AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I actually jumped up and pumped my fist, I was so excited. I poked my head into the bedroom where Alexa and Leif were sleeping and realized I didn’t want to wake either of them, so instead, I went downstairs, slipped on my running shoes, and spoke with the guard who was in charge of security for the property. I let him know I was going for a run, and he sent one of the guards to watch me. A car would drive along the road bordering the beach while I ran the beach itself. That way, they could keep an eye on me. In case someone with bad intent was lurking around the area.
I didn’t think anyone was but had grown accustomed to the extra security.
After warming up, I ran along the beach to work off some of the excess energy I felt.
It was super — the response Hanson had to my refusal to accept the deal. He understood that I wanted to keep control of Astra and was willing to cooperate instead of swallow Astra up.
That suggested to me that he was actually committed to the project and not just out to make more acquisitions.
I couldn’t be happier. He was the whale in the industry. If he created the new entity, it would attract even more investors and partners.
For the next fifteen minutes, I ran along the beach, enjoying the late afternoon sunlight, and working off some of the excess energy I felt from the news. When I arrived back at the beach house, I stood outside and had a shower at the outside shower stall, washing the sweat off and then I plopped down on a reclining chair on the patio, a glass of cold soda in hand, waiting for Alexa and Leif to wake up and join me.
Alexa joined me a few moments later. When I saw her, I stood up and went to her, taking her into my arms.
“I love you,” I said and kissed her warmly.
She laughed and ran her fingers through my hair, smiling up at me. “What’s got into you? An unprovoked I love you? What happened?”
“John called. Hanson wants the deal. I guess he was just testing me and Adam to see if we could be bought. When he learned neither Adam nor I could be, he agreed.”
“Oh, my God, Luke,” she said and smiled brightly. “That’s amazing. What’s in the deal?”
She sat beside me on the patio, and I gave her the details as John had related them.
“I’m going in tomorrow to meet with John and go over the papers, but I think we’ll probably sign them,” I said. “A consortium of private companies is exactly what I want. If we were to go public, or become part of Hanson, we would be required by law to put profit first, and not make the kind of investments we need in technological development. Private companies like Astra, Campbell, Seneca and Hanson can decide to forgo profit for a few years in return for some technological breakthroughs. If we were public, we’d have to make profit margins or lose investments. It’s the law. I want us to stay private. I want this to be a joint venture of companies who are dedicated to developing the tech needed to mine the asteroid belt. It’s going to take a lot of money and a lot of initial research and development. It’s going to take a decade, but once it’s done, the profits will be out of this world. So to speak,” I said, and noticed Alexa was smiling at me indulgently.
“I’m so happy for you,” she said and leaned across to me and kissed me.
Of course, it was at that moment, just when I was wondering if I could sneak her into our bedroom for a quick session of lovemaking that the little man made his presence known.
He squeaked on the baby monitor and Alexa laughed.
“I guess our plans will have to wait. Duty calls…”
“They can wait for Saturday night when we stay in the city. Can you call your parents and see if they’re available to stay Saturday night so we can go into town? Hanson wants us all to meet and celebrate signing the papers.”
“Of course,” Alexa said. “I know they were hoping to come out this weekend. It will be perfect.”
We kissed again.
“I’ll go get Leif,” I said and stood up. “Maybe you could make us some iced tea.”
“Will do,” Alexa said and followed me into the kitchen. I went upstairs to get Leif, opening the door to his room, which was dim, the constellations circling on the ceiling above him.
“There you are,” I said and went to his crib. He smiled up at me and at that moment, I felt like life was absolutely perfect. I had a beautiful wife whom I loved with all my heart, a wonderful baby boy, who smiled up at me like a cherub, and was going to sign an amazing deal with one of the biggest whale investors in the aerospace industry.
I couldn’t be happier.
* * *
