He flashed an all-knowing grin. “Perfect.”
“Don’t you need to check your calendar?” Men like him always had a calendar to check. Then again, it wouldn’t be the worst thing if he canceled last minute. Because I had absolutelynobusiness seeing this man again.
He opened the door and winked at me just as I passed him. “I’ll move some things around.”
8
SCOTT
“Harrison, I need to see strategy,”I insisted for the fifth time that week after Todd Harrison, a multimillionaire entrepreneur, reached out to me with what sounded like a worthy investmentproposal.
I leaned back in my chair in my home office, despite Donovan granting me full access to my old office at Hayes and use of his resources. But I enjoyed my own space and working on my own—with zero chance of people walking in unannounced.
That and the fact that I hated distractions more than I hated a poor investment. Which was exactly what this guy on the other side of the line was starting to sound like.
The man wasn’t drowning by any means, but his family-operated business certainly was.When numbers started dropping at his large enterprise printing organization last year, Harrison got anxious andstingy. Firing his well-paid GM and promoting a senior associate with little experience to run things. I was surprised by the stupid move by someone who was supposed to be in the top five of New York’s printing organizations. A move like that usually meant the guy was desperate and taking advice from amateurs.
I met with Todd and his senior officers a few weeks ago and looked over some quarterly reports. After I made my own assessments on where it went south, I generously pointed them out and gave him one week to come up with a strategy before I consider signing.
Typically, the next step was for them to letmeknow what they planned to do to fix it. It wasn’t a game I played with future partners. Nor was it a test. But before I committed to a partnership, I needed to know that the firms I was bailing out had in turn planned a well-thought-out business strategy that would potentially skyrocket numbers in the coming year. It didn’t need to be a sure thing—I knew every investment had its risks.
But I needed to see real effort. I needed to hear that they’re willing to try anything and would take action almost immediately. Time is money and I didn’t plan to waste one dime of it.
But if the guy had nothing, then neither would I. It was as simple as that.
“Look, my team is trying. But some suggestions would help here.”
“I’m not a problem solver, Todd.”
“Well then how do you know if what we come up with will work?”
“I take chances on people with a plan. People who think and don’t give up. You stop thinking—you’ve given up. I’m not investing.” I was about to hang up but thought better of it before I blew an opportunity. “And I’m at my limits with these useless phone calls; call me when you have something solid.”
I never said I was nice about it.
I took a deep breath and looked at my watch for the seventh time in the past hour. It was almost time to meet her. A small but unmistakable spark went off in my chest and I frowned.
I wasexcitedto see her.
The realization made me grit my teeth and for a moment I wondered if I should call it off. I enjoyed a life where nothing meant anything, and people were easily forgotten.
Something told me Isabel was not a woman who would blend well with this lifestyle.
I tapped my finger on the wooden table.
Rats. I didn’t get her phone number. And if there was one thing I certainly didn’t do, was keep a beautiful woman waiting.
“Apologies for my tardiness,” I said at the sight of her long dark hair and slender frame. Isabel was standing outside The Blue Reserve café one hour later.
She turned and once again, my breath caught. It was the third day in a row I was seeing this woman and yet the mere sight of her still took my breath away. She looked positively radiant and yet somewhat reserved and cautious. She was wearing a black dress that angled on one end, barely touching her knee, and a sapphire blue cardigan. And of course, that warm smile that was always too polite and formal.
Like I was a client or something.
Surely, she’d thought we were on better terms thanthat.
“I take it you haven’t eaten lunch yet?” I asked, holding out an arm.
Her face fell and she glanced at her watch. “Well, I...”
