After the introductions are complete, my attorney asks everyone to take a seat. My side of the table is just my attorney and me. Disruptive Technologies has Claire and Landon, an investor who apparently must sign off on the deal as a major shareholder, and three lawyers. It’s rather intimidating.
As we take our seats, Claire removes two robin’s egg blue Tiffany boxes with white satin bows from her bag, along with a bottle of champagne. She places them in front of me. “These are for you.”
I look at Landon, and he smirks. Claire is almost bouncing up and down in her chair. She and I hit it off immediately when we met. We were introduced by a mutual friend I’d gone to school with and Claire knew from a former business adventure. I’d known she and her brother owned the business—Claire is the brilliant business side and Landon knows the technology. How did I not Google the shit out of Landon since I hadn’t met him through this entire process? I Google the men I date. Now I’m walking blind into a decade-long partnership.
Fuck!
I still would have sold my company to Disruptive. I just would have avoided fucking Landon, particularly in a coatroom.
I pull the ribbon on the long, narrow box and peek inside. My heart melts. It’s a Tiffany fountain pen covered in ampersands. I can’t believe how much this simple gesture makes me want to cry, or at the very least, jump across the table and hug her.
“It’s for inking our deal today,” she says. “It’s your idea and ours together that will unite people from all over the world and change the way the world communicates.”
I stare at the pen. It’s almost too special to use. “I’m so touched. Thank you.”
She grins broadly. “I think you’ll like the other one, too.” She claps her hands.
I carefully undo the ribbon and remove the lid of the second box. Inside is a Tiffany star keyring with a fob attached.
Claire shrugs. “We don’t do keys anymore, but the fob will get you into the office.”
“Should we get to those contracts?” Landon asks in what seems to be a misguided attempt to rein in his sister.
Her enthusiasm is a big part of why I’m joining this company.
One of their lawyers takes out a folder that looks like it contains a full ream of paper. He doles out an inch-deep portion to everyone at the table. Looking between my lawyer and me, he walks us through each paragraph, and my lawyer carefully reviews every document. It’s everything we’ve agreed on. I will have twenty percent of the company if we sell or are acquired. Otherwise the first ten percent vests at five years and the second at ten.
When we get to the end, we all sign, and Landon pops the cork on the champagne and pours everyone a small glass.
“To new beginnings.” His eyes smolder as he stares at me, and my core clenches. Working with Landon Walsh is going to be very interesting.
“I want a picture,” Claire announces.
She hands Mason her phone and sticks Landon between us. He puts his arms around each of us, and his touch is searing. My nipples pebble. I’m grateful to be wearing a padded bra.
We spend the next half hour celebrating, and I talk to almost everyone but Landon. It’s almost like we’re working to avoid one another.
As our little party breaks up, Claire announces, “I need to do a quick errand. I’ll catch up with you in a second.”
Mason leaves, and the lawyers walk us out. Landon stands behind me in the elevator, and he rubs his hand lightly over my ass. I catch the reflection of his eyes in the doors and give him a scowl. He grins.
After we say goodbye to the lawyers, he looks at me. “I guess we have a few things to discuss. Your place or mine?”
My eyes widen. “Are you crazy?”
“Well, okay, we can start here. Amanda?”
“Peter?”
“My name is Peter Landon Walsh, the third. I go by Landon since my father goes by Peter.”
I roll my eyes and cross my arms.
“You’re the one who called yourself by a completely different name.”
“No, that was Chrissy, actually.”
“So, her name isn’t Madeline? I guess she isn’t an elementary school teacher?”
I chuckle. “Nope. She’s the head of marketing at America Bank.”
“I can see why she might want a less-intimidating job. But in this town, it’s not intimidating to tell a guy you’re a developer.”
I roll my eyes again.
“You need to stop rolling your eyes, or I’m going to have to punish you.”
My core responds again, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that. “Are you fucking with me? If you’d known I was a developer, you wouldn’t have been nearly as interested.”
“Honey, with those tits, I promise you, it wasn’t your coding skills that interested me last night.”
“Well, you’re not going to see them again.”
He steps forward, and I think he’s going to kiss my neck, but he just takes a big whiff. “You smell so fucking good. I bet I do get to see them again—maybe sooner rather than later.”
“In your fucking dreams.”
“Why are you so hostile? I just gave you ten million dollars, and I’m set to give you twenty percent of my company.”
“Are you high?”
“No—”
“Tinsley!” Claire comes running up and links her arm with mine.
