I loved my neighborhood. I started the car and headed down the road. I missed the short commute to work when I lived in the city, but when Jace was three, I realized he needed a yard and a little room to breathe. I bought the house in Brooklyn and never looked back. I didn’t mind a longer commute.
When I got to work, I immediately felt something was off. I walked past the cubicles with people working already. I made my way to my office and was just about to go in when my boss, the owner of our firm, called my name.
“Yes?” I asked.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
That was never good. “Sure.” I put my briefcase and purse in my office and walked to his that was just a little bigger than mine. “What’s going on George?” I took a seat without invitation.
He looked uncomfortable. I wasn’t the least bit concerned I was going to be fired. I was very good at my job and our business was successful. Mostly.
“I want you to know you have been the greatest employee I have ever gotten the pleasure to work with. You always give it your all and I know I can depend on your honesty and integrity.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ve called a meeting,” he announced.
“When?”
“Ten minutes in the conference room.”
Now I was concerned. “Is this about the Bonner account?” I asked.
He smiled, making the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepen. “No. That situation was ironed out.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. I just wanted to let you know how much I’ve appreciated working with you.”
I frowned but decided to just wait it out. “Okay, do I need anything for the meeting?”
“Nope, just bring that winning smile.”
Now I knew something was up. I went back to my office to check my emails really quick. I didn’t see any clues there. Curiosity and nervousness were creating quite the stomach discomfort.
I followed the rest of the CPAs and account managers into the conference room exactly eight minutes later. George was standing at the front of the room. I swore I saw a bead of perspiration trickling down the side of his face. This was not good.
My mind raced with the many possibilities the meeting could be about.
“Everyone, I know you’re all wondering what this is about,” George started. “I’m just going to come right out and say it. We’re being bought out. I’ve sold the company and I am headed to Florida to enjoy my glory years.”
There was a silence that fell over the room that was so thick and heavy, I could actually feel it weighing on my shoulders. After the silence, the room erupted into conversation and low murmurs as everyone digested the information. My mind raced as I calculated my savings and how many mortgage payments I could make until I lost my house. I could find a new job, but how long would it take?
“Are we out of a job?” someone asked.
My ears perked up and my gaze focused on George. “No,” he answered. “Everyone will keep their jobs. Nothing changes but the name on the checks. Same company, same clients, just a new owner.”
I wanted to believe it. He looked like he was being honest. I knew how these things were handled. Promises were made, and a few months down the road, those promises were canceled.
“Who?” I asked. “Is it one of the bigger firms?”
“No, his name is Nash Aarons,” George answered.
The buzzing in my ears grew louder and blood rushed from my face. No way. No way could it be him. It was just one of those strange coincidences. Same name, different people.
“Do you know this guy?” one of the CPAs asked me.
“What?”
“You look like you know the name. Is the guy bad?”
I looked her in the eyes. “He will destroy this company, given the chance.”
Her eyes went wide. “Oh no.”
I nodded. “Oh no is an understatement.”
“Look, I know everyone is worried,” George said. “Let’s give the guy a chance. He’ll be coming in at the end of the week to meet everyone and check out the operational side of things. It would be nice for everyone to put their best foot forward. We want to shine for him. I want to hand him the company he bought.”
George was worried. I could see it on his face. He should be. This was not good news. George had to know we were all in jeopardy of losing our jobs when the new owner ran the company straight into the ground.
He was going to be sipping Mai Tais and playing golf and we were all going to be subjected to Nash’s horrible habits.
Chapter 2
Nash
I tapped my pen on the conference table that was so shiny I could see my reflection in it. I wasn’t really paying attention to what the guy across from me was saying. It was a lot of nonsense. I was doing my best to be courteous, but it was taxing my patience.
“You know, I appreciate you considering me and my company to invest in your business, but I just don’t think it’s the right fit,” I said.
“You haven’t heard my full proposal,” he stammered.
I’ve heard enough to know it’s a shitty idea. “I’m sorry, but I still don’t think it’s a good fit,” I said in an attempt to be diplomatic.
“How do you know? You haven’t heard everything.”
“Look,” I said and leaned forward to try and make sure he heard my words. “If you go forward with this new restructuring plan, you are going to go bankrupt. Your company is going to hemorrhage money until there is nothing left. I’ve looked over the financials you provided, and you are in no position to make changes. You have no money. You don’t need an investor; you need a miracle. I can’t get involved with this.”
He stared at me with his jaw hanging. “We’ve had a rough year, but we’ll rebound. We always do.”
I shook my head and closed the pretty little portfolio he’d presented to me at the beginning of the meeting. I slid it across the table. “Thanks for coming in and good luck to you.”
I got to my feet and walked out of the conference room with the guy trying to get me to stop. I kept going.
“My office,” I growled as I walked past my assistant. Her desk was just outside my office. She was my gatekeeper.
“Uh oh,” she groaned.
I threw open my office door and sat down at my desk. Carly walked in behind me. “Before you say anything—”
“Why?” I asked her. “Why would you set up a meeting with that man?”
She sighed and looked down at her feet. “He’s a family friend. My dad asked me to get him a meeting with you.”
I looked at her for several long seconds. “Carly, have you seen my calendar this week? Next week?”
“Yes. I know you’re busy, but—”
“No, there are no buts. My business is not here for you to dole out favors for your friends or family members. I’m busy. There are hundreds of other people that want to get a meeting with me. Those people might actually have worthy business proposals. I just wasted thirty minutes listening to a guy that I would never do business with. Thirty minutes. Do you know how much money I make in a day? When you do a little math, you can calculate what I make in an hour and then down to half an hour. That favor just cost me about ten grand, give or take a thousand.”