AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Zane turns to gesture to the people behind him. “Lucian Wilton, let me introduce you to Henry Yamata, Paul Bridge, and Olivia Adams, the heads of my programming division.”
Henry is a slight, Asian man with a shaved head and black mustache barely standing five and a half feet tall. Paul, in contrast, is as tall as my height of six feet two inches with brown hair falling to just above his eyebrows. I shake their hands and then turn my attention to Olivia. She’s beautiful, with long black hair that’s down to her waist, flawless skin, full red lips, and eyes as green as the moss around my cabin. She breathtaking, and I immediately feel guilty as I take in her curvy body.
“Please to meet you, Miss Adams,” I greet, trying to cover up my staring.
“Call me, Olivia, please.”
I smile at her as I shake her soft hand, but the spell is broken when Zane tells us to sit.
“I wanted everyone to meet since Lucian is going to be joining us starting next week. He’ll be a shared owner as soon as the contract is signed. Later, I want to familiarize him with the company and our projects. I hope you three will assist in welcoming and introducing him to your departments. But for now, I have some things to discuss with him, so if you’ll excuse us, we’ll let you get back to work. Thank you.”
They file out, and I can’t help but stare after Olivia as she leaves. I’m lost in thought when Zane addresses me.
“Lucian, you look like shit.”
His bluntness makes me frown. “Nice that my best friend thinks that. Thanks for being honest.”
“What the fuck have you been doing in the backwoods?”
“I wasn’t in the backwoods. Just let it go, Zane. I went over the contract with my attorney today. It all looks doable except for a few small tweaks. Your legal department should have the requested changes soon, and if they approve, I’ll sign immediately. I should also let you know that my attorney suggested I ask for a larger share.”
Zane slightly narrows his eyes. “Honestly, Luc, I can’t give you any more than twenty.”
“Lucky for you that I didn’t agree with him. I only want twenty.”
He sits back with a sigh. “I’m glad to hear that. Maybe in the future, we can discuss a bigger share, but right now, I need to maintain mine in case I need to bring in more investors.”
“Zane, if you need more funds, come to me first.”
“I didn’t realize you were so solvent.”
“Cassie had more than I ever knew. She also signed up for life insurance when we married. It makes me wonder if I knew her as well as I thought.”
“I’m sorry about Cassie. I know these past months have been total crap for you.”
“I think I did enough wallowing, which is why I accepted your offer. I need to get back to life, just not in the place I shared with Cassie. I haven’t even told my father yet. He’s waiting me out—I know that much. I just need to speak to him about moving into one of the properties we own here in Manhattan.”
“How do you think that will go?”
“Not well. He’s been growing anxious about my absence and has been for some time. He wants me back, but I can’t go. I can’t be where she was.”
“What were your plans before I made you the offer?”
“I had none. I don’t need to work, and I would probably have stayed where I was for at least a few more months.”
“And that was?” he prompts.
“Nice try Zane, but I prefer to keep it my secret. It was peaceful.”
He nods in understanding. “So why now?”
“I believe in your project. And I was always curious about the games you created.”
“I have an office for you if you want it, and we can talk about salary afterward.”
“I don’t need a salary. I only prefer to share in the profits.”
“For a financial guy, I’m surprised at your attitude.”
