Villains-R-Us

No one would ever guess it was Benjamin's first time in the upscale bar, at ease as he seemed to be. Even in the smalltalk and laughing, he was listening for little tip-offs, keeping certain offhand comments and jokes about different companies, people, and politics in mind. After all, it wasn't just by reading the business pages that'd he'd built such an explosively successful company.

"Yes, well," he chuckled at the chide about a recently lost client, and downed his scotch as he thought of how to respond. Smirking, he finished "Just watch. We've already a few of their competitors going peacock to be the replacement, and you'll see their name vanishing behind whichever we decide to take on."

Of course, one also had to figure out which comments were just planted rumors, too.

Charlie entered the bar and ordered a drink. Just another Saturday night. He sat down at a nearby seat as he waited for his drink. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ben. Charlie didn't know why he was here but knew that he wasn't going to even try talking to him, it couldn't be anything good.

Ben had already started on another drink when he noticed that Charlie Shepherd had arrived at some point. He'd yet to actually meet the man in person, but he'd certainly heard enough. He casually smoothed his tie down - a rich aquamarine against a dark grey shirt - and laughed at the punchline of the joke that had been in progress before excusing himself from the conversation.

"Hey, if it isn't Mr. Shepherd! Your reputation precedes you. Mind if I have a seat?" he asked, though he was already taking a seat as he did and had no plan of giving Charlie a chance to refuse. "You know, I've considered you something of a role model. Not sure I'd be doing so well if I hadn't. I'd buy you a drink, but I see you've got one already. Next one then?"

"Perhaps" he replied taking a sip of his drink. "So I'm guessing you are new to this business?" Charlie wasn't actually curious and didn't know why he asked.

"Oh, that hurts!" Benjamin said, clutching his chest with obvious mock pain. His smile was quick to return, though. "Here I thought I was already famous. But yes, I am the latest - and, from how things are looking, well on my way to becoming the greatest!"

He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a card, offering it out between his first and second fingers. "You really do have a great reputation though. Think you could schedule in some time to drop by my office? I've got a proposition that I'd love to discuss with you."

Charlie took the card. "I guess I will try, if I have time" However at the back of his mind he was thinking of something completely different. There seemed to be no way to get away from him.

"Great! I'll see you there," Benjamin said cheerfully, and held out his hand to shake. Sure, it would have been easy enough to talk things over right there, but he knew a little about the power of location - and while the bar was very neutral, his own office would put him into the power position. Besides, he didn't get to show off the view from his office enough.

Charlie half-heartedly shook his hand, he really didn't have any interest in meeting him. At the moment he wanted to call someone but could while Ben was here.

"See you soon, then, Mr. Shepherd," he said, and returned to those he'd been talking to before. The night went on with its laughter and posturing.

Later on, when he returned home, Benjamin took some time to ask his new fiance a bit about her ex-husband. She'd talked a bit about Charlie before, but now Ben wanted to see if he could pick up any ideas on how best to talk with the man. The woman certainly seemed happy enough to downtalk him.

Well then, he'd just have to wait a few days, and if he hadn't heard anything, he'd have his secretary set a meeting up with Charlie Shepherd anyway. After all, if he could nab him, his company would surely fly by all the competition. Well, faster than it was moving already, anyway.

The next day he drove to his ex-wifes house. It was time of month where he could visit his son for about a day. He parked and stepped out of the car.

(Btw are you able to roleplay as the son and ex wife?)

((Sure, I've multi-char'd a number of times. How old is the son, by the way? And do you already have general personalities in mind for them?))

Benjamin was eating cereal while perusing the newspaper, not yet in anything more than shorts and an undershirt, went a glint out the window caught his eye. He paused mid-chew as he turned to watch a car pull into the drive, and squinted, confused. When he saw Charlie climb out, he half choked and spit what was in his mouth back into the bowl. Ben slapped the paper down, poured the rest of the cereal down the drain, and ran for the bedroom to get more respectably dressed. Along the way he called out, "Susan, why didn't you say your ex was coming today?"

Charlie went to the front door and knocked. He waited. When he and Susan got married, the house he now lives in is where they lived. Charlie managed to keep the house but not Jack. He could visit him but it wasn't like he could have him for about half a month before Jack swapped to live with Susan. She said that Charlie wasn't going to have him because he is a 'bad influence'. To be honest none of them were great role models. He leaned against a wall.

(The son is around 13-14. I haven't made a personality for them yet)

Susan opened the door while Benjamin got dressed, her expression one of grudging acceptance. She stepped aside to let him in, and said as he entered, "Jack's still in bed. I'll go wake him up."

Benjamin managed to dress himself fast enough - slacks and a nice golf shirt - that Susan stopped him for a quick kiss, purposely in view of Charlie, before continuing on to Jack's room. Ben smiled at watched her a moment, a little confused by the random display of affection, but he wasn't going to argue with it. Facing forward again, he saw Charlie, and smiled through his brief oh shit moment.

"Mr. Shepherd! No, that's way too formal for home. Charlie, it's good to see you," Benjamin said and he walked over, one hand in his pocket and the other held out to shake.

He nodded but didn't shake his hand. Charlie figured out what happened between Ben and Susan but didn't know if it was true. He wasn't going to ask Ben though that's for sure. "I guess I'll be seeing you later then? "

"Uh, right then," Ben said, withdrawing his hand and running it through his blonde hair instead. "Heh, sorry about that."

He sighed, then gestured toward the living room. "C'mon, no need to rush off. You're here for Jack, right? Great kid. Susan might have some trouble getting him up though, he was up pretty late last night." Benjamin headed for the kitchen. "So you'll have a few minutes to wait. I can't really blame you if you decide to take him out for breakfast, though. Can I get you anything for now?"

"No I'm fine" he replied. He was deliberately doing as little as possible. He didn't care if Ben was with his ex-wife, its the fact that he knows his son. Sometime later today he will be definitely having a talk to Susan.

"Ah. Alright then." Oh cruel awkward silence. Benjamin poured himself some orange juice and took a slow drink. Smiling once again, he said, "I'm looking forward to our little business chat when you find the time. Now's certainly not a good time to discuss it, but I guarantee my proposition will the highly profitable for the both of us."

Jack was still groggy when he appeared, and yawned even as he said, "What's up, dad?"

Susan leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Remember, you have to have him back by six."

Charlie ignored Ben and Susan and smiled when he saw Jack. His dark world got a little brighter. "Hi Jack. Are you feeling good?"

"Yeah. I wish you could've come with us last weekend, dad. Ben took me and mom to a movie, and it was awesome!" Jack said and gave his dad a quick hug. "I think you'd like it. So what're we doing today?"

"Oh I was thinking we could do a multiple amount of things. But first I guess the best thing we could do first is to get some breakfast" That's the way Charlie did things, he made things up as he went and so far that has worked out well for him.