sell my idea.
Refocusing, I pull up my laptop screen. Ignoring the fresh coffee that my secretary, Delores, set out for me and the curl of steam rising from the ebony surface, I get down to business. First thing, check emails.
Many of them are from the executives, all lauding my deal in couched language, the code words there but the message clear. Good job, but I won’t stick my neck out to back you if the old man says boo. Fucking cowards. Useful cowards, but cowards nonetheless.
I answer each one, thanking them for their time and highlighting the benefits of my plan. I add a hint of language suggesting that my plan is more befitting the goals of Danger Enterprises. It’s not explicit enough for my taste, but I need to play this carefully. After the last email, I open my master spreadsheet to go over the numbers once again, needing to find as many angles as possible to make the vote go my way.
My door opens suddenly, with no warning knock, but before I can yell at the intrusion, I see the look on Robbie’s face. He’s already talking fast as he falls into the chair across from me. “Dude, check it out. The office is abuzz with gossip right now, and you’re holed up in here, clueless to the mother fucking tornado whizzing by.”
I look up from my laptop with an arched eyebrow and glance over his shoulder through my open door to the cubicle room. I can't see much. I don’t like being disturbed, and I think looking over people’s shoulders doesn’t help productivity . . . but it does look busier than normal.
“Apparently, Chase got your father to agree to a meet and greet with Lightspeed Venture to review the proposal. Lightspeed has wanted an influx of cash from Danger Enterprises before to help expedite their design-to-market timeline. They’ve requested meetings with your father several times with no luck, most likely because he didn’t see them as a good investment option. But now, when Chase decides to deem their latest project worthy and does a whole proposal on investing in them in front of the board . . . magically, your dad’s schedule opens up and he’s willing to consider them? It’s suspect, and I don’t like it, not one bit.” Robbie looks at me, measuring his next words. “Look, Scott, your brother is wily and smart, and I hear the brainchild behind Lightspeed is fucking brilliant. With the two of them in a room selling the profit margins and making techno babble sound like abracadabra, your dad’s sign-off might be as good as done. And you know the board is going to lean wherever he throws his weight, even if it’s not the right thing to do.” Robbie shakes his head a bit.
I sit back in my chair, thinking out loud. “Chase is definitely up to something. He’s no fool, so if he’s backing Lightspeed, especially considering they’ve been turned down before, there’s a reason. I need to know more about their latest tech, everything we can find, especially the stuff not in Chase’s reports. Any bugs, delays, or issues that he might be underselling.”
We’re both quiet for a moment, all the ramblings sinking in as we analyze. “I feel like it’s a big chess game, and Chase is already positioning his pieces and planning three steps ahead, while I’m the pawn sacrificed on the first play.”
Robbie nods. “Yeah, and what about Liv? Do we know anything about her proposal at all? What was the company name?”
I cringe. “Never even heard of them. Something called. Honestly, after the presentations, I’m not too worried about her proposal even though it’s really good. She’s gutsy and willing to make some inroads into new areas of investment that no one else would consider for Danger Enterprises. But we both know Dad’s not going to follow her lead even if it would make him bank. That’s not how he works, how he manipulates us.”
I let my eyes roll up, staring at the ceiling and focusing on all the different ways this Lightspeed meeting could play out. Robbie quiets, letting me work it out and knowing I need a minute of quiet without distractions.
Distraction. The piece of my brain where Madison is already residing jumps to life . . .
Fuck me, Scott!
Maddie’s words and eyes flaring with passion flash in front of my eyes. I shake my head, willing the image to dislodge and let me think, but all I can