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“That wouldn't have made much of a difference, Sam, and without them you wouldn't have the temperature control you need. Our whole selling proposition is based on quality, so we honestly didn't have a choice.”
I closed the door. “The previous guys they sent never told us they were only interested in buying the whole company.”
Samantha's brow creased. “What are we talking about?”
“It was the strangest meeting I've ever had,” I told her. “They started by telling us our valuation was too low.”
She perked up at that. “Too low?”
“Yeah. He suggested a company value of one-hundred twenty million. But only if we sell out to them and become a subsidiary.”
Samantha slumped in her chair. “Fat chance with that.” Her attitude hadn’t changed. “Where does this leave us?”
I sat. “Between the proverbial rock and a hard place. We are going to have a cash crunch, and although this won't put us out of business, it means we won’t be able to grow for squat next quarter. As far as raising money goes, that's almost as bad as being out of business. With a flattening growth curve, it can be very hard to attract additional investors in this environment.”
My phone buzzed. I’d put it on silent for the meeting. Checking it, I found a text.
VIV: Can’t make it tomorrow night - needs to be tonight
Naturally she couldn’t wait to debrief me about last night, and if I didn’t agree to meet her, she’d probably be pounding on my door later.
ME: OK
* * *
Liam
A knockat the door woke me. “Yeah?” I answered.
Josh walked in. “Napping?” he asked.
I checked my watch. It had been over an hour since I resolved the Mirabella situation.
“I've got it set up,” he said.
“You’ve got what set up?” I asked. He wasn’t making sense.
“The meeting with Schmulian, of course,” he said.
I still didn't understand what he was talking about. “What meeting with Schmulian?”
“We already talked about this. We have to get busy with Schmulian if the Tiffany’s deal is a no-go.”
The conversation finally came back to me.
“It'll be fine,” he said. “He's looking forward to meeting your new girl.”
“What new girl?”
“Melinda, of course. I didn't tell him her name. You can introduce her when you get there. I think if you go schmooze him enough with Melinda, you may be able to convince him you've turned over a new leaf——his kind of leaf.”
“That's not going to work,” I said.
“Why not?”
“Melinda's left town for a while, and she's not available.”
“I thought you two just took the Sanders to the opera Saturday night.”
