Forbidden Love (Venture Capitalist Book 1)

by Ainsley St Claire

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  Dillon

  This is the most difficult meeting of my life. I walk around Huntington Park for twenty minutes, taking in the mothers pushing strollers and the view of Alcatraz on a beautiful cloudless day before heading to Mason’s. I don’t know what I’m going to do if they turn me down.

  I finally get up the nerve to ring the bell, and of course Misty greets me. I love this dog almost as much as I love Emerson’s Molly.

  As I follow Misty, butterflies in my stomach, I see everyone is on the back patio.

  Cameron walks up, shakes my hand, and gives me a “manly” hug—the kind that’s less an embrace and more back slapping.

  Mason is behind him and does the same, saying, “Good to see you, man.”

  Sara gives me a big hug. “We’ve missed you.”

  Emerson is standing back. She was kind to me while I was gone, despite the fact that I was such an ass before I left. I was the worst to her and owe her the biggest apology.

  I walk in to give her a warm embrace and whisper in her ear, “Thanks for all you did while I was gone, and for leaving me some staples. They’ve been much appreciated.” She smiles, and it warms my heart.

  Mason asks, “So, how was your time away?”

  “It was well needed. Thank you all for making me do something I didn’t know I wanted or needed. I went home to my mom’s and helped her out with a few things around her house. There was no alcohol and”—I look directly at Emerson—“no girls.”

  They all take a seat and I remain standing. I have notes, but as I begin to talk, I abandon them and speak from my heart.

  “I owe you all so much. Mason and Cameron, we met our first day in the dorms at Stanford. We were young and naïve, but we formed an instant friendship which has lasted through school, grad school, women, jobs, and together we founded SHN.

  “Mason, you’ve been the leader of our group. You pulled each of us in when we attempted to go astray. You’ve led us from being a gangly group of three guys with too much money to being responsible for almost seventy-five employees, and taking over one hundred companies from angel funding to sale or taking them public. Without your leadership, Cameron and I would probably be in our first apartment in La-Z-Boy recliners watching Sports Center. As our leader, you also helped to realize I was struggling. Having lost your own father just before we met, you knew the signs. Calling my mom was a low blow, but having been there, you knew we both needed each other. I’m sorry I wasn’t a good partner, and more importantly a better friend.”

  Mason nods at me as a clear acceptance of my apology.

  “Cameron, you’re the heart and soul of our company. Your brain functions at warp speed. You look at technology like no one I’ve ever seen. Without your knowledge and understanding, we would never have invested in companies such as Silly Sally initially. We definitely wouldn’t be here today, enjoying what we both call legalized high-stakes gambling. I know when everything with me went south, you had to make a tough call, and I know you well enough to know you laid awake for hours agonizing over your decision to approach the group. I’m sorry I put you in that position.”

  Cameron also nods at me.

  “Sara, without you, we would be three guys without a dime to our names. We would’ve spent and given all our money away. We don’t appreciate you enough for all you do for us, me most of all. Despite my taking you for granted, dumping things on your desk late on Friday afternoons or being ignorant of you and your feelings, I know you’re the heartbeat of our company. Without a heart, we wouldn’t be here today. I’m sorry for being such an ass to you. I promise that, if given a chance, I’ll do better.”

  She wipes a tear from her eyes and nods her acceptance.

  “Emerson, this is the hardest apology of all. I treated you poorly. Professionally, my behavior was inappropriate. There is never an excuse to yell at anyone ever. Your analysis is always spot-on, and it was wrong of me to ever question it. For that I’m sorry. I also owe you many apologies on a personal level, which I’m hoping you will allow me to make in a more private setting, but I want to be sure you know how sorry I am for being a jackass and taking advantage of our friendship. I’m genuinely sorry, and I hope you’ll allow me the opportunity to make it up to you.”

  Emerson gives me a slight smile, and I’m not sure she’s accepting my apology.

  This is hard for me, but I continue. “Sara and Emerson, I know this leave of absence would never have happened without you both. I know both these guys love me as a brother but didn’t know how to manage my crazy behavior, so thank you both for thinking of a possible solution that allowed me the chance to lick my wounds and get my head on straight. If you’re kind enough to take me back, I promise to not ever repeat what happened.

  “I want my job back. I miss all of you, and I miss our company and the difference we’re making in The Valley. I want to be clear, I desperately want to come back, but I want to be honest with all of you.” Looking directly at Emerson, I say, “I can’t return if I can’t have a relationship with Emerson. She’s the light of my world, and while I owe her more apologies than I’ll ever be able to say, she’s the person I want and the person I need. I know we talked about giving too much power if we were to couple up, but I can’t come back if we have to hide our relationship. Emerson, you mean too much to me to pretend we aren’t together. I want to shout from the rooftops how I feel about you.”

  Speaking to the group, I continue. “I know my request to explore a relationship is a lot to consider, but be assured that if you take me back, I commit one hundred percent to being sober, kind, and a strong partner you can depend on. Please allow me to come back.”

  Everyone is sitting in stunned silence.

  Eventually, Mason stands. “Dillon, we all appreciate where you are. If you could give us the chance to discuss your terms, I can text you when we have an answer.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  Emerson

  The discussion is heated, Cameron fuming. “No fucking way can he make these demands.” He turns to me. “How long have the two of you been together?”

  I stammer, “We were never ‘together.'” They all look at me, clearly expecting more. I try to deflect, but it isn’t enough, so I break down and tell them about Adam, how I was working myself to death because every time I tried to sleep, I would relive that night. I share that Dillon stayed with me every night so I could sleep, and how he helped to nurse me back to life, but I stress that it was never sexual. I then share with them his devastation over his father’s death, and again we were back to spending every waking minute together until he went off the rails. I did gloss over the short time that we were more than friends.

  “Dillon's request is completely a shock to me. I’m not sure if I want a relationship with him,” I state.

  We talk for over three hours. I know they want Dillon back; he brings a piece we’re missing. Finally, I say what everyone is thinking. “We need Dillon back. I’m less pivotal to the organization. Maybe what we need to do is figure out how to transition me out. He’s much more important to this company than I am. You can buy me out, and I’ll leave. I’ll commit to not competing in the same industry or start another competing business.”

  Cameron puts his hand on my knee. “You’re equally important, and you’re being willing to give it up so we can have Dillon back tells me you need to stay.”

  Sara begins to cry. “I can’t believe you’re willing to walk away from all this for Dillon. That is true love.”

  I chuckle nervously. “Slow down, Sara. I’m not sure I want a relationship with Dillon after everything that’s happened.”

  Mason, who has been sitting back and listening this whole time, finally says, “We’re growing, and we’ll be adding more partners in the years to come. We’re no longer a group of four. Emerson, we want you to stay, and we want Dillon to return. I reserve the right to ask one or both of you to leave if it becomes a problem, but I think we can make this work.”


  I nod my agreement.

  Mason texts Dillon. Please come back. We’ve made a decision.

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  Dillon

  After walking around the park the first hour, I’ve been sitting across the street in the bus shelter. I thought thirty minutes was a long time, but three hours has me worried. My demand may have backfired, but I need Emerson, and I want to have an actual relationship with her. The text notification makes me nervous.

  I walk in and Mason embraces me. “Welcome back.”

  “Took you guys long enough. I was sweating it.”

  “We admit it, our hang-up was your special request to be more open with Emerson,” Cameron explains.

  “I figured that was the problem. I spent the last six months watching the trades and thinking about all the shit I did wrong. I also thought a lot about Emerson, and I realized I screwed up and wanted her in my life.”

  “Well, she must really like you,” Sara shares. “She threw herself in front of the bus and offered to leave the company so you could return.”

  I turn to Emerson. “You did?”

  She nods. I knew I loved her before, but that seals the deal. “A lot has happened since you left. We need you,” she says softly.

  Then Sara tells me the bad news. “We have a mole at the company, and we can’t figure out who’s feeding our internal documents and research to Perkins Klein.”

  I can’t believe what I’m hearing. How is it possible that we have a corporate spy? “Are you kidding?”

  Mason, pinching the bridge of his nose, takes a deep breath and says, “I wish we were.”

  “Jeez. What are our next steps?”

  We spend what’s left of the afternoon talking and strategizing, and we eventually order dinner. I also share with the partners four companies I think we should chase for angel, first round, and even the second round of funding.

  I pull out four proposals with my own research, and we pour through them until after midnight. We all agree to meet again at the office tomorrow morning. Each of us needs to do our due diligence to make sure the investments are viable on all fronts.

  Cameron says, “I have an idea. As long as our due diligence works out, what would you all think if only the four of us pitch Dillon’s suggestions? Only the four of us are involved. We then pick four duds. Four companies that look good but may not have the right technology or a good team to pull it off, and we have our teams chase them. We know we won’t bid the money, but we’ll trust our mole to share. Perkins Klein can fund the duds, and we’ll be home free to bid these four without worry about the mole sharing.”

  We all agree it’s a good idea and work through the details. It’s nice having the team together again.

  As we’re leaving, I ask Emerson, “Would you be willing to share a Lyft?”

  I can see the conflict in her eyes, but she nods.

  As we get into the car, she turns to me. “I’m not spending the night with you. We will drop you off, and we will talk. Eventually.”

  “Look, Emerson. I know this was a surprise, and I should’ve talked to you about it before I did it, but I wanted to make sure you knew you were important to me and I don’t want to be at SHN without you. I’ve been in love with you since the first day we met. I need you, Em. Please take me back. I need your sweetness to balance out the asshole in me. I need your generous heart to remind me that not everyone cares about money. I need to be wanted for something other than my bank account. I need you to fight with me when I’m giving you too much shit.”

  She doesn’t look at me, just sighs. “Dillon, I’m upset with you. Not only did I need to essentially tell them I would leave everything I worked for so they could have you back, but I had to explain everything that happened with Adam. I’m a private person. I’m not happy that you put me in this situation.”

  I’m surprised to hear how difficult the conversation was because of my simple demand. “I’m sorry. That was not my intention. I know we can’t pick up where we left off, but I thought maybe tomorrow night I could come over after work and we go for a run with Molly, maybe have dinner at that café we both like by your house.”

  “I suppose.”

  “Can I pick you up in the morning and drive you to work?”

  “What time?” she asks hesitantly.

  “Seven?” I lean over and give her a hug goodbye. She smells good, just like I remember. It feels so right to have her in my arms.

  “I’ll be ready.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

  Emerson

  Driving back to my house, I’m having trouble digesting all that’s happened today. I have feelings for Dillon, but he made me tell all the partners about a dark time for me. He also hurt me and shut me out these past six months.

  Despite the late hour, I call CeCe when I get home and tell her about my day.

  “He told the partners he wanted an open relationship with you or he didn’t want to come back?” she asks.

  “I’m more shocked than you are. It came out of left field for me, too.”

  “You haven’t mentioned him in a long time. How do you feel about his act of love?”

  “I thought about him every day, but I was devastated by how he treated me before he left, cutting off all communication. I sent him a note every week when I forwarded his mail, and never once did he reach out to me. I guess, to be honest, I’m hurt.”

  “I don’t blame you, sweetie, but he’s risked a lot to require your relationship be in the open. It might be worth at least a conversation or two to figure out what he’s looking for. Make sure you protect your heart though. You’re beautiful on the inside and the outside. Don’t let him crush you again.”

  “I promise.”

  “Remember, if he tells you he wants a fuck buddy, tell him you aren’t a sex toy and to fuck off.”

  I giggle at that. “Have a good night. I may not see you until Sunday, but I’ll be joining you at your folks’.”

  Dillon arrives with coffee in hand a few minutes before seven. He leaves his running clothes behind and gives Molly some love.

  As we drive in, he tells me, “I know I screwed up by not running my idea past you last night. I didn’t want you to tell me it was a bad idea. I’m sorry. But my thought is during work hours, we only discuss work. We don’t flirt or sext, and I’ll try my hardest to not want to bend you over my desk and fuck you ten ways to Sunday.”

  I laugh at his remark. “I think that’ll work for now. But I also believe we’re going to need a few more rules, so the rest of the partners don’t feel like we’re a voting bloc.”

  “Agreed.” We’re quiet a few moments, and then he adds, “I owe you a better apology, and if you give me a chance, I’ll begin tonight and again every night. I was a jackass. I was hurting and took it out on you—the one person who was kind to me. I promise to do everything I can to make it up to you.”

  He parks in his reserved spot, and I lean over and kiss him on the cheek. We’ll figure this out. He holds my hand until the elevator opens on our floor. We haven’t walked five feet into the office before Dillon is bombarded with the employees all welcoming him back.

  I leave him to catch up with everyone and walk into my own office. In my email, I find Sara has put me on Dillon’s calendar to go over his proposals with him and contribute any thoughts.

  Mason orders a special lunch to celebrate Dillon’s return, and it’s a huge celebration.

  Mason taps a spoon on the counter to get everyone’s attention. “I want to formally welcome Dillon back to SHN.”

  There is polite clapping and a lot of “Hear! Hear!”

  “Dillon, this place is not the same without you. For those of you who haven’t heard, we’ve identified four companies to chase, and everyone will have a role in getting us up and ready to pitch to them. We’ve got a lot of work in front of us, but I know we can do it.”

  There is more clapping, and the overall morale of the company seems to have more than doubled. Employees are excited again, and f
or the first time in weeks, I believe we’re going to be okay.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

  Dillon

  The first day back is exhausting. It’s almost seven, and we’ve had nonstop work all day. I instant message Emerson: Ready to head out in 15 minutes?

  Works for me. I’ll meet you at the elevator.

  Annabel seems to be waiting for me on my way to the elevator. She walks up and asks, “You up for getting a drink tonight?”

  As Emerson approaches, I tell her, “I’m going running with Emerson tonight.”

  “Have fun. Oh, I think I forgot my cell phone. See you both in the morning.” And Annabel runs off, leaving us to ride down in the elevator alone.

  I grab Emerson’s hand again, and she gives it a gentle squeeze.

  When we get into the car, she leans over and kisses me on the cheek. My heart races and my stomach flips.

  “I haven’t completely forgiven you, but I did miss you, and while I haven’t actually said it, I want you to know how glad I am that you’re back.” She smiles at me, and my heart melts.

  “I want you to know I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

  “Well, right now I need a run to get this stress worked out so I can sleep tonight.”

  “I know another way you can work that stress out.” I wink and smile at her.

  She laughs, pushes my arm, and says, “You wish.”

  And she’s right. But I know I’ll have to take it slow to get her back in my bed again.

  As we run toward the Golden Gate Bridge, we talk about how things went in Michigan. I tell her everything, even what happened with Celeste.

  I’m so out of shape that I barely make it and insist on stopping at the same Italian restaurant we had dinner that first night.

  “This place has good memories,” I tell her.