The door swung open and the driver helped Ginny out, Quinn climbing out behind her and offering his arm. Several photographers from the local news outlets had set up along the blue carpet leading to the front door. “Do you want to stop for interviews?” Quinn asked quietly.
Ginny shook her head. “Tonight is about celebrating us and what we have, not answering questions about the latest product release.”
He nodded, ushering them past the reporters who called out for their attention. Once inside, the introductions began. He was glad to see his team had made it. Ginny moved them to a pocket of VPs from her company, and he shook hands. As they left, he leaned over and whispered, “How am I doing as a trophy husband?”
She pinched his side. “You’re perfect. Keep it up.” Her eyes danced at sharing their private joke.
A man with a short haircut approached. “Hi, I’m Lucas Scott.” He shook Ginny’s hand and then Quinn’s.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Quinton said out of habit. Names and faces were starting to blur together.
“Congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you.” Ginny smiled.
“I’m sorry to crash the party, but I couldn’t get your InfantPure out of my head.”
“Excuse me?” Ginny bent forward as if trying to hear him better. “Did you work with Thomas?”
“No.” He looked back and forth between the two of them. “Jamon West called me a few days ago and said you were interested in selling the research.”
Quinn’s heart sank. He sucked in a breath and squeezed Ginny’s hand. “My neighbor.”
Understanding dawned. Lines appeared around her eyes—tight ones that said she wasn’t happy with the situation.
“I’m not sure what Mr. West told you—”
Lucas held up a hand. “Likewise. It seems there’s a breakdown somewhere. I’d expected to hear from you sooner. That’s why I came up here myself. I’d like to offer you five million for the research you’ve done so far. And another five for the trademark.”
“Do you think you can make it work?” Quinn asked. Ten million was pennies in the pharmaceutical world, but the important thing was getting InfantPure into FDA testing. They couldn’t do that without a viable formula.
Lucas bobbed his head from side to side. “It’s a challenge, to say the least. But I live for a challenge.”
Ginny cut in. “I’m sorry, what company do you develop for?”
“I own half of GermTech Pharmaceuticals. But I no longer work for the company. I’ve retired.”
Ginny stiffened. GermTech Pharmaceuticals. GermTech was one of the largest companies in the business. Though they specialized in vaccinations and preventative medication, it wouldn’t take much for them to move into Ginny’s field of over-the-counter meds and take over. Which meant Lucas Scott was the retired half-owner who had masterminded their groundbreaking formulas. A small memory struggled to surface, one of an online article about the reclusive billionaire who’d saved the world. If there was a microbiologist on the planet who could make Ginny’s vision come to life, it would be Scott. Quinn swelled with pride knowing he’d had a small hand in bringing this together.
Ifit worked out. Judging by the steely look in Ginny’s eye, that wasn’t likely. “I appreciate your offer, Mr. Scott, but InfantPure is not for sale.”
Lucas looked back and forth between the two of them. He plucked at his bottom lip for a moment, considering his options, or perhaps considering raising his bid.
Quinton mentally scrambled. This situation was his fault. But what was wrong with Ginny? She’d talked for hours about her hope for this formula, expounding its virtues. He glanced down at her, noting firmness around her lips. She was resolute. He could push the issue and ruin their engagement party, or he could take the blame and smooth things over.
“I’m sorry you’ve come all this way. I should have communicated with Jamon about the change,” Quinn added, feeling like a heel.
“These things happen.” Lucas glanced around the room. “I brought my wife. I think we’ll dance for a while. If you change your mind, you know how to contact me.”
He left, his head high. Flying to Seattle to chase down a dead end didn’t seem to ruffle him. Thank goodness.
Ginny, however, was all sorts of ruffled. Quinn touched her elbow. “I’m sorry. I forgot all about having talked to Jamon. When he called with Lucas’s information, I thought I’d hang on to it and let the whole thing die out.”
She lowered her eyebrows. “He called you back and you didn’t tell me?”
“It wasn’t a big deal.”
“It’s a huge deal. Do you know who that is? Lucas Scott isthename in pharmacology. He could squish my company with a snap of his fingers.”
