The Money Man

Bennett Fontaine, 42, Entrepreneur Minding Your Business. Let's work together.

[ilovekristenbell-blog]

[business--bennett]

Work for the Holidays | Bennett and Lily

[lily-fairchild]

Lily hung up the phone and started pulling the gifts out of the bags and then laying the wrapping paper out as well. Bennett finally showed up just as she was starting to pick out paper for each person so they would all match. “Not too long.” She said. “I think I have everything organized enough, it just depends on your wrapping skills, because mine are good.” She said with a smile, hoping that he was at least decent and they could be done in no time. She also wouldn’t want him to look awful, and didn’t to have to re-wrap or teach him. 

Lily grabbed some green tissue paper and set it on the table. “If all else fails, we’ve got a bunch of gift bags and we can just do a messy job. I’m sure you’ve got important work to attend to and would like to get back to it.” She said, clasping her hands in front of her with a smile at him. 

[business--bennett]

And this, Bennett reminded himself, was why he'd hired Lily. One corner of his mouth jerked for a millisecond as he was almost - almost - tempted to return her inviting smile. She was one of the only people in the office who seemed to understand what was important here, and even more importantly, what he valued as the company leader. Of course, he'd keep that compliment to himself until performance evaluations came around. Bennett was a firm believer in keeping his team humble. He had a sneaking suspicion that Ms. Fairchild wasn't the type who fell to her own hubris, but he could never be too careful. He glanced at his wristwatch again and nodded at Lily to acknowledge her words. 

"Well." He grabbed a random gift and lifted an eyebrow, not wanting to interrupt her coordination. Systems made the world a happier place. He waited for a directive from her about what to do next. 

"Wrapping seems like the more personal touch," Bennett observed, studying the gift in his hands with furrowed brow. He thought it was a piggy bank shaped like a soccer ball or something, but he couldn't for the life of him remember whom it was for. Too much damn family... 

[business--bennett]

Work for the Holidays | Bennett and Lily

[lily-fairchild]

Lily was about to go into the office, glancing at Bennett through the doorway. She wondered if perhaps she should have gotten him a Christmas present. It was still pretty early in her job and he didn’t exactly seem like the type to be excited about a gift. He couldn’t even remember his own presents, let alone give one to her, and she really didn’t see the harm in not getting him something yet. He’d been mostly cold, and he didn’t seem to like her all that much. That tended not to stop Lily, only wanting to make him like her more, but it seemed a difficult task when he was constantly shushing her and telling her to get back to work. Lily smiled even as he barely seemed to greet her, not even on Christmas was he friendly. 

Lily raised an eyebrow, surprised he couldn’t even talk to his mother on Christmas day. There was definitely something wrong with him, not that she’d ever say. “Alright.” She said softly, loud enough he could hear. Lily moved around her desk, sitting down for a moment, turning her computer on and waiting for the phone. It hang not even a moment later, and she was thankful for the caller ID. “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Fontaine!” She said cheerfully. “Oh, same to you, Lily! My son has you working on Christmas too?” Lily hummed out a yes. “Oh, you poor thing, he’s lucky to have found you, the last girl would have walked out on the spot.” Lilly laughed “Well, I’m a tough one.” She said and Bennett’s mom laughed with her. “I just wanted to check up on my son, wish him a merry Christmas as well.” “Well, he’s a little busy with some adjustments, but he says he’ll call you later once he’s done.” Lily said, peaking around the corner, wondering if he was paying attention. “Alright, tell him I’m going to hold it to him.” Lily smiled. “I will do that.” “And try to get out of the office and enjoy your own Christmas dear.” “I will, thank you, have a good Christmas, alright?” “You too, Lily.” Lily clicked the phone down, glad that had been a quick phone call.

[business--bennett]

Bennett heard the phone click much too soon for his liking. His mother was usually a chatterbox full of various things to say - when she got short like this it meant one of two things. She probably wouldn't believe that he had a lot of work to do, so that meant she was pissed off. Bennett finished up his numbers and then let out a heavy sigh, running his hands down his face before clasping them together loudly before him. It'd be nice to just stay wrapped up in business, but even he wasn't Grinch enough to make Lily wrap his gifts by himself. He was a fair employer, even with a personal assistant. 

He joined Lily, standing beside his gifts with his hands on his hips. He didn't even remember buying all of this crap and now he had to wrap it. 

"About how long do you think this will take?" 

Bennett glanced at his wristwatch and then over at Lily, hoping desperately that the twenty or so packages wouldn't take too long. 

[booasaur]

[business--bennett]

Work for the Holidays | Bennett and Lily

[lily-fairchild]

Lily got in her car earlier in the morning, making her way to Bennett’s house. She was happy with her new job, and it was definitely giving her a lot more to do with herself. It was nice compared to sitting at a desk all day, staring at the ocean she couldn’t play with. She drove to his house, still surprised at the responsibilities she was given right way, including a key to his house. She wondered what would have happened if someone had faked a resume and broken in with a key. Lily shook her head a little as she pulled in to the drive way and walked up to the house, letting herself in. It was freakishly clean and tidy, but over all, it was extremely nice looking. She walked in and started peering around corners, looking for presents. She spotted the bags, her eyes widening at the amount.

She grabbed a few bag, heading to the car with them, making at heave first trip. On the second one, a large box seemed to wave around and hit the side of a vase in the doorway. Lily gasped as it rolled on it’s base, and sighed deeply in relief as it steady. She was quick to lock up and leave. She drove to the restaurant and picked up food for them both, before getting in her car and driving to the office. She did her best to hold everything in one trip so she didn’t have to come back again. She locked her car and headed to the office upstairs. She carefully walked into the building, setting them down on her desk. She looked over at Bennett as he was busy on the computer. “Hello, Mr Fontaine! Merry Christmas!” She said cheerfully.

[business--bennett]

Bennett's fingers stopped as the sound of Lily's chipper voice. She'd been working here for a while now, and Bennett had to admit that she'd impressed him. He'd been a little dismayed that first day when she approached, all kinds of tiny and looking like the very flower for which she'd been named. Bennett had wanted to tell the little girl to go home, but he was a professional above all things. He'd seen her resume, and unless she was a master con artist he had to respect her career accomplishments. He was glad he'd suppressed his first urges. She'd proven herself in a short amount of time, working without complaint, and everyone else around the office liked her well enough. Perhaps a little too well, if the near constant stream of chatting coming from her desk was any indication. He might have to have a meeting about that. He was very aware of how attractive she must appear, and honestly, it was an added bonus. Clients were probably drawn to that warmer, personal air about her, but she was here to do a job. He liked the job she was doing and he'd be pretty pissed off if he had to get rid of her or anybody else due to something as petty as an office affair. 

He gave a short hum to acknowledge her Christmas spirit, raising his hand briefly before scrolling down the report on his screen. He glanced at the clock and then up at Ms. Fairchild - but there wasn't too far up to glance, was there? One corner of his mouth jerked up at his private joke, but his face quickly resumed its usual mask of business. 

"The phone's going to ring in a minute or so. It'll be my mother," he said, his eyes still scanning his computer screen. "You're pretty good with her; just do your pleasant thing and tell her I'll call later. We can start wrapping gifts after that."

Bennett whistled low at the numbers on his screen, flexing his fingers before diving in for the necessary adjustments. It would be a feat, but at least it would be a useful one - unlike wrapping gifts. And the phone rang, right on time. 

[business--bennett]

Work for the Holidays | Bennett and Lily

Bennett sat at his desk, typing away at an email and reading through some business documents pertaining to some app or another. His brows were furrowed and he was concentrating too hard, something that tended to happen when he was this frustrated. His cell phone had buzzed in his pocket too many times, and now the office phone was going off like clockwork. Stopping his click-clacking fingers, he rubbed his temples and sighed. Christmas day was almost always a pain in the ass. He couldn't reach most of his clients, his workers were on vacation, and worst of all - the whole season practically skipped his mind until the last minute. Buying presents and remembering big, dumb holidays had never been his thing. It was one thing when he used to work out of New Orleans. He was convinced that his entire family lived in Louisiana, and they'd never leave him alone long enough to let him forget. And back then, he'd had friends to remind him...

Bennett shook his head ruthlessly and flexed his fingers. Those days were over. Now buying and sending gifts was supposed to be the domain of his administrative PA. He'd never fault her for it this time, since he'd never given her these particular holiday instructions, but he could call her in and get a few more things done in the process. He didn't expect it'd take more than a few hours. Then she'd probably go back to hanging trees or decking balls or whatever she did with her pleasant self on the holidays, and Bennett could read up more on app trends - maybe try to figure out his next plan of attack for the new year. Probably the only thing that would make his Christmas a merry one. With that cheerful thought, he rolled his neck and focused his eyes back on the screen, waiting for the day to begin. 

[dazed-baby-deactivated20161023]

[tainted-red-deactivated20220212]

[business--bennett]

4, 9, 16, 26, 32

04: what are you listening to?Uhhh...the hum of the computer?  

16: are you friends with any of your ex boyfriends/ girlfriends?Sure. Some of my good business acquaintances are exes of mine. Good women.  

26: is there anyone you’re really disappointed in?Y'know, there is, but I'm not too comfortable speaking on them.  

32: what are you looking forward to in the next month?Increased productivity at work due to my new assistant.  

[business--bennett]

10, 14, 23

10: is there one person you want to be with right now?Think so. There's a client who I'm close to doing business with... 

14: would you rather sleep at a friend’s or have them over?I'd rather not have this situation and sleep alone in my own bed. 

23: how have you felt today?Pretty good, pretty good. We made some progress with the business, got some good feedback about our financials...was a good day. 

[business--bennett]

2, 6, 9

02: what on your body is hurting or bothering you?Nothing, thanks. I work out every day. A run in the morning and half an hour at the gym every night barring any issues at work. I make time to stay healthy.

06: where do you think your best friend is right now?I don't have a best friend. They're not necessary for success.

09: kiss on the first date?Nah...kissing's a waste of time.  

[honeyglazedgoblin]

[luna-like-the-moon]

01: tell me the truth, what made you start liking the person you like right now? 02: what on your body is hurting or bothering you? 03: what was your last thought before going to bed last night? 04: what are you listening to? 05: what’s something you’re not looking forward to? 06: where do you think your best friend is right now? 07: have you kissed anybody in the last five days? 08: favorite song ? 09: kiss on the first date? 10: is there one person you want to be with right now? 11: are you seriously happy with where you are in life? 12: is there something you would like to say to someone? 13: what are three things you did today? 14: would you rather sleep at a friend’s or have them over? 15: what is your favorite kind of gum? 16: are you friends with any of your ex boyfriends/ girlfriends? 17: what is on your wrists right now? 18: ever liked someone you thought you didn’t stand a chance with? 19: does anyone have strong feelings for you? 20: are you slowly drifting away from someone? 21: have you ever wasted your time on someone? 22: can you do the alphabet in sign language? 23: how have you felt today? 24: you receive $60 without any reason, what do you spend it on? 25: what is wrong with you right now? 26: is there anyone you’re really disappointed in? 27: would you rather have starbucks or jamba juice right now? 28: why aren’t you in ‘love’ with your last ex anymore? 29: how late did you stay up last night and why? 30: when was the last time you talked to one of your best friends? 31: what were you doing an hour ago? 32: what are you looking forward to in the next month? 33: are you wearing jeans right now?

[screamingforalove-bite]

[business--bennett]

3, 9, 23, 33, 58,

3: What if I told you that you were pretty?I'll take that.9: How late did you stay up last night?Late enough to get everything I wanted to accomplish accomplished.23: Did your last kiss take place in/on a bed?Answered. I still don't do this. Kissing in bed gives most women delusions beyond sex. I'm not taking any chances. 33: What do people call you?Most call me Mr. Fontaine. Any other names I go by are privileged information. 58: Have you ever slapped someone in the face?Answered.  

[business--bennett]

F, J, W

F & J: Answered 'em.W: Do you like it when people play with your hair?Not one bit. Silly women do it to make men look silly. I don't have time for that. I'm a professional. 

[business--bennett]

D, G, M

D: If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?I'd steer my 7th grade self toward a different table so I never had to meet that rat bastard...G: If you had to rank yourself on a scale of 1 to 10, what would you be?What kind of man would I be if I didn't give myself a 10?M: What is your sexual orientation?100% heterosexual  

[business--bennett]

14, 58, 60

14: Honestly, has anyone seen you in your underwear in the past 3 months?Uh huh. 58: Have you ever slapped someone in the face?Nope, but I came really close to punching someone.60: Have you ever been to New York?Yup. On business. It was a lucrative trip.