I saw the break room during the process of SHN buying my company; it was impressive then and even more so now. Located in the center of the office, it hosts coffee machines that make coffees, teas, different cocoas, and ciders, an espresso machine where you can make your own, and also a Nespresso machine. Lined atop white Caesarstone counters, there doesn’t seem to be any escape from caffeine should anyone desire it. Next to the sink is a glass-fronted Sub-Zero refrigerator stuffed with sodas, juices, waters, fresh fruit and vegetables. Open shelving on the walls gives the kitchen a giant pantry feel with each floor-to-ceiling shelf containing unending rows of almost every snack you can imagine.
In the center, an island which stores all the various plates, silverware, chopsticks, napkins and a food buffet. This morning’s breakfast food selection includes various fruit salad selections, bagels, pastries, a cheese plate and a warming plate with eggs and bacon. I’m awestruck. “Is this the spread every day?”
“Unfortunately for my waistline, yes. The guys can eat like crazy, though most of us girls here don’t have the metabolism to eat like this. I usually bring in my own coffee so I’m not tempted. Lunch is catered every day and arrives about noon. There is a menu on the fridge so you’ll know if you want to bring something in from home. And for those working late, there’s a light dinner brought in most evenings.” She reminds me of Vanna White as she points out the various amenities. “In the fridge is an assortment of sodas and beers. If we don’t carry your favorite, let me know and we’ll stock it.”
I fill my cup with pure black coffee and an artificial sweetener and follow Annabelle to meet with Sara. She’s the corporate counsel and currently runs all the operations at SHN. I’ll be taking all the human resources and talent pieces off her plate. She’s my peer and the only other female partner. During the purchase, we bonded, part of the reason I chose to sell to SHN.
Sara stands and approaches me with open arms. “Emerson! I’m so thrilled you’re here.” We make polite chitchat, and then she hands me a calendar for the day. It tells me I’ll spend the morning with her going through paperwork, have lunch with the partners, and then I’ll be with one of the partners in the afternoon—Dillon Healy.
Before I know it, the morning is gone, even though the real part of my onboarding paperwork was taken care of last week in the lawyer's offices when I sold my company for three times its value. All ten of my employees are transitioning this morning, too, but they all work remotely. Honestly, my business was small potatoes compared to the deals SHN works, but it was a lot to me.
Over the past five years, I grew Clear Professional Services into a dominating provider of all the back-office things small- and mid-sized businesses need, but may not want to do here in Silicon Valley and beyond. We handle billing and accounts receivable, accounts payable, manage the HR function which includes recruitment, and our goal is to never say no when a client asks for something for their business.
Sara and I walk over to lunch to stretch our legs and enjoy a bit of the rare sunshine. “I love this area, but I sure do miss the sunshine,” Sara admits.
“It’s getting hot out in the desert. It’ll bring the fog in, and summer will be gone. Tell me how things are going with your new boyfriend… Henry, was it?”
Blushing, she shares, “He’s great. It’s still new, but it was unprofessional of me to tell you about him. Please don’t let the guys know I said anything. They are very particular that our personal lives should remain personal.”
“I understand. It will be our secret. But tell me about Henry. I have no social life, so I need to live vicariously through you.”
“He’s positively wonderful. I’ve never been able to be so free and open with anyone like I am with him. He works for a start-up down in Palo Alto.”
“Sara! I don’t want his stats, I want his stats! Is he a good kisser? Does he make you feel all gooey inside?”
Sara blushes a deep shade of pink, which turns even her ears. “He does. He has this way of making me feel good about myself but also seems to want to hear my opinions and ideas. We’re moving fast, but we both agree this is pretty great.”
I squeeze her arm. “That sounds amazing. I’ll admit, I am a bit jealous, but it gives me some hope that there are still some decent guys out there.”
We arrive at the trendy waterfront restaurant and are shown to a private room, where the three other partners are waiting for us.
CHAPTER TWO
Dillon
Sara and Emerson walk into the meeting, the girls both look amazing. I played with Sara before she joined the firm, but she wanted more from me than that. It had been a mistake, and thankfully only Mason, one of the other partners, figured it out; however, we almost lost Sara and her partnership because of it, which would have been devastating. Though looking at the two women now, I can’t help but briefly fantasize about the three of us together.
Emerson is beautiful. She’s tall and also wears a significant heel, which puts her over six feet. I love her blonde hair cascading down her back below her shoulder blades. The slit in her black pencil skirt is demure enough, work appropriate, but at the same
