“Absolutely, I would,” Keegan gushed, excitement lighting his eyes. “You don’t have to pay me, sir. It would be my pleasure.”
“Nonsense. Your time is valuable. Of course I’ll pay you. And please, call me Carter.”
Keegan gaped for a second or two, then started nodding. “Okay, Carter. Then I need detailed pictures and all the measurements. I also need to know what kind of care you’re capable of or willing to provide.”
“Excellent. I’ll send you all of that. I can get your email from Hawk?”
“Sure thing,” he said, like he still didn’t believe this was happening. He looked to Hawk once again, and Hawk gave a slight nod. “I’ll look for your email, then.”
“Thanks, Kee. Talk to you later. Love you.”
“Love you too. Bye Carter.”
“Goodbye,” I got out just as Hawk ended the call. I turned to look at him, squinting. “What was that about?”
“A friend helping a friend. I know a guy that can help you, so I put you in touch.” Hawk’s smirk was really too cute. If we weren’t just friends, I’d kiss it off his face. But we were so I staunchly ignored it.
I grinned. “I appreciate it. I would have ended up reading through whatever Marielle put together and then hired someone anyway. At least this way, your brother gets the perk of the payday and I know I have an expert handling the details.”
Hawk was quiet for a long moment. “It’s good of you to pay him for his time.”
I shook my head. “It’s honest. No one should undervalue themselves. And I’m not saying every favor should be paid, but when people are giving you their expertise, it should be compensated. Besides, I have plenty of money to spare.”
“How did you make your billions, anyway?” Hawk asked, then his eyes went wide. “Shit, that was rude. Never mind.”
I laughed, settling back into the couch and getting comfortable. “It wasn’t rude. It’s just friends getting to know each other. That’s all. And I don’t mind sharing. But it’s a bit of a story. You want the short version or the long one?”
Hawk thought about that a second, his gaze roving all over my face. “What’s the short story?”
“I got in on the ground floor with a tech startup just as the internet was really taking off.”
He nodded, still studying me. After a second, he asked the question I’d been hoping he would. “And the long version?”
“Ah, that starts way back. You want a beer?” I stood and crossed to the fridge, pulling out a can of Dale’s Pale Ale. It was a sort of local brew that I’d become quite fond of since moving to the area. Hawk thought about it for a second, then nodded,so I handed him one too. Once we cracked them open and I was seated again, I began.
“My father had money. A lot of it.” I glanced at Hawk to see the expression I expected cross his face. Internally, I smirked, because he had no idea where this was going. “Until he lost it in a bad deal, and then a second one that was supposed to recoup his losses from the first one. My mother fucked off when her husband was no longer rich, and left me with him. And Father dearest started chasing one get rich quick scheme after another. That was why he needed me gone that summer I met Athena.”
Hawk’s expression softened and I saw the sympathy there. I didn’t need pity, but I didn’t mind it so much coming from him. “I’m so sorry, Carter.”
“Thanks. It sucked, not going to lie, but it could have been worse. Anyway, that was my catalyst to work hard at everything I did. To make sure I was honest in everything I did. I made it to college with a crapton of loans, double majored in finance and business management, and graduated cum laude. At the same time, a couple of friends were starting a business that focused on the way the internet was taking off.”
Hawk nodded and took a sip of his beer. I did not watch him swallow, entranced for a moment at the way his throat worked and imagining other things. Because friends didn’t do that.
I cleared my own throat. “They were ideas guys, and they had a good one. But they didn’t have a head for money or business. I did. So we partnered together to form Omicron Corp. And for nearly twenty years, everything was gravy. We made money hand over fist, and our coding software was the pinnacle of the game.”
“So what happened?” He asked softly, rightly picking up on my tone.
“Caught that, huh? Well, things have changed drastically, especially in the past few years. Open source has become amuch bigger thing and the newer generations are much more tech savvy than ever before. I tried to correct course and get my partners to do the same, but they wouldn’t listen. I forced a buyout and walked last year. I came out on top, Omicron Corp is circling the drain, and I started a new adventure in life.”
“Ramona.”
I nodded. “She’s part of it. But I wanted out of that life. I’ve made my millions.” I shot him a look to correct his earlier statement to which he smirked, but his eyes lit up with amusement so I called it a win. “And eventually, I’ll find something else to do with my time. But I worked hard for a long time and deserve a break.”
Hawk played with the pull tab on the top of his can. “Sounds like it. Good for you.”
I propped my arm on the back of the couch and rested my head in my hand. If it allowed me to look at him more fully, then it was just a coincidence. “Your turn.”
Hawk’s head shot up. “My turn what?”
