‘Shock, yes. You didn’t have time to sugarcoat your response. What I saw was the real you, and that’s what I want. I want the real Olivia to help me while also helping herself.’
‘But you’re mistaken. That isn’t me—neither of those are me. I wouldn’t fuck anyone for financial gain. I’m trying to keep my business from sinking because people rely on me. I was late and anxious, and you judged me from an encounter that was no longer than a few seconds.’
‘That’s all it takes. I’m a good judge of character.’ And you’re hungry enough to help me with this.
‘You... have a very high opinion of yourself.’ She leans back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other.
‘And you’re sick and tired of hustling. You want your life back.’
‘I don’t know how you know all this, but yes, that’s true. But it doesn’t make me a bad person to want to spend twenty pounds on sushi for lunch instead of making do with polystyrene containers of ramen. Sure, I want my bank balance to look like it did so I can buy a four-hundred-pound pair of shoes for no good reason other than I want to. But this isn’t just about me. I have employees who rely on me.’
‘Even if you’re tired of the responsibility?’ She shrugs. ‘I can help you with all that. I’m here to revise my offer. Whatever money you’ve sunk into E-Volve, I’ll reimburse you, direct into your bank. In fact, I’ll give you more. I’ll also give you the capital you need to take the company all the way to your exit plan. And I’ll help you get it to that stage. You can’t lose, Olivia. Your capital plus a viable business to walk away with.’
‘All for just a twenty percent commission, right?’
‘No, I’m not offering you financing in the usual form. I won’t expect you to pay me back my investment. In fact, I won’t take a penny from you. Not in commission or stake or interest. I’ll help you get this company where it needs to be, and then I’ll sign away my rights to all of it as part of a prenuptial agreement, where I’ll set aside the monies to invest on your behalf. A new career direction for you, as it were. I’ll make you a very wealthy woman.’
‘I don’t understand why you would do this.’
‘Several reasons.’ And all of them centred around me. ‘First and foremost, I want to own JBW, as I’ve said.’
‘I also don’t understand how I can help, not that I’m saying I am helping or that I’m in, but what could I possibly do? I have no connection to any of this.’
‘Mark Jones, Luke’s stepfather, is convinced I’m not the right man for the job and refuses to allow me to buy a controlling stake. He’s of the opinion that I’m too much of a loose cannon, despite my uncanny ability to make the wealthy wealthier. He thinks this is just a passing phase for me and that my background and personal wealth will someday lead to my losing interest. Make me complacent. Which, quite frankly, is ridiculous, and a reflection of his opinion on my private life.’
‘What’s wrong with your private life? Are you a coke-head or something?’
‘What do you think?’ Personally, I think that was a stab in the dark.
‘I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I don’t know what the hell to think.’ The latter she almost hisses as she leans forward in her chair.
‘My private life is my own. It doesn’t affect my flair for business.’
‘So what would marrying me change?’
‘First, I wondered if giving you a little background to your pitch might fuel your choices. Societal privilege and all that.’ I wave my hand as though all this is above me when the truth is, nothing is above or below me when in the way of getting what I want.
‘If you think I’m going to marry you out of some kind of desire for revenge, you really don’t know me at all.’
‘It’s part of the appeal, though, isn’t it? Truthfully.’ Her gaze roams over me as if I’m the lowest creature she’s ever seen. But her anger will undoubtably kick in. That is to say, the anger reserves not directed at me but rather at those who have the unmitigated gall to keep her from her goal. Anger at those suffering from the illusion that they’re somehow superior. At least we have that in common. ‘Do try to stop glowering at me, would you? Those looks may be effective on others. I, however, am becoming inured to your repertoire of narrowed glances and sulks. A word of advice; the more you use them, the more the effect diminishes.’
This doesn’t stop her from glaring at me over the rim of her teacup.
‘There really is nothing—nothing—appealing in the notion of marrying you.’
‘With the exception of solvency, saving your company, sushi, and expensive footwear. And a little payback. Not to mention the opportunity to harness your potential plus a little cultivation to help you become a business powerhouse. The kind of woman other women look up to.’
‘No woman would look up to someone who became successful by selling herself.’
‘I’m not buying you. Just a little of your time and cooperation.’
‘In exchange for a piece of my soul.’
‘You’ll get so much more in return.’
‘Maybe I’ll just take my chances.’
‘On failure or bankruptcy? This business is a little incestuous. I’m sorry to say the town criers have already begun to call out.’
