Hard & Hungry Boss Box Set by Luke Steel

Author:Luke Steel [Steel, Luke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-07-23T16:00:00+00:00

2

Nate

SocialTech’s downtown office building looks like I expected: coffee bar downstairs, skinny guys wearing plaid shirts and tight pants, reclaimed wood and dim lighting. I feel like a shark in a minnow tank.

In the elevator, I mentally review our bid and skim through my negotiation points. Our people have been in touch, but this is the first face-to-face. They’ll want a higher offer, but they’ve got no leverage, and I know this CEO—Emma Vance—wants bigger things. I could practically smell it in the dossier Marge prepared. Stanford grad, top of her class in computer science, two master’s degrees, first job at a major software firm, couple of feel-good pro bono projects, and board member at a local charity. No photos, so she seems to like a low profile. I respect that; I’m the same way. We reached out when rumors floated about her seeking capital for another startup, and they agreed to meet. My gut says she gets bored easily and wants to move on. I can write the script on this deal.

A young woman with jet black hair, heavy bangs, and a stud in her upper lip pounces when I walk in. She appears to be a big fan of eyeliner.

“Ms. Vance will be with you shortly. I’m her assistant, Stephanie. Can I get you a cup of coffee?”

“Yes, thank you. I take it black.”

On the way to the conference room, I glimpse a large basket in the break room.

“Ah, I see the basket arrived.”

“That was you? Excellent. We love you already. We normally use beans from the artisan roaster downstairs, but we made coffee this morning with the El Diablo blend from the basket. It’s not bad.”

“It’s a Seattle brand. Not as local as downstairs, but you don’t have to feel bad about it.” I wink. Screw “not bad.” It’s amazing and she knows it. I love that Marge put my favorite coffee in. She’s an evil genius.

SocialTech received the offer electronically for review, but I’ve got the backup packets with the latest projections from my business forecasting division. I’ve got the numbers on my side. I’ll get what I want here.

I’m reclining with my coffee near a large window framing the gray sky when a shadow passes by the hall window and pauses. The oversized blinds are turned so they can see in, but I can only see bodies blocking light through the cracks. Another shadow joins the first, and then dips below the window like the person dropped something.

I’m almost ready for another cup by the time the door opens. A tall, elegant woman with elaborate braids, maybe in her early forties, steps inside. She extends a manicured hand, and I assess her as we shake. Wide-legged pantsuit, single strand of light pink pearls. Shrewd, conservative, reasonable.

“Mr. Stone, I’m Christine Brown, Chief Financial Officer here at SocialTech. Welcome to Seattle.”

I fake a smile and mutter pleasantries, waiting for the CEO to show. Making me wait is a bullshit, amateur power play.

The door opens again on a

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