doesn’t need another limo service. But he
impressed me. If he comes up with something more viable, I’ll back him.”
“I think he persuaded us he’ll distinguish himself from the
herd. The added special services, such as combining limo driver and a bodyguard
licensed to carry, will give him an edge.” The speaker, Carla, a young,
aggressive MBA who’d helped Dani start the investment company, was one of the
more trusted advisors. Dani tended to agree with Carla’s conclusions, sometimes
to the chagrin of the others. But so far, the young woman’s instincts hadn’t
disappointed the team.
“Verify the numbers, Sam, and if you’re satisfied, draw up a
contract and send it to his lawyer. I want this pushed through fast. Will?”
Dani, brows raised, glanced at the president to confirm he was on board, and
when he nodded, she thanked them for their time and dismissed everyone but
William.
When the others were gone, Dani lowered herself into one of
the seats at the table and cleared her throat before speaking. “I’m not trying
to step on anyone’s toes here. I wanted to make sure you’re okay with this. If
it isn’t a sound proposal, then tell me, and we won’t invest. My judgment may
be clouded since I feel I owe him.”
Demeanor neutral, Will remained silent for a moment, as
though considering what to tell her.
“Say it. I don’t want anyone pussyfooting around me.”
“We’re not, Dani.” Will sounded annoyed at the accusation.
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you’d
just tell me what I want to hear. You haven’t yet. We leave that shit to Nate.”
Will grinned at that.
Dani continued. “I’ve needed this investment business. It
keeps me sane. In the two years since we started, it’s done well. We’re making
good returns, and I owe that to this team. I didn’t have much business
sense—just a vision to help startups , provide
opportunities people otherwise might never have. If others hadn’t done that for
me, I wouldn’t be where I am. I was a nobody before, running from an abusive
home. It could have gone any number of ways, all ending badly.”
She sighed. “Sorry. I know Cope’s not downtrodden. He comes
from a wealthy family. But he’s struggling to make it on his own, and I respect
that.”
“All right,” Will said. “Is there a ‘but?’”
A genuine smile of affection lit up her face. “ But I won’t put money on a losing
proposition no matter who it is. I think his proposal is sound. The rest of
you, except, oddly enough, Nate, seem to agree. Is that your assessment?”
“Yes. Don’t worry about Nate. There might be something
personal there, too. I think Nate has a connection to Cope’s father—they call
the father Big Cope. From what I understand, Nate and Big Cope used to be
tight. Then something happened, and they no longer speak to each other.”
That explained why Nate had the balls to disagree with the
president when usually he was up Will’s ass. Dani didn’t like Nate, personally,
but Will and Sam had insisted he was a valuable part of the team. He had as big
a head for business as Carla but years more experience.
“Okay. As long as we’re in agreement, I’ll be comfortable
backing him, and that’s what I was hoping would happen. I don’t want Cope to
know of my involvement in this.”
“Dani, if his lawyer does his due diligence, he’ll find out
you own this company sooner or later.”
“I’ll tell him myself before that happens. Cope didn’t want
me to lend him the money because he wanted to get the funding on his own. He’s
done that. It’s just a coincidence it’s my company backing him.” But the
uneasiness in her belly increased, and she doubted what she was saying.
***
“Scotch?” Margaret Copeland raised her glass and saluted
Cope, who’d rushed into the room.
Cope shook his head. “No thanks.”
He set his briefcase next to the couch on which his mother
sat and then leaned in and
impressed me. If he comes up with something more viable, I’ll back him.”
“I think he persuaded us he’ll distinguish himself from the
herd. The added special services, such as combining limo driver and a bodyguard
licensed to carry, will give him an edge.” The speaker, Carla, a young,
aggressive MBA who’d helped Dani start the investment company, was one of the
more trusted advisors. Dani tended to agree with Carla’s conclusions, sometimes
to the chagrin of the others. But so far, the young woman’s instincts hadn’t
disappointed the team.
“Verify the numbers, Sam, and if you’re satisfied, draw up a
contract and send it to his lawyer. I want this pushed through fast. Will?”
Dani, brows raised, glanced at the president to confirm he was on board, and
when he nodded, she thanked them for their time and dismissed everyone but
William.
When the others were gone, Dani lowered herself into one of
the seats at the table and cleared her throat before speaking. “I’m not trying
to step on anyone’s toes here. I wanted to make sure you’re okay with this. If
it isn’t a sound proposal, then tell me, and we won’t invest. My judgment may
be clouded since I feel I owe him.”
Demeanor neutral, Will remained silent for a moment, as
though considering what to tell her.
“Say it. I don’t want anyone pussyfooting around me.”
“We’re not, Dani.” Will sounded annoyed at the accusation.
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you’d
just tell me what I want to hear. You haven’t yet. We leave that shit to Nate.”
Will grinned at that.
Dani continued. “I’ve needed this investment business. It
keeps me sane. In the two years since we started, it’s done well. We’re making
good returns, and I owe that to this team. I didn’t have much business
sense—just a vision to help startups , provide
opportunities people otherwise might never have. If others hadn’t done that for
me, I wouldn’t be where I am. I was a nobody before, running from an abusive
home. It could have gone any number of ways, all ending badly.”
She sighed. “Sorry. I know Cope’s not downtrodden. He comes
from a wealthy family. But he’s struggling to make it on his own, and I respect
that.”
“All right,” Will said. “Is there a ‘but?’”
A genuine smile of affection lit up her face. “ But I won’t put money on a losing
proposition no matter who it is. I think his proposal is sound. The rest of
you, except, oddly enough, Nate, seem to agree. Is that your assessment?”
“Yes. Don’t worry about Nate. There might be something
personal there, too. I think Nate has a connection to Cope’s father—they call
the father Big Cope. From what I understand, Nate and Big Cope used to be
tight. Then something happened, and they no longer speak to each other.”
That explained why Nate had the balls to disagree with the
president when usually he was up Will’s ass. Dani didn’t like Nate, personally,
but Will and Sam had insisted he was a valuable part of the team. He had as big
a head for business as Carla but years more experience.
“Okay. As long as we’re in agreement, I’ll be comfortable
backing him, and that’s what I was hoping would happen. I don’t want Cope to
know of my involvement in this.”
“Dani, if his lawyer does his due diligence, he’ll find out
you own this company sooner or later.”
“I’ll tell him myself before that happens. Cope didn’t want
me to lend him the money because he wanted to get the funding on his own. He’s
done that. It’s just a coincidence it’s my company backing him.” But the
uneasiness in her belly increased, and she doubted what she was saying.
***
“Scotch?” Margaret Copeland raised her glass and saluted
Cope, who’d rushed into the room.
Cope shook his head. “No thanks.”
He set his briefcase next to the couch on which his mother
sat and then leaned in and
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