Read Online Love on the Rocks by Veronica Henry - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Veronica Henry
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million friendly?’
Lisa shrugged.
‘I always get a Christmas card.’
George shook his head.
‘There isn’t enough time to get investors on board. It’s best and final offers at the end of the month.’
Justin ran his crust around the rim of his bowl and chewed thoughtfully.
‘I’ll bung in a couple of hundred if it will help. I could do with losing a bit of capital.’
Lisa and George looked at each other, not quite able to believe what they were hearing.
‘A couple of hundred . . . ?’
‘Thousand, obviously.’ Justin clarified his position casually.
‘Are you serious?’ George knew that Justin wasn’t the type to make jokes, but he had to be sure.
‘Deadly. But I want a third share of the business in return. As a sleeping partner.’
George did some rapid mental calculations. That was a big share, considering he and Lisa would be putting in four hundred each, not to mention their time. But he knew that if Justin was interested, then he would make it happen. And it would certainly save them time, not having to go through tedious meetings with bank managers. Plus, George knew full well that there was more where it came from. If Justin had a vested interest, and they needed more capital, he would be forthcoming, George was certain. He decided to push his friend a bit further. He didn’t feel guilty. You couldn’t pull a fast one on Justin. It wasn’t possible.
‘Call it two hundred and fifty.’
Lisa looked at him in surprise. George hadn’t struck her as a tough negotiator.
Justin grinned.
‘I admire your cheek,’ he said. ‘It gives me faith in you. Two fifty it is.’
George looked down at his piece of paper, calculations scrawled all over it. He added on the two hundred and fifty, and underlined the total with three thick black lines.
‘Almost starts making it look like a possibility.’
‘Don’t think about it too much,’ said Justin. ‘Or you’ll never do it.’
Lisa felt a little swirl of excitement in her tummy.
‘Come on, George. What have we got to lose?’
‘Um – a few hundred grand each? And our livelihoods?’ George tried to make his tone light.
‘I’ve lost that already,’ said Lisa.
‘I think it’s about time you took a risk, George.’ Justin was playing devil’s advocate. ‘Or else you are in grave danger of becoming the most boring man in the universe.’
‘Thanks a lot!’ George feigned hurt.
‘Fine.’ Justin shrugged. ‘Put on your grey suit in the morning and go back into the office. For the rest of your life.’
‘That’s exactly what I said!’ Lisa wasn’t sure it was fair to take sides, but George needed a push.
‘We can’t all be crazy risk-takers.’
‘I’m not crazy, actually. I’ve never taken a risk that wasn’t considered. And I wouldn’t be offering you my money now if I didn’t think you could make a success of it.’
‘You haven’t even seen the place.’
‘If there’s one thing you’ve got, George, it’s good taste in buildings. And you know your locations.’
‘True.’
‘It has got a lovely feel.’ Lisa felt the need to put in her contribution. ‘Even though it was hideous inside, the view is just amazing. And it’s virtually got its own private beach. It’s perfect for romantic getaways. Or girly weekends. You couldn’t not enjoy yourself.’
‘Let’s not get carried away,’ George intervened, putting his hand up. ‘What we need to do is a proper business plan.’
‘Rubbish,’ said Justin. ‘I’ve never done one in my life.’
‘You don’t want to protect your investment?’
‘A business plan isn’t protection. It’s no guarantee of anything. If you ask me, it’s restricting. I’m quite happy to write you a cheque here and now on the basis of what you’ve told me.’
‘Seriously?’
‘As long as I get my own room when I come and stay.’ Justin grinned. ‘I quite fancy surfing.’
George looked around his kitchen, thinking of the five years he had spent getting
Lisa shrugged.
‘I always get a Christmas card.’
George shook his head.
‘There isn’t enough time to get investors on board. It’s best and final offers at the end of the month.’
Justin ran his crust around the rim of his bowl and chewed thoughtfully.
‘I’ll bung in a couple of hundred if it will help. I could do with losing a bit of capital.’
Lisa and George looked at each other, not quite able to believe what they were hearing.
‘A couple of hundred . . . ?’
‘Thousand, obviously.’ Justin clarified his position casually.
‘Are you serious?’ George knew that Justin wasn’t the type to make jokes, but he had to be sure.
‘Deadly. But I want a third share of the business in return. As a sleeping partner.’
George did some rapid mental calculations. That was a big share, considering he and Lisa would be putting in four hundred each, not to mention their time. But he knew that if Justin was interested, then he would make it happen. And it would certainly save them time, not having to go through tedious meetings with bank managers. Plus, George knew full well that there was more where it came from. If Justin had a vested interest, and they needed more capital, he would be forthcoming, George was certain. He decided to push his friend a bit further. He didn’t feel guilty. You couldn’t pull a fast one on Justin. It wasn’t possible.
‘Call it two hundred and fifty.’
Lisa looked at him in surprise. George hadn’t struck her as a tough negotiator.
Justin grinned.
‘I admire your cheek,’ he said. ‘It gives me faith in you. Two fifty it is.’
George looked down at his piece of paper, calculations scrawled all over it. He added on the two hundred and fifty, and underlined the total with three thick black lines.
‘Almost starts making it look like a possibility.’
‘Don’t think about it too much,’ said Justin. ‘Or you’ll never do it.’
Lisa felt a little swirl of excitement in her tummy.
‘Come on, George. What have we got to lose?’
‘Um – a few hundred grand each? And our livelihoods?’ George tried to make his tone light.
‘I’ve lost that already,’ said Lisa.
‘I think it’s about time you took a risk, George.’ Justin was playing devil’s advocate. ‘Or else you are in grave danger of becoming the most boring man in the universe.’
‘Thanks a lot!’ George feigned hurt.
‘Fine.’ Justin shrugged. ‘Put on your grey suit in the morning and go back into the office. For the rest of your life.’
‘That’s exactly what I said!’ Lisa wasn’t sure it was fair to take sides, but George needed a push.
‘We can’t all be crazy risk-takers.’
‘I’m not crazy, actually. I’ve never taken a risk that wasn’t considered. And I wouldn’t be offering you my money now if I didn’t think you could make a success of it.’
‘You haven’t even seen the place.’
‘If there’s one thing you’ve got, George, it’s good taste in buildings. And you know your locations.’
‘True.’
‘It has got a lovely feel.’ Lisa felt the need to put in her contribution. ‘Even though it was hideous inside, the view is just amazing. And it’s virtually got its own private beach. It’s perfect for romantic getaways. Or girly weekends. You couldn’t not enjoy yourself.’
‘Let’s not get carried away,’ George intervened, putting his hand up. ‘What we need to do is a proper business plan.’
‘Rubbish,’ said Justin. ‘I’ve never done one in my life.’
‘You don’t want to protect your investment?’
‘A business plan isn’t protection. It’s no guarantee of anything. If you ask me, it’s restricting. I’m quite happy to write you a cheque here and now on the basis of what you’ve told me.’
‘Seriously?’
‘As long as I get my own room when I come and stay.’ Justin grinned. ‘I quite fancy surfing.’
George looked around his kitchen, thinking of the five years he had spent getting
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