Chapter 702 - Dinner in Los Angeles (1)

~ Los Angeles ~

It's a relaxed atmosphere in a private booth of an Italian restaurant downtown Los Angeles. Sophia, Felix, JoAnna, Jeffrey, Sarah, Aiden are having dinner together.

Bridgette and Steve are also there, but two of them opted to take a separate table because there is still some lingering uncomfortable feeling with Felix around. With this arrangement, it is more relaxing for everyone, or at least that is what Bridgette and Steve think.

Sophia and Felix are sharing their impressions of the properties that Jeffrey recommended as options for the next Orion Enterprise HQ.

"Thank you, Jeff, for finding these on such a short notice." Sophia spoke how Felix and she spent most of the day visiting those locations. "We found office space which will be perfect, and it is only one block away from White corp. HQ. I will get Leah to assemble a team who will kick off negotiation for the lease tomorrow, and if that works out, then I will inform board of directors that few departments will move to Los Angeles as part of the first wave. Three months after move is complete, we will evaluate effects it caused and decide if we will get more people here or not."

Normally Sophia would need to ask for a meeting with shareholders to vote on it, because opening offices in a new location is not a small matter. It is a big investment, and it can impact stock prices. Only if proposal is approved with more than 51%, she can make this move. However, she represents more than that. Edward and Stella have 40%, and each sister has 10% of Orion Enterprise, and conveniently Sophia is representing all of them. That means that she can make all decisions about Orion Enterprise by herself and only inform other shareholders.

"Do you think you will encounter opposition at the company?" Jeff knows that such big changes in any company are not smooth, there is always someone opposing no matter how good idea. That is the nature of power struggle in business, everyone wants to achieve victory no matter how small (or unreasonable) it is.

"I don't think so. We are looking for additional space in Seattle and like this we will get it." This is the fact. The only change is that new space will be in Los Angeles, but the prices of real-estate are comparable, so it should not be a problem, at least not from financial point.

Jeff was glad to hear that Sophia thinks it will be an easy move. Since he heard that Sophia is considering move to Los Angeles, Jeff hopes that it will work out. He knows that his Anna would love to have her sister close, and he is trying to rope in Felix to get access to gadgets he is making in order to improve security monitoring at White corp. They made a deal for some, but Jeff knows that latest products are reserved for Orion Enterprise, and he hopes to change that. "Do you know which departments you will move first?"

"Security hardware is moving." Sophia glanced at Felix. There is no way she is moving without pulling his department with her. "But I'm not sure about others yet. Based on the space, we will have either two larger ones, or three medium departments. I would like to move software team as well, because they are collaborating closely with hardware, but Edward is in that team, and I'm not sure how he will react to this."

"You didn't tell mom and dad?", JoAnna asked.

Sophia cleared her throat. "Not yet."

JoAnna and Sarah exchanged glances and tried to suppress laughter, unsuccessfully. They find it funny that their big (married and very pregnant) sister is acting like a little girl when she needs to talk to parents and tell them not favorable news.

"Did you talk with Jeff about merger?" Sarah asked Sophia. She admires small gadgets which are products of department Felix is in charge of. If there is a merger she can collaborate with Felix, and in her opinion, that would be amazing.

Sophia glanced at Jeff. "I mentioned that, so that he can think of some options, and I will do the same. After their honeymoon we will sit and see what we came up with and if we found anything that works for everyone involved."

Sophia is aware that Jeff is mostly after Felix's products, and if merger happens, she will leverage that to get the best deal possible. Jeff is her brother-in-law, but this is business. After all, Felix is the man behind record profits in Orion Enterprise, and she has exclusive access to him. Thinking about that, pride swelled in Sophia… she is very proud of Felix. Her hand slipped under the table and landed on Felix's thigh.

Feeling Sophia's nails on his inner thigh, moving higher, Felix's movements paused for a moment and he smiled while thinking how second trimester of pregnancy is indeed time of wonders. Sophia was never this… lustful.

"So, did you two decide to move to Los Angeles?" Sarah asked Sophia. Even if there is no merger, having Sophia close by will be great.

Sophia smiled and her hand was still under the table. "We will stay with Anna and Jeff for now and give it a two-three weeks trial. During that time, we will check out the neighborhoods and properties available."

"You should come to our place as well.", Sarah objected. "Why is only Anna getting love from you?"

"With her birthday, wedding, and honeymoon they will not be home much. So, we are almost house sitting." Sophia was entertained with Sarah's exaggerated sour expression. "But we will definitely stop by your place. We are just not sure if it will be a sleepover situation."

Sarah confirmed that is acceptable.

"Are you sure-sure you don't want us to do anything for your birthday?" Sarah asked JoAnna.

JoAnna's birthday is tomorrow and she insisted that she does not want any celebration or presents with explanation that there will be plenty of both in next few days.

"Yes. I'm sure-sure." JoAnna confirmed and leaned onto Jeff. "Lately things are crazy, and I really need to spend a day off the grid, out of the commotion in order to recharge for what is coming… just me and my hunky future husband."

Jeff tilted his head toward JoAnna and whispered into her ear: "I like when you call me… hunky."

She giggled when his hand squeezed her hip, urging her to hurry.

JoAnna and Jeff finished their entrees rather swiftly and excused themselves.

"We are going to pack and head out to get an early start on my birthday.", JoAnna explained.

"Take care of our house." JoAnna told Sophia and Felix and they wished everyone goodbye before heading out.