr Clarke, this is a professional…” I started to say, looking at the outside world through the glass walls. Everyone was oblivious and going about their day, but somehow I was hyper-conscious.
“Oh, I am very aware of that.”
“Then, I don’t know why you suggest…..”
“Look…At…Me.”
My eyes flew to meet his on its own accord. It was the way he had said it. So monotone, commanding, impatient.
I managed to pick up my confidence from where it was—figuratively rolling in mud on the floor.
“You needn’t do this. Clearly, you are a hotshot mogul and must have many other places to be. And…and, before you bring up my lack of knowledge of London. I would like to inform you of the existence of erm… google map,” I managed to say.