“This isn’t what the valuation for my company is, this is way more than necessary,” she said in a strained voice. Sasha looked nervously from her to me. He wanted her to take it right then and there before I changed my mind, but Beverley wasn’t going to keep quiet about it.
“I know,” I said and stapled my fingers. “But that’s what I think your company and hard work is worth to me,” I continued and she took in a sharp breath.
“I wasn’t looking for any favors, Grant. I’m just in the market for a buyer, that’s it,” she said and our gazes locked. Her green eyes were narrowed and darkened, she had a scorn on her face and I wished that she would just relax. But I’d never known Beverley to just relax.
“I’m not doing you a favor, Beverley. This is purely business. I can save the programs you’ve written and make a lot of money from them. This is for my gain,” I said and she looked at Sasha.
“I need to think about it,” she said abruptly.
“Bev, really, there’s nothing to think about,” Sasha cut in and I tried to suppress a smile. She whipped around to look at him and I could see that she was glaring. Sasha slunk back in his chair and she turned to me again.
“I need to think about this, Grant,” she said in a formal business-like tone.
“Of course, take your time. I’m in no rush,” I told her with a smile but that didn’t please her either. She slapped the file shut and slid it over to me again, before standing up. Sasha scrambled to his feet beside her, while I remained seated.
“Thank you for your offer, Grant. I’ll keep you in mind, I have to meet with a few other potential buyers and I’ll get back to you,” she said and I continued to smile. I knew there were no other potential buyers. At least none that were offering her this much money. She was just being prideful. She didn’t want to have to resort to taking money from an old enemy.
I nodded my head in silence, as Sasha and she fled away towards the door.
“Beverley, do you mind we have a quick word?” I said and then looked at Sasha, and said “alone” politely.
“I’ll get on back to the office, Bev. It was nice to meet you Mr. Jennings…Grant,” Sasha said before opening the door and disappearing.
Beverley remained standing where she was, with a slightly surprised look on her face. She didn’t look like she wanted to be there alone with me. I stood up and closed the gap between us, and placed my hands on her arms.
“It’s nice seeing you after so long, Beverley,” I said, looking her straight in her eyes and she looked like she was ready to slap my face.
Chapter 5
Beverley
Grant’s hands on my arms felt like I was being burnt. An electric shock ran down my spine and after a few moments, I jerked myself away from him.
“I don’t understand what’s so nice about all this. It isn’t nice for me,” I snapped at him and Grant’s eyes widened. The lingering smile remained on his face, and I couldn’t help but admire the chiseled features of his face.
“Fair enough. The circumstances are shitty. I agree. And I wish I didn’t have to do this,” he said and pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
I couldn’t understand why he was being so nice to me. But then again, Grant had always been nice to me, even in college. And to me that was even more annoying. It was like he was trying to be charitable to a lost puppy.
“Well, here we are and you’ve made an offer to buy my company,” I said and clenched my jaw. Grant was watching me keenly. He hadn’t looked away once and I was now beginning to blush under his gaze.
“Beverley, my advice is that you accept my offer. I’m not doing you a favor, like you think. I want to keep your company afloat,” he said and I widened my eyes at him.
“You want to keep my company afloat? How?” I said, and realized that my voice was raised.
“By simply taking your company under my wing. I want you to continue heading your team, I want you to continue doing the good work you started. I know you just need more time,” he said in a quiet voice.
“You mean, you want me to come work for you?” I said, placing my hand on my heart from the shock.
“If you put it that way, then yes, but basically I want to give you the freedom to keep doing what you’re doing. There is a brilliant new product waiting to hit the market and I don’t want company financials to get in the way,” he said.
I shook my head.
“I don’t want to work for anyone, least of all you,” I said and Grant licked his lips.
“I understand that it’ll feel strange, but trust me, nothing has to change. You can keep your office and keep going to work. You’ll have all the independence that you need,” he added and I rolled my eyes.
“Other than that, I have to still answer to you,” I said. I didn’t want to look at him anymore. What he was proposing was a literal buy off. Working for him would give me no freedom!