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She is not a woman who believes mixing business with pleasure is always a bad idea. Though I’m sure in my case she would argue about it.
CeCe can separate the two. I’m still learning.
“When you think about it, it’s less than nothing because I actually do have some debt associated with the project, and you took that on, too,” Heath points out.
I take a sip of the wine. I need it. I also should have done a deep dive, but we have Harper between us, and that’s very likely why we ignored everything we knew about business. “That’s why we need cash.”
This place is swimming in it. I recognize three billionaires within twenty feet of me.
“Yeah, I get that. The question is why do you need me? Like I said, I did some research after you left. I knew your name and that you’ve been pretty high up in the tech world, but I guess I didn’t know how high up. You’ve made some big deals. You could have stayed in Silicon Valley. Why come back here?”
“It’s always easiest to lick one’s wounds in the comfort of one’s home,” I reply, wishing we would get off this subject. I haven’t seen CeCe yet, but she will make her grand entrance at some point. I’d heard the whispers, though, as we’d walked in. The investors here are definitely surprised to see me.
“I guess I can understand that, though I never left,” he admits, snagging what looks like a gougère. “After the game debuted, I was called one of the hottest up-and-coming game designers. And then I was cold.”
“You could have gotten on at one of the big game companies.” They were always looking for good coders, and his experience would have made him very attractive even if the game hadn’t lit the world on fire.
“I’ve always wanted to work for myself,” he murmurs as he looks around the place. “I’m afraid I’m lost here. Should I know these people?”
Oh, he should, and the fact that he doesn’t know several of them on sight makes me think he isn’t truly interested in going big. That’s okay. I prefer it that way. He can handle the creative parts while I deal with the big picture. And the big picture is cash flow. There were rivers of cash in this room.
I get close because despite how big CeCe’s space is, there’s always someone listening. “See the guy in the navy suit over there?”
“Yeah,” Heath says, and he doesn’t directly stare at the man proving he’s got some discretion.
“That’s Ishaan Lagarhi. They call him the Marauder, a name he wears with relish,” I explain. “He is a vegetarian in his private life, but he eats people for lunch in the professional one.”
“I know the name,” Heath replies. “I didn’t know he invested. I kind of think we should avoid partnering with anyone called the Marauder. I don’t particularly want to be marauded, if that’s a word.”
I understand the sentiment. “He’s not here for the reason the others are. He’s a shark scenting the water. He’s looking for any hint that there’s a company he can gobble up and sell for parts. And I’ve heard he does like his whiskey, and CeCe promised a tasting this evening.”
“That’s good to know.” Heath suddenly has a pastry-wrapped something in his hand. I have zero idea how he manages to catch every server who walks through. “How about that guy? He looks interesting.”
I glance over and see he’s talking about an Asian man wearing comfy sneakers and a linen suit that looks casual, but I would bet the price tag is tons of tacos. He’s got a heavy gold chain and a ready smile that seems to light up the room around him. “Kenzo Ito. He recently inherited his father’s megacorporation. Multigenerational wealth, but they deal mostly with real estate and shipping in Southeast Asia. Kenzo’s always wanted to get into the high-tech game. He’s a pretty good coder, but what he’s excellent at is really getting behind a project. I’ll ask CeCe if he’s looking to invest. What was it?”
Heath finishes chewing and seems to understand what I’m talking about. “Mini Beef Wellington. It was excellent. You’re right. Whoever she’s got in the kitchen is amazing.”
And yet I can’t seem to find a single server. “Grab me something the next time you see a waiter. And get a couple of those Wellingtons. I bet they travel well.”
Shrimp is not something I’m willing to shove into my bag to eat later when I’m banished from Cinderella’s castle again. But I bet those Wellingtons will hold up well in last year’s Prada bag.
“So that’s what an angel investor looks like.” Heath is glancing over at Kenzo, who honestly seems like he should be in a boy band.
“He’s kind of on the angelic side of angel,” I explain quietly. “If you want to meet the devil, he’s over by the door. What a surprise, he’s talking to Nick.”
