Read Online Never Forgotten: Second Chances by Alana Hart, Marlena Dark - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alana Hart, Marlena Dark
Tags: Contemporary, first love returns, high finance alpha males, international high-tech business, female protagonist business success, choosing among lovers, loss of beauty
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headed into the elevator, his hand running over the woman's curvaceous ass. She flicked her head, sending a shower of blonde hair flying and scattering the light.
Megan watched the elevator doors close. Her smile was grim. At least she knew part of Lenora's plan. Once she was close to Thom, screwing him, she'd get more than good advice for her trouble. Megan felt certain it was something specific too. But what?
CHAPTER FOUR
Megan met Riley and his investor, a small, drab man named Phil Dreemer, at the restaurant. She'd dressed carefully, knowing she needed to walk that treacherous borderline between attractive and feminine yet businesslike, one that let her play the conflicting roles of seductress and CEO. She had chosen a dress that felt elegant, and as they sat in the fancy restaurant chatting with small talk over drinks, it seemed the right one. She let Riley direct the conversation, chipping in a smile or comment when it seemed appropriate. Some men could easily be overwhelmed by a strong woman, and Phil struck her as that kind of man. So she sat back watched Riley work him. He was suave, speaking to Phil as if they were friends sharing confidences. Phil was new to software investments and tired of missing out on the billions being made. What did Bill Gates have that he didn't after all?
Over dessert, Riley did a wonderful job of raising the matter of the needed investment, and its possible benefits, without making it sound like he was making a pitch. His calm, confident voice and casual manner made it almost as if he was talking about something he'd heard on the nightly news. Phil had been jittery all through dinner, and despite how smooth Riley was when the subject of her company came up, Megan saw his body tense visibly.
Riley saw it too. A shadow flickered across his face, lizard quick, but Megan caught it and knew his alarms were ringing. "When we talked about the idea this morning you seemed pretty excited, Phil. You said you'd been looking to diversify into high-tech, get into software, get away from companies with all kinds of union problems and production lines." He chuckled. "It's gotta be rough watching the guys who buy into tech companies raking in the money like they had a printing press."
"Some lose their asses too." Phil picked up his wine glass and finished it, then waited while Riley refilled it. "Since we talked, I've learned, well heard, some unsettling things."
"Really?" Riley looked at Megan. "Has anything happened that you haven't told me about, Megan?"
She sipped her own wine with deliberate slowness then shook her head. "The most significant thing that I know of happening today is meeting you, Phil. What are you concerned about?"
"Well, first I heard that Thom Gooden is in a bit of a hurry to sell."
Riley chuckled. "I chatted with him about that myself. The old boy's been itching to free up cash to put into an oil lease he's afraid will slip through his fingers. What he told me was that now that he's decided to sell, he'd like to do it as soon as possible. Don't think you'll be able to leverage that and low ball him. He's kind of in a rush, but not willing to give it away."
Phil didn't appear convinced. He glared at Megan defiantly. "Okay. But why is your partner and senior designer selling out?"
She laughed but heard its hollow sound, and regretted it. His claim had caught her by surprise. "That's simple. He isn't."
Phil pushed his chair back slightly. "Are you sure? This afternoon I got a call from someone who knows I'm looking at your company, and they said his shares might be available. No price mentioned, but the caller wanted to know if I was interested. I mean I could just invest that way, right?"
"Were you interested?"
"Hell, no. If he wants out, then I have to think there's a reason for it. If the program has all the potential you've talked about, then I'm sure he'd be in for the long haul. Shit, if it's that good, he could live on a credit card for a few
Megan watched the elevator doors close. Her smile was grim. At least she knew part of Lenora's plan. Once she was close to Thom, screwing him, she'd get more than good advice for her trouble. Megan felt certain it was something specific too. But what?
CHAPTER FOUR
Megan met Riley and his investor, a small, drab man named Phil Dreemer, at the restaurant. She'd dressed carefully, knowing she needed to walk that treacherous borderline between attractive and feminine yet businesslike, one that let her play the conflicting roles of seductress and CEO. She had chosen a dress that felt elegant, and as they sat in the fancy restaurant chatting with small talk over drinks, it seemed the right one. She let Riley direct the conversation, chipping in a smile or comment when it seemed appropriate. Some men could easily be overwhelmed by a strong woman, and Phil struck her as that kind of man. So she sat back watched Riley work him. He was suave, speaking to Phil as if they were friends sharing confidences. Phil was new to software investments and tired of missing out on the billions being made. What did Bill Gates have that he didn't after all?
Over dessert, Riley did a wonderful job of raising the matter of the needed investment, and its possible benefits, without making it sound like he was making a pitch. His calm, confident voice and casual manner made it almost as if he was talking about something he'd heard on the nightly news. Phil had been jittery all through dinner, and despite how smooth Riley was when the subject of her company came up, Megan saw his body tense visibly.
Riley saw it too. A shadow flickered across his face, lizard quick, but Megan caught it and knew his alarms were ringing. "When we talked about the idea this morning you seemed pretty excited, Phil. You said you'd been looking to diversify into high-tech, get into software, get away from companies with all kinds of union problems and production lines." He chuckled. "It's gotta be rough watching the guys who buy into tech companies raking in the money like they had a printing press."
"Some lose their asses too." Phil picked up his wine glass and finished it, then waited while Riley refilled it. "Since we talked, I've learned, well heard, some unsettling things."
"Really?" Riley looked at Megan. "Has anything happened that you haven't told me about, Megan?"
She sipped her own wine with deliberate slowness then shook her head. "The most significant thing that I know of happening today is meeting you, Phil. What are you concerned about?"
"Well, first I heard that Thom Gooden is in a bit of a hurry to sell."
Riley chuckled. "I chatted with him about that myself. The old boy's been itching to free up cash to put into an oil lease he's afraid will slip through his fingers. What he told me was that now that he's decided to sell, he'd like to do it as soon as possible. Don't think you'll be able to leverage that and low ball him. He's kind of in a rush, but not willing to give it away."
Phil didn't appear convinced. He glared at Megan defiantly. "Okay. But why is your partner and senior designer selling out?"
She laughed but heard its hollow sound, and regretted it. His claim had caught her by surprise. "That's simple. He isn't."
Phil pushed his chair back slightly. "Are you sure? This afternoon I got a call from someone who knows I'm looking at your company, and they said his shares might be available. No price mentioned, but the caller wanted to know if I was interested. I mean I could just invest that way, right?"
"Were you interested?"
"Hell, no. If he wants out, then I have to think there's a reason for it. If the program has all the potential you've talked about, then I'm sure he'd be in for the long haul. Shit, if it's that good, he could live on a credit card for a few
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