Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
He’s picking the wrong goddamn day.
“We’ve agreed on the terms.”
“Be realistic,” Andrea says in her upper-class British accent. “That data is worth millions of dollars. It’s an asset sitting right there, waiting for us to use it. And you want to destroy it. It’s simply not good business.”
“You’re right,” I say, nodding along with her. “If all I cared about was making money, we’d sort the terms right now. We’d haggle and argue a little, then settle on seventy-thirty or thereabouts, on my end, obviously.”
They exchange a look, and I know I’m right. That’s a big part of the business. Watching people with the same intensity that a stunt skier watches the mountain.
“Then we’d sell this lovely stockpile of data to the highest bidder. There’s nothing illegal in it. It’s how many companies stay afloat. But not ours. We’ve never tracked our customers. We’re not doing it now. The answer’s no.”
Andrea huffs, throwing her hands up. “Jesus, we’re talking about millions of dollars in your pocket for no work. Just a few signatures.”
“I know this will seem shocking to you,” I snap. “But I don’t give a damn. All I’ve ever been is a man who wants people to get the thrill of riding down a mountain without a care in the world. The money came after. Your usual tactics – how this normally goes – forget them. Forget everything. Except for this.”
I step forward, looming over Logan. He flinches back, looking at Andrea as though she’s going to save him.
“I targeted your company like a predator. I saw all your TV shows, films, and video games failing. I saw it all crumbling down. I got you at a good price, but let’s face it, I’m doing you a favor. It’s because I believe in the company. I know how we can franchise through you. But let me be clear.”
I step even closer, looking at both of them, pumping with fire that might have nothing to do with them and everything to do with my woman and how we left things.
“If you make any last-minute plays, if you try to target my shareholders or stir up anything at all, I’ll walk away from the deal.”
“That would lose you millions!”
“I know, Logan, I know.” I grin widely, more like flashing my teeth like a wolf. “But that’s the thing. I don’t care. I’d be happy with a van, bike, and mountain.”
And my woman. Our family. Together. Always.
But they don’t need to know any of that.
“Your shareholders would turn on you,” Logan says, voice shaking.
“Would they?” Julian laughs darkly. “You assume everybody is as disloyal as you. He’s not bluffing.”
“So we’re supposed to just let that money disappear?” Logan snaps. “Millions like that.”
“It’s not money yet,” I say. “It’s data. We decide to make money when we sell it. But I’m not doing that, and Julian’s not doing it. Neither are you, Logan. Nor you, Andrea. Do you get it yet? If you’ve got attack formations moving into place, tell them to stand down, or I'll nuke this whole thing. Today.”
I turn back to the elevator, Julian at my side, as Logan stutters from behind us.
Andrea’s voice rises. “A second, Silas?”
I keep walking, my heart thudding.
This is the biggest deal of our lives, but I haven’t become this passionate before. It’s thoughts of Lauren, her soft lips, her gentle body, her breath against my chest.
When I ignore her, Andrea calls again, “Julian, please.”
I wait at the elevator as Julian speaks with them in hushed tones. He’s always been better at that side of it, smoothing things over.
“What’s the verdict?” I ask once we’re in the elevator.
He grins, claps me on the shoulder, then pulls me in for a hug. I laugh, clapping him on the back, even as the specter of Lauren haunts me from the corner of the elevator.
Reminding me of the hypocrisy of this embrace.
“You nailed them,” Julian says, moving away. “To the wall. They weren’t expecting that. You did a good job in your early meetings, keeping it calm, making yourself seem almost…meek?”
I laugh, nodding. “There was no reason to let them know I had teeth unless I had to.”
“But just then… they’re shaken. They want to pretend this never happened.”
“We’ll see about that,” I say. “It was a foolish thing to do, pissing us off this close to owning them. But that’s how some people get with money. They’ll do anything for it.”
I don’t think about that scared little kid. I don’t think about the cage.
I don’t think about the fear pumping in my chest.
Anything for money, some people….
Suddenly, I wish my woman was here, even if that makes no sense. I couldn’t hold her with Julian watching, couldn’t tenderly pull her close to me, savor her warmth, share it.
I couldn’t love her with her dad standing so near.