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CHAPTER1
TODD
There are different kinds of dances in this world. Different rhythms in life that start in one place and take you somewhere else entirely. For me, my own dancing has led me right up to this crucial, most precious moment, where I’m finally able to retire before I turn thirty-five. Had someone told younger me that I’d actually pull this off, I would’ve laughed in their faces.
Yet here I am, sitting across the desk from John Douglas-Mackie, one of the richest men on the San Diego tech scene. The man has the strongest work and family values I’ve ever seen, and my company is fortunate to have his attention. In his early forties, John carries himself with a laidback kind of elegance I’d like to someday be able to emulate. I’m still tense and wiry, always on alert, always watching my back—probably because I’ve been thriving on account of a pretty big lie in recent years, and John here can never know the truth.
“I have to say, I admire how much you’ve been able to accomplish in such a short time,” he says, leaning back into his chair.
The suit he’s wearing is tailored to tightly fit his broad shoulders and long arms, layers of charcoal gray over an off-white shirt and dark red tie advising me that he has impeccable taste in fashion, not just in startup acquisitions. Everything about John tells me that he’s from the big leagues. I’m from up there, too, even though I’ve spent most of my life swimming at a different depth and punching other kinds of sharks in the snout. John is the upper layer of society, and I want him to buy my business.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
Piper sits in the chair to my left, taking notes while her sharp gaze bounces between us. The meeting room feels denser than usual, despite the airy feel of the half-opened floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Mission Bay. She’s wearing her finest pencil-skirt-and-crisp-white-shirt combination, the fabric of her shirt only translucent enough to hint at the layer of white lace that rests underneath. I’m not sure she knows who it is we’re talking to here, because John has barely acknowledged her presence the whole time. I told her it wouldn’t work, that he is loyal to his wife to a fault. Guess I was right. Again.
“So, tell me again,” John says, briefly gazing at his coffee cup. Piper had a light breakfast service set up for this meeting. “What made you decide to sell HeartMatch in the first place, Todd? It’s one of the biggest dating apps on the market. You’re a global success story… I’m honestly baffled.”
“I think I’ve done about as much as I could have with this business model,” I reply. “And to be honest, John, I would rather retire and pursue other passions instead. I want to travel the world, see beautiful places, immerse myself in new cultures, eat weird foods… You know, live life to the fullest because it’s not about the grind anymore, and I could actually afford it with a good buyer for HeartMatch.”
He nods slowly, a smile testing the corner of his mouth. “What about your wife and child? You had a son, you said?”
“Yeah.”
I’d almost forgotten about this. The little white lie that has turned into a big fat lie that I’ve been keeping up with for years since we launched the frickin’ company. My biggest mistake, and the one thing I’ve not been able to shake nor repair. If anybody finds out, I’m toast.
Piper gives me a worried glance, but I exhale sharply and look away, choosing to focus on John instead. He’s not the only one commanding this space in a sharp suit. It’s my meeting room he’s in right now. My turf.
“What about them, then? Will they be traveling with you?” John asks.
“Of course. We’re a family, John. A unit,” I chuckle softly.
“Good. Kids need to be exposed to different parts of the world from a very young age so they can learn to be humble and tolerant, you know? Our own culture may be diverse… a melting pot of other cultures, really, but we’re all still American, and let’s face it, Todd, we don’t get out nearly as much as we should.”
I nod patiently. “I wholeheartedly agree. In fact, I was just talking to my wife about this the other day. She’s looking forward to packing us up and planning the first of many road trips together. I think we’re going to begin with a tour of the country. I was wondering what it would be like to do all fifty states, somehow.”
“Oh, that would be quite the mission. But you can do that over time, while you’re living domestic. You should head for the foreign lands in your younger years, trust me. Thailand’s got a different vibe in your thirties.” John laughs lightly. “I’d advise leaving the kid at home with family for that particular trip, though. There are things you’re definitely going to want to try as a couple, if you know what I mean.”
We’re both laughing at this point, and I’m glad the ice is thawing between us. We seem to have similar minds, though his years ahead on this earth may prove to be quite valuable to me in the long term. I take a long sip of my coffee, paying close attention to every subtle shift in his body language. Someday, if I’m lucky, he’ll be sitting in this pristine meeting room as the company’s new CEO. His hands will rest on the glass conference table, and he will lean back into the black leather chair as he dominates every single meeting he attends. Part of me suffers at the thought of bidding my own company farewell, but there is so much more I need to get out of this life.
I’ve spent the past twelve years working day and night precisely for this privilege. I’ve earned it.
“We were also discussing Europe at some point,” I tell John. “Italy, Greece, France, Spain… You know, the whole Mediterranean experience.”
“That sounds great,” he says, then points at the leather-bound folder resting on the table before him. “This is my final offer, by the way, based on what we discussed over the phone last week. I’ve had my lawyers refine the deal to include your more recent parameters.”
“You’re too kind, John. Thank you for understanding.”
Piper takes the folder and passes it to me. I flip it open and carefully go through the figures and the legal text. If there is one thing I’ve learned over my years in the tech business, it’s that a lot can slip through the cracks with the help of a good lawyer. John may have one of the best firms in the city representing him, but I’ve got their sturdiest and most capable competition representingme. So far, everything I’m reading sounds like the perfect offer. Wait—I may have jumped the gun here.
“John, forgive me, there’s one passage here that’s got me wondering,” I say.
“Which one?” he asks.
“This clause about my personal history or deeds infringing upon your personal beliefs. What does any of this have to do with you acquiring HeartMatch, specifically?”
“Oh, that’s easy. Do you remember that whole scandal with Harvey Matheson from last year? It blew up the whole buying process of NewsLock, among other things, purely because his personal life ruined everything. If the CEO of a company that is currently in the sale process does something that damages the image of said company before the public eye, then it is considered that the new owner of said company will also incur some damages. I cannot have that, therefore I’m making sure that particular condition goes into the contract.”
“So, if I mess up at any time before we sign off on the sale, you reserve the right to withdraw your offer without any financial obligation.”
