Karina nodded, and I took the moment to express my sympathies as well. I’d been without a father my whole life, so I wouldn’t know what losing one felt like. However, I remembered Michelle being the biggest daddy’s girl in school, and he always showed up for her. It was truly a loss.
“Your dad was a good man and an even better businessman from what I’ve heard. He’s the reason we entertained this deal in the first place. You have some pretty big shoes to fill.”
“You know this is a male-dominated business, but I’m trying my best to forge my own path. I prefer to work behind the scenesand let men around me take front and center if you know what I mean.”
“That’s understandable, but don’t give them too much power over you. They still need to know who’s calling the shots.”
“You ain’t ever lied about that. Right now, it all works out to my benefit. I only step up when I need to, and I still collect the checks. That way, I get to stay in my feminine energy if you know what I mean. Right, Karina?”
“I wouldn’t know. My femininity is intact no matter what position I am in. That’s just me though.”
The stare down between the two women was intense. They didn’t shoot each other angry daggers, but the looks held an understanding. Whatever was being understood between the two of them told me that it wasn’t my business at all. My only option was to switch the subject as quickly as I could. Hopefully, I could guide this conversation to more friendly waters.
“So, what is this? You decided to step out because we went to high school together?”
“Not necessarily. As I said, I am trying to get up to speed. I didn’t know K&K Solutions was your company until recently when you started blowing up online.”
Michelle rubbed down the side of my arms and gave me that smile she used to use on all the boys in our grade. It was the smile that told them she’d give them what they wanted if they gave her what she wanted. I hoped she didn’t think that shit would work on me. It didn’t work on me in high school, and it damn sure wasn’t getting any play now.
Both Karina’s and my eyes seemed to shift to the spot Michelle touched at the same time. I wasn’t the only one who noticed what she was doing, which told me I wasn’t imagining things.
“There were even pictures of Karina popping up online with you. I knew it was best to come here in person. I have not seenyou two in years, and I wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to connect with high school friends.”
Michelle was using that friend term loosely because I don’t remember ever being her friend, and as I said, she and Karina were more like enemies. It was obvious she was trying to play into our history for her benefit. I would hear her out, but I wasn’t changing my mind.
“You know what?” Karina stood and set the water she’d been sipping on the table in front of us. “I’m going to leave you two to discuss business.”
There was a slight pause before she saidbusiness,and I was hopingshe didn’t think that was what I wanted. I didn’t need her to leave me alone with Michelle. I had already made my decision, and there was nothing that could change that.
Michelle was still beautiful as hell. She had always put me in mind of Gabrielle Union in the movieTwo Can Play That Game,and her looks hadn’t faltered with age. Still, I wanted nothing she had to offer, business or otherwise.
“Oh, Karina, are you sure you can’t stay? At least, let me buy you a drink before you go.”
“I don’t drink, but it was good to see you, Michelle.”
Karina told a bold-faced lie, but I wouldn’t out her. I stood to hug her before she could turn and excuse herself. We said our goodbyes, and she walked away faster than I wanted her to.
Watching Karina walk away felt threatening, like when I watched her walk away from me on the night of our prom. I wanted to stop her right then and end the conversation with Michelle, but I had already made a few questionable business moves this week. I needed to stay here and at least hear Michelle out.
There was a chance we could reach an understanding. All she needed to do was agree to wait on production and not use my weapons in ways that went against everything I stood for. Ifshe did that, I would sign the contract, and we could end this conversation. In essence, one brief conversation with Michelle was all that stood in the way of my following Karina upstairs and finding a way to slide between her thighs.
“So, Mr. Sheffield, what is the issue that you have with this deal?” Michelle asked me the same question I’d been answering since the beginning of this thing.
The only reason I wasn’t annoyed was that she hadn’t been in the room all those other times. That and the fact that her getting straight to the point was saving me much-needed time right now. Those two reasons wouldn’t let me be annoyed with Michelle right now.
“The problem is your company is not only asking me to speed up production by three months, which would put soldiers at severe risk, but you are also asking for autonomous firing capabilities that would open them up to potential friendly fire. It’s not happening. Not on my watch.”
“But isn’t there something we can do about that? What needs to be done to bring you around to our side?”
“They want to use my inventions in a way that lines their pockets instead of thinking about human life. As I said, I can’t go any faster with production. I cannot hand over everything to you guys because if I did, that would put the soldiers on the ground at risk. My only goal is to minimize the threat to human life. That’s it. That is my bottom line.”
“And you know what, Kareem? I really get that. I do. I’m human after all, so I’m not technically only thinking about money here, but we have to be honest. Business is business, and I cannot wait more than three months for you to perfect the product that my people already see as perfected. Why would I wait around for your company when there are thousands out there that are ready to do what I need them to?”
“Michelle, if those thousands of companies out there were able to do what we can, you wouldn’t be talking to me. But since you are here, I suggest you guys come around to my idea because that is the only way that we are going to work together.”
“I was hoping this meeting would go a different way. I was hoping my showing up here in good faith and meeting an old high school friend would change the way you saw this deal.”
“First of all, I was never your friend. We may have passed each other in the hallway and even come from the same place, but obviously, our paths went in completely different directions. I won’t risk the soldiers, and if you do not understand that, my company is not the company for you. However, I do wish you all the best in finding someone who works for you. If you would excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be.”
