What?The world shifted and I held back a gasp.
I sat up a bit straighter, and as if he could tell he had my attention wrapped around his finger, he stared at me awhile before speaking again.
“In order to continue saving this company, we’ll need to bring on investors and go public,” he said. “But when you do that, you open everything up for scrutiny, and not having a CFO is a huge red flag.”
“So…” He picked up a contract and slid it to me. “What do you say?”
Hell yes. YES.
I flipped through the sheets, ready to ask for the pen, but something hit me.
“Wait a minute.” I shook my head. “What’s the catch?”
“I can’t believe you think there is one, Miss Stone.”
“What’s the salary?”
“It’s two hundred thousand more than what you’re currently making,” he said. “I’ll also throw in a better town car, if you like.”
I shook my head, still not buying it.
“Read through it for yourself.” He slid it to me again.
“I’ll have a lawyer look over it.”
“Mine already did. It’s safe.”
“Yeah, foryou. Not me.”
“I’m pretty sure Mr. Carter was more than fair with the terms, Andrea. There’s a guaranteed bonus of ten million dollars that’ll be paid out over six years.”
I blinked.
“No one offers a ten million dollar bonus without securing something shady in return,” I said. “So what am I actually agreeing to?”
He smiled, as if that was the answer.
A part of me was itching to sign for that amount and move on, but another part didn’t think I would last that long to ever receive it.
“I would really appreciate it, if you just let me in on the catch,” I said.
“Hmmm,” he said. “Well, you’ll obviously need to finish up your degree by the end of quarter three and pass the exam, but…You’ll also be required to attend conferences on the company’s behalf, which includes the one coming up in Hawaii.”
“That’s in like two weeks.”
“You should probably start packing.” He clicked his pen. “Sign the contract, Miss Stone.”
“I want something else in writing before I sign,” I replied.
“Something more than ten million?”
“You have to promise not to lay anyone off for at least two years after your takeover, and then to give at least ninety days’ notice if you have to let them go.”
“I’d rather raise your bonus to fifteen million.”
“I’m not stupid,” I said. “Something is wrong here—and I’m pretty sure Mr. Lewis sold you a terrible deal.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t deny it.
