Enchant Me by J. Kenner

11

“The kid was a hell of a driver,” Jackson said from where he was kicked back on the sofa in Damien’s office, a cup of coffee in his hand. “It was a shame when he retired from racing.”

Damien poured a cup for himself, then took the chair opposite his brother. “Agree, but that wreck was a bad one. It’s a miracle he walked away from it. Might turn me off from racing, too.”

Jackson tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he studied Damien. “I don’t know, little brother. I think it takes more than a wreck to knock you off course.” He put the cup down on the table between them. “So how does Noah know Ashton Stone anyway?”

“Apparently they met through Kiki. I guess Stone’s a fan, and he’d attended a benefit where she was performing. They got to talking, and he told Noah a bit about the energy system he was working on, and that he was looking to raise capital.”

“So Noah told him to call you?”

“Actually, no. Noah mentioned the conversation to me, and I reached out. I didn’t want to wait for him to come to me. The guy’s a racing celebrity. He’s used to being courted.” He smiled. “I’m familiar with the feeling.”

Jackson chuckled. “And now you’re older and wiser.”

“I don’t know about wiser...”

Jackson stood, then crossed the room to refresh his coffee. “From a purely selfish standpoint, I hope you’re interested enough to actually invest. If what we’re hearing is right, his system really could change everything.”

“Can’t disagree with that. His system harnesses and stores atmospheric energy with an efficiency that no one else has been able to achieve. No need to plug in a battery at all. It just pulls energy from the air. It’s like he’s been able to channel Nikola Tesla.”

“You sound impressed.”

“I am. There are still issues that would prevent widespread use, but he’s taken the tech to a whole new level. It’s something we’ve been dabbling with at Stark Applied Technology, but this guy’s light years ahead of us. Not only is the guy good behind a wheel, but he’s got the mind of a scientist.”

Jackson chuckled. “Your kind of man.”

“He definitely intrigues me, but the tech’s not quite there yet, which is why I think we can provide him with some solid resources.”

“What issues do you see?” Jackson asked.

“His automotive batteries can generate enough power for a racecar, but not enough to finish the race, and they can’t recharge sufficiently while in use.”

“So it’s not yet at the level where the major automotive manufacturers would be interested.”

“Not yet, but he’s close. He needs to be able to efficiently convert energy on the go, and if he can develop a lighter battery with a higher capacity he’ll have something truly incredible. More important, it would change the face of energy across the board.”

“Which is where I come in,” Jackson said. “Designing houses, apartments, office complexes, all with Stone’s tech. These places could be completely off the grid, creating their own clean and limitless energy.”

“That’s the dream,” Damien said as Troy buzzed over the intercom to announce that Preston had entered the waiting area with Noah.

“Send them in,” Damien said, then turned as the doors opened and Preston Rhodes, the head of acquisitions for Stark Applied Technology, walked in with Noah Carter, the president of the Austin office, at his side. A tech genius, Noah used to work for a secret vigilante organization known as Deliverance. Damien, however, had lured him away.

“I wasn’t sure you’d be able to get here today,” Damien said, after they’d both greeted him and Jackson. “I thought you weren’t coming into LA until the weekend.”

“Turns out Matthew wanted Kiki to fly out and record some tracks with a local band he’s signing,” Noah said. “When Preston told me that Ashton Stone was coming in, I decided to fly out with her. We’ll end the week with your ceremony, then head back to Texas.”

“I’m glad,” Damien said as they all took seats around the coffee table that dominated the huge office’s seating area. “You’ll have to come to the house before things get crazy. I’m thrilled we have so many friends coming, but I’m afraid that means I won’t have the chance to spend much one-on-one time on Saturday.

“Dallas and Jane are arriving midweek,” he continued, referring to Dallas Sykes, the man who ran Deliverance before ceasing its operations, “And obviously, Quincy, Tony, and Liam are already here.” Damien had snatched up the three former Deliverance operatives for Stark Security. “If you five have a reunion, I might have to crash it.”

Noah chuckled. “How about we induct you as an honorary member of Deliverance, and you can come at your discretion?”

“I’ll take it.”

The intercom buzzed again, and Troy announced, “Mr. Stone is here for his appointment.”

“Send him in.”

Damien rose as the doors opened again, and Ashton Stone stepped into the office.

For one surreal moment, it seemed to Damien that he was looking in a mirror. This was definitely the Ashton Stone he remembered from racing videos, but this Ashton’s face had lost the roundness of youth. Now he was all strong lines and angles, with an edge of determination and competence that Damien recognized.

He bit back a smile, certain he was going to like this guy. He crossed the room and held out his hand in greeting. “Mr. Stone. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Call me Ashton.” He took Damien’s hand, his grip strong, and Damien led him to the seating area, then introduced him to Jackson and Preston, both of whom stood. Noah stood as well, then reached over and shook Ashton’s hand. “Great to see you again.”

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” Ashton said. And although it didn’t make any sense, Damien thought he heard an undercurrent of irritation in the younger man’s voice.

Troy had followed them in, and now offered the men coffee or juice. Ashton took a coffee with cream, sipped it, then he met Damien’s eyes and said, “Well, what’s your pitch?”

Damien saw Troy’s brows rise from where he stood behind Ashton. He kept a tight rein on his own expression, but was equally amused. “To be honest, I expected you to tell me a bit about your system. But,” he added, as Troy exited the room, “I’m happy to do this your way.”

He leaned back, ready to enjoy a conversation about the tech. “From what I understand, you’ve come up with a system to harness atmospheric energy and store it in battery systems that can be recharged on the go. You’ve had some success, but the charging process takes too long. The cars need a gasoline backup or, ideally, improved technology that allows the cells to recharge in transit at a much faster rate.”

“So far so good, Mr. Stark. I’m glad to see you’ve done your homework.”

“I always do my homework,” Damien said. “And what I see is a product that has significant potential. I won’t play games with you. We’d like the chance to work with you on this. I think that you’ll agree that Stark International, and especially Stark Applied Technology, has the resources to develop and improve your system enough that it would be fair to say that it could be the leading source of green energy by the end of this decade.”

Damien leaned forward. “My understanding is that you’re looking for potential investors, and while I may be biased, I think we would be the best partner for you in this project.”

Ashton nodded slowly. “I’m flattered that you’re so impressed with my work. To be honest, this started as a passion project in my garage. I never expected it to explode the way it has, but I’m glad that it did.”

“You clearly had the skills to make it happen,” Noah said. “Talent can go a long way. Money for R and D can take you further.”

“I don’t disagree,” Ashton said. “And I should point out that I’m serious when I describe this as a passion project. The tech is something that means a lot to me, and I’m very protective of it. I’m only going to work with the right partner. It’s not a question of rushing this to market.”

“I understand,” Damien said. “I suggest you give us the opportunity to take a closer look, obviously with non-disclosures in place. Let us see if what you’ve got so far is something that we can get behind as an investor or partner. Or possibly a full acquisition of the tech with you coming on board to manage its development and entry into the marketplace. What you’ve come up with is very exciting. We’d like to help you make the most of it.”

Damien watched Ashton as he spoke, but could read nothing on the younger man’s face, a fact that lifted the man in his estimation. Few in the business world had sufficient control not to show their hand.

Ashton took a sip of his coffee before finally responding. “I’m flattered, Mr. Stark, but I’m not surprised.”

“No?”

“As I told Noah, I thought this would be up your alley. You have a reputation for working with cutting edge technology in a variety of fields. Stark International is a powerhouse, and while I imagine you have people clamoring at the doors trying to get your attention, you also know quality and innovation when you see it.”

Damien grinned. “I’d say that’s a fair assessment.”

“But here’s the thing, Mr. Stark.” He paused, then leaned forward in his chair. “No.”

Damien sat back, thrown by the unexpected response. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. My answer is no.”

“I see.” Damien glanced at Jackson, who looked as baffled as he felt. “I’d be very interested in knowing why we had this meeting if my proposal doesn’t interest you. Or do you just not like the coffee I served?”

“It was good coffee. The cream was great, too. Heavy cream. Lots of places only have those little plastic cups. Or that powdered crap. No, you know how to treat a guest right, Mr. Stark. Other than that, though….”

Ashton shrugged. “Well, you’re a man who puts a good face out there for the world, but that’s not who you are at the core, is it?”

Damien stiffened, his eyes focused on this man, who seemed to have grown horns right in front of him. “Do you have a personal grudge against me, Mr. Stone?”

Ashton looked straight at Damien. “You know exactly what I have against you, Mr. Stark. So don’t think you can play games with me. I know everything. Every. Fucking. Thing.”

“I see,” Damien said, though he didn’t see at all. “Then can you tell me why this meeting was even necessary?”

Ashton shrugged. “You’re a man who gets what he wants. You always have been. Your tennis trophies. Your pretty wife. Your beautiful house, gorgeous kids, and all your pretty, pretty properties.” He sat back, then cracked his fingers. “That’s all fine. They’re yours. Keep them. Enjoy them. But there are two things you won’t have. My technology and me.”

A cold fury had been swirling through Damien, as the pieces started to fall into place. “Were the notes not enough?” he asked, his voice low and harsh and dangerous.

He saw Jackson’s eyes widen, and Noah’s and Preston’s confused expressions. “The threats? You decided that you had to come here in person? Is this the end game or are we only just beginning?”

Ashton sat back, his face an unreadable mask. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“Don’t you?”

Ashton stood, then turned his attention to the other three men in the room. “It was a pleasure to meet you all and to see you again, Noah. Mr. Stark, all I can say is that you were an experience. I’ll show myself out.”

And then he turned, walked to the double doors, and pulled one open. He disappeared into the waiting area without even a backward glance.

“What the hell was that?” Jackson asked as the door clicked shut.

Preston rose. “I’m going to go after him. See if I can ... I don’t know ... figure out what’s going on, I guess.”

“Suit yourself,” Damien said. “But I don’t think you’ll learn anything. Other than that he really does not want to work with me.”

“What grudge does he have against you?” Preston asked, and Damien shook his head.

He looked to Noah. “This meeting came through you. Did he ever say anything that might explain what happened today?”

Noah shook his head, looking clueless. “He seemed excited to meet you.”

“I have no doubt that he was. He wanted the chance to spit in my face.”

“Yeah, I’ll have to say you’re right on that,” Noah agreed. “But why?”

Damien looked at Jackson who had his head cocked. “You need to call Ryan. Considering everything that’s been going on, he may want to tail this guy.”

Noah and Preston exchanged glances. “I think that’s our cue to leave,” Noah said. “Damien, I don’t understand what’s going on, but I’m sorry. If there’s anything you need us to do, just let us know.”

“It will be fine. Surreal, but fine.” He shifted his attention to Preston. “I don’t know who you’ve talked about in the department about this meeting, but the official word is that we’re in a wait-and-see mode.”

“Of course. What happened in this room won’t leave it.”

“I know. And thank you.” He watched as Noah and Preston left, then fell back into his seat. “What the hell was that?”

Across from him, Jackson frowned. “You think he’s behind the texts. The video.”

“It makes sense,” Damien said. “But he looked genuinely perplexed.”

Jackson nodded. “I noticed that, too. Like you’d shifted the conversation to a path he didn’t understand. He wasn’t frustrated that you’d called him out on his harassment. Instead, he seemed annoyed that you were turning the tables.”

“Exactly. But he may just be one hell of an actor.”

“I’d believe that,” Jackson said. “But here’s the bigger question. How could he get his hands on the Richter images? For that matter, why would he have gone looking for them in the first place?”

“I haven’t got an answer to any of that,” Damien said. “But I’m damn sure going to start looking.”