“Thanks, Ginger. The video itself is me, and I feel terrible for how that’s affected my friends and family. I’m hiding up the coast, but I left in such a hurry that I missed a few things. My friend Sara has volunteered to stop by and pick some things up from my condo. They don’t know who she is, so they won’t hound her. Do you mind being her sponsor to get into the building?”
“You’re getting crafty to not have your sister come.” She laughs. “Happy to help. What’s her name?”
I go through the details with her and feel confident in our plan. I then call a florist and have an extra-large bouquet of hydrangeas sent to Ginger for always being kind to me when she could sell me out for big bucks.
Finally settling down for work, I run through my four conference calls. We discuss the earnings report, and we should meet our numbers, which should calm our stock holders. That helps me a lot personally.
Before I know it, my stomach’s growling, and I see it’s almost three o’clock. I need to stretch my legs, so I decide to go into the small village area and check out what’s available. I’m surprised that, despite it being fall and having few visitors, almost everything is open.
Window-shopping, I see a great trinket store and buy a beautiful green and blue sea glass bracelet with matching earrings. They’ll compliment Sara’s eyes beautifully. I find the bakery she mentioned and order desserts for ten people for Saturday, plus an amazing sandwich to go. I meet the owner, Mackenzie, a vivacious brunette with dimples who’s very quick to smile. She and Sara are very old friends.
“Sara’s coming up on Thursday night. I was thinking a romantic dinner for her on Friday. I’m only good at grilling, and I can’t be sure the barbeque will be ready, so do you have any suggestions on where I should order a romantic dinner to either be delivered or that I pick up locally?”
“Well, I don’t usually do much more than bakery items and soups and sandwiches, but I’ve known Sara since she was a gangly high schooler and know exactly what to make that she would love, and would also be romantic.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out.”
“I insist. Sara’s very important to me, and I can tell she’s important to you, too. It’ll be fun. How about I drop it by Friday night at six o’clock?”
“That sounds perfect. Thank you so much, Mackenzie. I know she’ll love it.”
As I head back to the beach house, I get excited about my weekend. Of course, it’s only Tuesday. I’d had better pace myself.
I immerse myself in work once more, and it isn’t until after eight that my phone rings, bringing me out of my stupor. It’s Sara, and my heart beats faster and a smile emerges before I even hear her softly say, “How was your day?”
It’s such a benign question, but it warms my heart to know that she honestly wants to know the answer. “I got quite a bit accomplished. How about you?”
“Well, there’s this amazingly handsome man who keeps having my favorite hazelnut latte delivered each morning to my desk. He must want me fat.”
Laughing, I tell her, “I’ll be crazy about you no matter your size, but I think they’re putting in the sugar-free hazelnut syrup.”
“I was hoping, but they both taste alike so you never know.” Her voice softens. “I’ve never had anyone spoil me like this before. Thank you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
I’m stunned by her admission. “I find it hard to believe, but trust me when I tell you, this is only the beginning.”
We talk for a short time. I share with her my wanderings into the stores in town, and that I made it to the bakery and ordered the desserts for Saturday.
“What a relief. I called the butcher in town and ordered the brisket. The grocery store delivers, so go ahead and order whatever you need and put it on our account. “
“I can do that. But right now, I’m enjoying the distraction of getting out of the house at least once a day.”
“Well, without the paparazzi at every corner, now you have that option.”
I laugh. I can just imagine the look on her face right now—a look of disgust mixed with a smile. “What are you doing now?”
“I’m making dinner. And you?”
“The same. We can eat dinner together but not together.”
“I like that.” We flip to FaceTime and cook for a while as we talk about our days. She’s reheating lunch leftovers from earlier in the day, and I’m making a quick chicken stir-fry.
“I know I talk about being here for a month, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to be alone all that time,” I confess.
“You may need a break after I’m there, and then everyone shows up on Saturday afternoon. Plus, I think if everyone gives it a thumbs-up, we’re going to do a partner weekend retreat at the house. If nothing else, you may want to find another place to hide to get away from all the chaos my company’s going to bring to the beach house.”
“Not a chance. I look forward to having everyone here. You’ve all become good friends to me.” We both sit at our tables and eat. “Are you stopping by my place tomorrow?”
“Yes. CeCe gave me the information and your key. I’m going to the condo after work, but my goal is to be there by seven. I have your list, and I’ll call when I get there so you can help me find everything and be sure I stay away from your diary, your lifetime supply of condoms, and all your porn mags.”
“There are no porn mags or diary, but I’ll point you straight to my lifetime supply of condoms for us to play with. Do you journal?”
“No, but I wish I did. I don’t lead much of an exciting life. Certainly not exciting enough that I’d want to chronicle it. Do CeCe or your mom journal?”
“My mom did when she was pregnant with us. She wrote a lot about her dreams, and they were extremely crazy. Sitting in meetings with people who were green, yellow, orange, blue, etc., or another was her arguing with her dead grandmother over a pair of shoes. Really out in left field.”
“Well, I guess when I think about it, I journal what I eat most days.”
“Really? Why?”
“I gain weight easily, and honestly I hate to work out, so I watch what I eat instead.”
“You don’t like to work out?”
“Breathing heavy after sex is all I like to do.”
“Well, I guess we’ll have to have a lot of sex so we keep your heartbeat up.”
Her laugh is like the melody of a song you know and love but can’t quite place.
“It’s getting late. Mason wants to meet tomorrow for breakfast at seven thirty, and I’m not a morning person anymore. I work too many late nights.”
“Good night, sweetheart.”
“Good night. Talk to you tomorrow.”
I think about Sara as I lie in bed. She’s all about simplicity, making things easy, helping those around her to relax and be happy with what they have. Perhaps that’s why her skin glows so—it’s her inner beauty that lights her eyes and softens her features. When she smiles and laughs, you can't help but smile along as well, even if it’s on the inside. To be in her company is to feel that you are someone, that you’re warm in summer rays regardless of the season.
I am, without a doubt, completely and totally in love with her.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Sara
Breakfast with the partners is both fun but also our chance to meet with just the six of us. As we grow, that’ll become harder. We talk about things we don’t necessarily want to speak with Charles about. We aren’t hiding anything, we just don’t want to waste his valuable time. Something he gives to us freely and without issue.
Cameron starts. “I’ve found someone who has strong cloud server experience for my team. I’m still looking for someone with a particular development experience but can also dumb it down for the nontechnical.” We all nod, understanding the importance and knowing that working for Cameron is a rare find.
While we look at some forecasts, Dillon suggests, “We have some big wins we want. It might be time to consid
er a strong business development person to come in and help us with selling to the more challenging companies we want to court for our portfolio.” We discuss at what level we want to bring this person in and agree that Emerson will have her recruiting team begin the search.
Greer walks through all the public relations she’s been tasked with. “Mason, Dillon and Cameron are heading to New York for a marketing piece on Anderson Cooper’s show. I do believe we have one more hit piece coming at us. I can’t be sure, but if history repeats itself we will, and the PR firm and I are ready.”
Emerson doesn’t have much to share. Her team is doing well, but very busy.
When they come to me, I admit, “We’re closing on three different companies this month, and I’m overwhelmed.” I take a breath and ask hesitantly, “I would like a junior associate. Annabel has approached me about moving from reception to be my admin, and I’d like you all to consider the move. I could use the full-time help.”
Cameron glances at Dillon. “You owe me.”
Dillon pops out his wallet. “We bet that you’d be asking for help. I guessed over a year ago. You do a great job, but you work too many hours.”
“Sara, we’ve had it in your budget for the past two years,” Mason says. “Whenever you find someone, hire them. And if you’re comfortable with Annabel, then that would work great. Carrie has enough work with Emerson to keep her busy full-time.”
Emerson speaks up at this point. “We may have someone. We completed a search for PeopleMover, and there were a few strong candidates that may work—of course, if they’re still on the market and willing to work here in The City. We’ll make a few phone calls. When do you want to see candidates? Friday?”
I almost agree, then remember my plans. “I was going to head up to Stinson on Thursday after work so I can prepare for your visit on Saturday. I’m making a brisket, and we’re smoking pork ribs and grilling chicken. There will be enough food to feed an army, so be ready to eat. Trey tells me the deck will be finished, and the weather is reporting sunny but cool.”
Mason grins. “Enjoy your Friday. I promise to come hungry on Saturday. Should we bring anything?”
“I’ll text you if I need anything. I know it’s less than sixty miles to Stinson, but it’s a drive through Mount Tamalpais State Park, which is narrow and has a lot of switchbacks. Take your time and drive carefully. This isn’t a fancy place. Please make sure you keep your expectations low. If it’s a clear day, the view is spectacular, and the company will be the best.”
“We do need to start to focus on several more companies to approach. I think we need to try again to allow the investigators another chance to find the mole. Charles has his friends working Perkins Klein directly, but I want your teams working deals up front and behind closed doors. Any thoughts on a few members of the team we can bring in to do some work?”
Each of the partners pulls a few names, and we discuss them and agree to a small team. It’s time to get aggressive. We’re ready to combat Perkins Klein and anyone else who wants a piece of our business.
Standing, Mason says, “I think we should each review the list Dillon’s team has put together and make notes.” He has packets for each of us and begins passing them out. “I’ve taken the top twenty that the team likes, and we need to figure out what might fit well.”
The remainder of the day flies by, and it’s after six before I know it. I call myself a Lyft and head over to Trey’s, giving the doorman my name and letting him know I’m headed up to Ginger’s unit. He lets me pass and I take the elevator to the penthouse floor, calling Trey once I’m inside.
He answers the phone on the first ring. “Hey. I was getting worried that the doorman forgot.”
“No, I got sidetracked at work. I’m going through your underwear. Nice black silk boxers. They’re so soft.”
“You’re funny. My underwear is in the right top drawer. Cotton boxers. Nothing too exciting.”
“I won’t look. What do you need?”
He quickly sets me on the task of picking up better than two-dozen items.
As we’re wrapping up, he says, “Go into my bathroom to the medicine cabinet. Throw the box of condoms in the bag. We’ll try to use them all this month. I suppose we’ll have to have the conversation about birth control and our plans.”
“Plans?”
“Yes, our plans for dating and monogamy.”
I can’t help but be excited—and maybe a bit terrified—at the thought of a monogamous relationship with Trey. “Oh, plans. Okay. I don’t sleep around, and I’m happy to be tested. I thought Henry and I were monogamous, so it’s probably a good idea that I confirm I’m clean again after that debacle.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in a serious relationship, and I really don’t sleep around. I’ve been tested and I’m clean, but I’m happy to test again. We can do it together, if you’d like.”
I go to bed thinking about him and what he said. I know he isn’t Henry, and I know he’s had a series of long-term girlfriends. But I also know he’s had one-night stands. I need to sit back, have fun and enjoy myself.
I don’t want to focus on my past, and I don’t want to worry about the future.
I just want to enjoy the present.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Trey
The deck is coming along nicely, which I’m proud of. I picked up some filets for dinner tonight, potatoes to bake with all the fixings and some asparagus to grill. We’re nearing the end of my culinary capabilities, but I can always order in if all else fails.
Sara calls and I grab my phone. “Hey. I’m on the Golden Gate Bridge headed your way. I’m hoping to be there before three. Do you need me to stop for anything?”
“Nope, I think I have it covered. Your friend at the bakery is able to get me a few things that make hiding here very easy.”
“I can’t wait to hear all about it. What do you want to do for dinner tonight? I’m already hungry.”
“Sara, did you remember to eat breakfast and lunch today?”
“I may have had my hazelnut latte for breakfast, and I skipped lunch so I could get to you faster.”
I chuckle. “Okay, forgiveness today. But please don’t skip meals. I need you well-nourished. I promise to have something for you to nibble on while I prepare dinner.”
“You’re cooking? Is that safe?” she giggles.
Remembering the ahi tuna last week, I scoff. “Of course it is! I’ve cooked for you before.”
With a touch of sarcasm, she retorts, “Well, sort of.”
“Oh, you’re going to pay for that!” I laugh.
Slightly above a whisper, she says, “I can’t wait. See you in a little over an hour.”
My cock stirs in my pants with the anticipation of seeing her again. “See you then. Drive safe.”
“I promise,” she murmurs in a very sultry voice.
I quickly call Mackenzie and ask what she might have for the two of us this evening, and she offers a nice antipasti platter. Sounds amazing. “I’m on my way.”
When I get back to the beach house, I pour two glasses of wine and listen for the garage door to open. When it does, I set the music to quiet jazz and walk out with the drinks in my hands. She looks beautiful with her big sunglasses and her hair piled high in a loose bun on her head. Walking over to the car door, I wait while she steps out and takes a glass, then gives me a hug and a deep kiss.
“Welcome to the beach house, my love.”
“I’m glad to be here. I’ve missed seeing you in person,” she tells me as I hold on to her tightly.
Giving me side eye, she says, “Are you trying to get me drunk?”
Holding my hand to my heart, I promise, “Never. I have food inside once we get you all unloaded.”
“Food first. Unload second.”
“Your wish is my command. Follow me.”
She stops as she walks into the living room. “Oh my goodness. It looks amazing. What did you do?”
“I str
ung some white Christmas lights to give it a more muted appearance, and I lit some candles. Nothing much. Wait till you see the deck.”
“The deck? I thought you were getting it repaired.”
“Well, my deck guy came in and said to repair would cost as much as it would to replace with some new composite materials. Come see.” I open the sliding glass doors, and we both walk outside. “I know you have some holes, which will be filled tomorrow.” I point to each open spot. “This is where the smoker will go. The grill arrived today and is already in, and the propane tank can be moved inside to the garage when you aren’t at the house. The stove top will arrive tomorrow, and it has a locking cover. And I added a sink and fridge.”
She has a puzzled expression. Crap. Was this too much? “Is it okay?”
“It’s amazing, but you didn’t have to do all of this. This is easily a hundred-thousand-dollar renovation. I’ll pay you back what this all cost, I promise. We thought you might spend five hundred dollars getting a few of the rotted boards fixed. I can’t believe you did all of this, and within a week!”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I say, “It wasn’t a big deal. I knew you wanted it ready for the partners meeting.” Holding her by the arms, I peer into her eyes. “Besides, this will be a place for our kids one day, and I wanted it done how I thought it would work best for all of us.”
She smiles. “Our kids? Putting the cart before the horse, don’t you think?”
“Well maybe, but that was my reasoning. Please know that I’m completely and totally in love with you.”
“You are?” She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me. “I’m completely and totally in love with you, too.”
I feel settled. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy. We sit down and enjoy the beach from the patio. “This is truly amazing. We can sit here and watch the sunset.” Turning to me, she warms my heart when she says, “I love it,” and kisses me deeply. “Can we eat out here tonight? I know you set a beautiful table, but this truly is a tremendous addition to the house. Jim and Carol are going to love it.”
Promise (Venture Capitalist Book 2) Page 18