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After there had been some silence between us, I cleared my throat. Beverley shot her eyes up to look at me, and I saw the rage in them. Just as I’d predicted, she was mad at me for what was happening to her.
“I wish I didn’t have to discuss business when we haven’t seen each other for so long,” I said, directing my attention only to her. Just as I remembered her doing in college, she rolled her eyes at me.
“Just get on with it, Grant. We don’t need to exchange any more pleasantries,” she said and I couldn’t help but smile at her. Even after all these years, Beverley had no time for formalities or corporate etiquette. She wasn’t a sellout like me. Sasha looked slightly embarrassed, but I didn’t care. He didn’t know our history.
“How about I give you a number and let our lawyers take care of the rest? I don’t want this to be a negotiation,” I told her, resting my arms on the table. Beverley had hers folded on her lap.
“Sure, whatever you prefer,” she said calmy and I reached for the file beside me. I flipped it open and slid it in her direction. Sasha was the one who caught it and pulled it closer to them.
I could see his eyes widening as he read the number. Beverley had her head over the page but she hadn’t made a single move.
“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 th
e 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.
