AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My heart nearly stopped. He sounded dead serious.
“Everythin’ will be tested as much as it can before anyone takes it out on the road,” Tav said, nonchalant. Jesus, maybe he should be running this company.
I cleared my throat.
Eric’s jaw was tense.
“I won’t do anything to hurt anyone. We didn’t cut corners at the old business, and we won’t here,” I said, holding out my hand.
Mr. Arthur tilted his head, then shook with me. “What happened there? I heard rumors that there was some sort of drama.” He waved his hand around. “That won’t happen with the company I’m investing in, will it?” He scowled.
“Uh, unless you somehow magically hire my mother to take it over and fire me because she doesn’t like my boyfriend, then no.” I rolled my eyes. I hadn’t talked about what had happened with any of the other people I was investing with, but I got the idea that Mr. Arthur wouldn’t be satisfied by any of the gossip he’d heard swirling around. “I didn’t fuck anything up there. My mom was able to edge me out because of her contacts and did it out of spite.”
His eyebrows shot up. “So, this is like, a revenge company?” He grinned. “Revenge investment. I like the ring of it.”
“I guess you could say that.”
He snorted, then chuckled and scratched his jaw while eyeing up the shiny motorcycles outside the clubhouse. I was surprised when he took a step closer—because he was taller than I’d first realized—and only had to tilt his chin a little to look me in the eye. “You should name this line of tires Vengeance.”
“Hey, that’s not bad, actually.” Eric grinned at me. At this point, what had happened with the company was old news to him, and he’d been one of the few people who had been solidly on my side when I’d said I was going to build another one.
I shrugged and my heart ached. I wasn’t ready to joke about my family falling apart yet. “I like it. Sure! So, you’re going to want to be directly involved?” My stomach twisted into knots.
He studied me and slipped his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans. “This is a bike club. It’s really cool to be involved in something that might directly affect bike safety. I like the idea of it.” He sighed as the guy in the kilt—I was guessing his name was Tim—came wandering out to stand staring at the bike.
Tim glided a hand over the bike seat and cocked an eyebrow at Mr. Arthur.
Mr. Arthur nodded at him, and they seemed to be having some sort of deep, silent communication that only happened with years of knowing a person.
“Okay, we’re going to invest with you,” Tim said, and I was surprised by his smooth business tone, given his black makeup and the nipple piercings and everything. “I’ll come visit you at your office on Monday because, unlike Aaron, I do keep business hours when necessary. We’ll discuss how much we’re willing to invest with your company, and we’ll hash out the details. You’ll be working with me with the understanding that my king has the final say.” He glanced at Mr. Arthur. “I’m more business oriented. But be warned, I’m not the nicer one.” He flashed me a sharp-toothed grin. “If you lie to us, I’ll be even less inclined than King to give you a second chance.”
I shrugged. “I’m not lying about anything. I just need investors for a solid business, and I want to make us all a good bit of money. I can’t guarantee that’ll happen, but I’ll do my damnedest to try.”
Mr. Arthur nodded and clapped his hands. “All right. So, like what? Five million? What are you looking for?”
I almost swallowed my tongue. “You’re willing to buy-in for five million?”
He stared up at the sky for a few seconds while Tim intently watched his face. “I could go up to ten.”
Tim nodded but still stared at Mr. Arthur. I would need to get a read on him if I would be dealing with him, but it was difficult to tell what type of person he was—other than loyal to the club president.
Then, what Mr. Arthur had said blasted through my brain, and my jaw dropped. They really did need a place to put their money. I got myself together and walked closer to him. “This won’t bite me on the ass, will it?” I whispered.
Mr. Arthur slung his arm across my shoulders. He had to stretch, but he managed to do it. “Do you care? Or do you want to get back at the person who fucked you over?” He barked out a laugh.
Tim eyed me and stepped closer until I backed away from Mr. Arthur, and then he seemed to relax, but I got the impression he wouldn’t mind hurting me if he thought it was necessary.
“I don’t want revenge. I just want the pride of knowing that I’m doing good work.” I puffed out my cheeks, and Mr. Arthur shook his head.
“Not even a little revenge?” Tim asked, pouting his lips at me.
“Okay, a little,” I said with a sigh, and both men laughed.
“Come back inside and have drinks,” Mr. Arthur said. “Business is over. Stay and get your party on.”
“Oh, I have to—” Eric pointed toward his car, but Mr. Arthur grabbed his arm and marched him toward the front door of the clubhouse.
“I can’t do business with someone I can’t have a fuckin’ drink with. Come on!”
