Chapter Text
Charlotte Heywood stood in-front of a skyscraper in London's Canary Wharf frozen. Her body had betrayed her with a sudden surge of feelings she had suppressed for the last 10 year overwhelming her. Charlotte had spent the last 10 years in America living a full professional life, while her personal life was lacking. Professionally she was at the top of an industry dominated by men. Personally she missed London, her family and him. She had rebuilt her life after fate's cruel ways and yet here she was 10 year later, standing only a few blocks from where it all happened, looking up at another tower in the glass jungle that was London’s financial district. Coffee in one hand, designer purse in the other, her wild chestnut hair blowing in the London wind she stood there motionless, hardly noticing the people around her rushing into the various buildings, trying to get to their desks before the markets opened.
As her mirrored self stared back at her she wondered how long she had, was he already at the office? Did he know? Panic started to take over, did she make the right decision? She groaned out loud trying to find her courage for the day she had been dreading since she agreed to take this once in a life time opportunity back in London. Charlotte took a deep breath, today was not the day to let her emotions get the best of her. No, for what lay ahead, she was going to need nerves of steel. Charlotte stood tall, head high and declared to the reflection in the window “Courage Charlotte'' and proceeded to walk through the revolving doors of the Worcester building to the start of her new chapter the 40th floor at Worcester Financial, not noticing in the distance a pair of brown eyes had been watching her with both curiosity, amusement and a subtle one sided smirk on his face.
Sidney Parker stood up from his desk at his home office and stretched. It was 6 am and the sun was starting to peek through the roof tops among the homes. The Tokyo markets had closed and he just got off a conference call where he finally secured another sought after client to add to an already impressive roster he managed. He was scheduled at the office to meet with the executive team today to go over all the details, now that the deal was done and signed. Sidney left his home office on the 2nd floor and headed down stairs to the gym to blow off some steam, before heading into the office for what felt like the first time in weeks, mainly because it was.
In the shower, Sidney let the water slide down his hard body taking the stress of the last few weeks with it. Wrapped in only a towel, he stepped out of his ensuite, into his large half empty walk-in closet and ran his fingers through his brown hair trying to decide what to wear, while making a mental note to schedule a hair appointment. As he browsed the suits that lined the custom closet that resembled a Tom Ford store, Sidney came across a navy suit he had long forgotten he owned, assuming his ex-got rid of it when they had finally moved into their fashionable designer home. The emotions the suit stirred in him from that day 10 year ago came flooding back and yet a small spark ignited deep in him. While he ran the fine Italian Merino wool in his hands, he wondered what she was doing at that very same moment across the Atlantic in New York.
If Sidney Parker were honest with himself, which he usually only ever was after a couple of Whiskeys, and only in the company of his 2 closest friends and partners Babington and Crowe. He mused to himself, would the man he was 10 years ago recognize himself today? She would probably tell him something along the lines of “You are the same Sidney Parker, but much improved” In the short time they had together, she would challenge him in ways that not even his closest friends Crowe and Babington dared. The arguments that ignited between the two of them, excited and vexed him at the same time, because she was always right. He could instinctually read the markets and anticipate what was going to happen and it made him extremely successful and highly sought after, she could instinctively read Sidney Parker.
In the few months they shared together at Champion Capital, she could see he was growing tired of the rat race that was London's Finance Industry. It had become an empty existence to him, being accessible to only the wealthy one percent, constantly operating in the gray area of what was legal and illegal, but always making a large profit usually at the expense of others. She always saw Sidney Parker as a great man, but she also saw in him a greater version of himself. Thinking about her and what she might say about the last decade of Sidney Parker's existence, Sidney felt the side of his mouth curl up into a smile. As he reached out for the Navy Hugo Boss suit, he went over the deal hours earlier he had closed in his head, ultimately concluding “She would be proud of you Parker ”and with that he let the towel drop to the floor as he walked into the bedroom, Navy suit in hand, to prepare for the long day ahead of him.
Pulling up to the office at Canary Wharf in his Porsche Taycan Turbo S model. Sidney was about to get out of his car when someone caught his eye. It was a woman in the distance, her back was to him, her long brown hair blowing in the London wind, she was fashionably dressed in a gray wool coat, holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a smart designer bag in the other. As Sidney watched her behind his sunglasses, she stood in front of the building's glass exterior and looked as if she was talking to her reflection. Like a boxer might before a prize fight, giving a pep-talk to their mirror self before entering the ring. Sidney continued to watch, he was captivated by her. This woman felt oddly familiar, but at the same time totally foreign. He found himself smiling, because this stranger reminded him of her, and something he often caught her doing before a big meeting.
“Good morning Mr. Parker.” Said Sam as he approached his boss's car. Sam was Sidney’s Jr. Associate and one of the most promising at the firm, Sidney still fixated on the woman, barely registering Sam's voice. “Mr. Parker?” Sam's voice getting Sidney’s attention from the figure he had been watching.
“Sorry Sam. My mind was somewhere else” Sidney replied, opening the car door and standing up, his white shirt stretched across his broad back, the top buttons of his shirt undone, he opened the back passenger door to retrieve the navy suit jacket from a hanger and his briefcase from the back seat.
Sidney dropped the keys in Sam’s hand, which was always the best part of Sam’s day. As his boss was putting on his suit jacket, Sam remarked while getting into the car “I hear congratulations are in order, another successful acquisition for Chelsea Capital? Sam asked with curiosity, he had heard rumors the deal was closed, but nothing official had been announced. “I overheard Associates over at Champion Cap talking about it last night at the bar. They were discussing how furious Mr. Champion was going to be when he found out, while also deciding who was going to be the one to tell him.” Sam watched for what kind of reaction he would get out of his boss at 7:30 am in the morning, normally Sidney Parker was a broody man but every once in a while he caught people off guard with a glimpse of another side of him. Sidney rubbed the stubble on his chin mentally making a note to include a shave along with his hair cut and gave a diplomatic answer fit for a boss, “Yes, I am sure Robert will be less than happy at the news this morning.” Sidney smiled at the thought of what might be unfolding a stone's throw away from where he currently stood and felt for those poor Associates who had to tell Robert Champion Sidney had acquired yet another blue chip client Robert himself was after.
If there was one thing Robert Champion hated more than anything, it was losing. Especially when it came to Sidney Parker. Over the years since leaving Champion Capital the only victory, if you could even call it that, Robert Champion ever had over Sidney, didn’t happen inside a boardroom and in hindsight Sidney didn’t consider it much of a loss.
“Is everything set-up for the meeting this morning?” asked Sidney as his young Associate adjusted the car's settings to accommodate his slightly smaller frame than his boss. “Yes, the boardroom is ready. I just need to pick up the catering from your brother” answered Sam.
“Good, good." Sidney smiled as he watched his assistant "Give Arthur my best, and ask if he can also throw in some of those chocolate filled pastries I love” his stomach growling in agreement. Then in a blink, Sam and all 750 horses of Sidney's sports car drove off.
Sidney turned his attention back to where the woman who caught his eye had been standing, only to notice she was now gone. Sidney chalked it up to his imagination playing tricks on him again. No, the last he had read, she was living in New York with her mysterious unnamed boyfriend, heading the Sustainability and Emerging markets sector of JP Morgan. The article was 5 years ago but still, Charlotte had made a name for herself in New York and seemed to be living the American dream. Sidney Parker proceeded through the lobby of the Worcester building, up to the 39th floor to Chelsea Capital ready to make the day his masterpiece.