How to Marry Your Frenemy - London Casey Page 0,12
want too many hands in this. You know?”
“I agree,” Jackson said. He finally popped up out of his chair. “So let’s just finish this right now. All of us. We need that extra equity stake in the company. You know it’s only fair.”
“We’ve had other meetings-” Dicky tried to speak.
“Fuck your other meetings,” Jackson said.
“Jackson!” I yelled.
I punched him in the arm.
Talk about unprofessional.
I shut my eyes and cringed.
By the time I opened my eyes, Michael was standing.
“Why don’t we all take a breather?” I asked. “We’re losing sight of things here. This is about your company. Your dream. What you’ve created. And time is against us.”
“Tick tock,” Jackson said.
I cringed again.
He was like a child sometimes.
“We want more money,” Michael said.
“For what?” I asked. “We had agreed upon-”
“Equity and money,” Michael said.
“Okay, listen,” Dicky said. “This company is going to pop. And we’re going to sell it. No use in hiding that.”
“What the hell are you doing, Dicky?” Michael asked. “We never agreed upon that.”
Jackson looked at me and grinned.
“Guys,” Jackson said. “You think we don’t know that? Look, it’s simple. We want the extra equity so our value in you is even higher when the time comes. We can even split a deal here. Why not? We’ll sell our equity when the company is bought out. Then, Michael, we’ll make sure you’re taken care of. Whatever you decide to do. Nothing wrong with cashing out and becoming rich and traveling the world, right? You might stumble across your next big idea. I’ll be there for it. But looking to now. Right now. Right here. Just fucking end this. Right now.”
Both Michael and Dicky looked at me.
Then Jackson slowly did the same.
I swallowed hard. “He’s right. This is the deal. You want a little more cash, Michael? Fine. We’ll meet in the middle. You have yourself overvalued. Because you can see the pop. That pop will come, the value will go up, and that’s when you can cash in. For right now, you need us.”
“And truthfully, we have dozens of companies wanting to talk to us,” Jackson said. “We chose you.”
“You chose us,” I said.
I opened my mouth to say more but Jackson gently touched my hip.
I inched away, not wanting his man whore hands anywhere near me.
“Okay,” Dicky said.
“Okay?” Michael asked.
“Done,” Dicky said. “No more fucking around. I like it.”
Jackson smacked the table and hurried to the door.
He opened it and let out a whistle.
Two seconds later, Vince came lumbering toward the conference room, a big smile on his face.
Wearing a dark gray suit with his bright, white, million-dollar smile, he overtook the room like a storm.
Vince was short and round and walked with a slight waddle.
There was always sweat on his sideburns but he wore so much cologne, he always stunk like that instead of sweat.
He grabbed Michael’s hand and squeezed it tight.
He offered his classic Vince smile, which was to grit his teeth, and curl his lip to show half his teeth.
Like an animal about to attack, but with a slight smile.
Vince was powerful and intimidating.
“What a great day for all of us,” Vince announced. “I told you these two were the best, right?”
“They’re something together,” Dicky said.
“We know how to get things done,” Jackson said.
He put his hand to my back and I quickly elbowed it away.
I didn’t need his validation.
I could stand on my own and close a deal.
Vince walked to the head of the table and made fists.
He put them on the table.
“Now that the hard part is done, how about we talk about how rich we’re going to be?”
Vince winked and Dicky started to laugh.
Jackson leaned toward me. “Why don’t we talk in my office, Callie? You know Vince is going to start telling his two-hour stories.”
I turned my head and looked into Jackson’s eyes.
Dark chocolate color… which nobody ever wanted…
“Okay,” I said.
“We’re going to wrap this up on our own,” Jackson announced. “Dicky, Michael, it’s been fun. Uncle Vince, do your thing.”
“Pleasure to meet you both,” I said. “We’re going to have a great relationship here.”
“Yes, we are!” Vince said.
He let out a howling sound.
Jackson opened the door for me and then blocked it at the last second.
“My office,” he said.
“You already said that.”
“In case you forget, my office is the bigger one,” Jackson whispered.
He winked and smiled.
I curled my lip.
Chapter Seven
Jackson
I waited like a proper gentleman for Callie to enter my office first.
After all, why not let her see what a real, big office looked like?