Page 40 of Kayla's List
“This deal is as good as done. Pearson smells fear. Cut that shit out. We’ve done the work: the numbers are where they need to be. Pearson will make even more money that he doesn’t need. We got this,” Brady scolds me, but I need his words.
I nod my head again. Knowing that what he’s saying is true. We’ve worked our asses off, and if Pearson doesn’t take the deal, somebody else surely will.Maniacal Sportshas increased in users since right afterTechCon.
Bethany leaked to a technology blog that Pearson Grant was seen in a meeting with us, and that’s all it took to get interested in our company. I’m glad that Pearson wasn’t upset about the coverage, even though the deal wasn’t set in stone. Bethany took a risk and it paid off, but I made sure to tell her to run her plans on “leaking” anything else by Brady and me first.
Pearson’s assistant, Kelsey comes out into the lobby with a bright smile on her face, and I relax. Kelsey is an extension of Pearson, and if she’s smiling, that means everything is good so far.
“Hello, everyone. Glad you all can make it. Follow me, please,” Kelsey welcomes and we all nod and greet her in return.
Brady, along with myself and two of our lawyers, Mr. Billings and Mrs. Carey, follow behind Kelsey into a spacious conference room surrounded by glass walls. I give myself a pep talk and get ready for negotiations. I’m a businessman, and I know my shit, and so does Brady. Pearson would be crazy not to invest in our company. I rethink my statement. Pearson is crazy, but not when it comes to business.
“Gentlemen and ladies.” Pearson’s green eyes twinkle when he greets us even though his face is a stone mask. The VP and Tobin’s cousin, Keifer, is also here, along with two older gentlemen who I know are their lawyers. This deal has been in the making for two long months, and hopefully, we can sign the papers today.
After two hours of negotiations, we reach a deal.Media Tech Innovation,Pearson’s company, will be the parent company of any newly acquired technology from A&M. It will also be the third highest shareholder inManiacal Sports,beating out all of our other investors.
That means that although Brady and I still own the controlling shares, we can fall under the umbrella of Pearson’s company. We can now operate in Europe and Canada without jumping through hoops. It also opens the doors to doing business in a multitude of other countries as well. This deal is potentially worth billions of dollars. And I couldn’t be prouder!
“Now that all of that bullshit is out the way…” Pearson starts, but Keifer clears his throat with a stern look on his face. “Whatever, man. Now, that business is done. We will have an official announcement and press conference set-up for next week. No leaks.” Pearson smirks at us, and Brady and I chuckle.
“No leaks,” Mr. Billings, our lawyer, promises.
The last time was a close call, and although we commend Bethany for doing a great job most of the time, leaking a story like that to the press was a big no-no. Bethany has been extremely focused on her job since we came back from Vegas, not that she wasn’t before, but something with her is different.
I stop thinking about our overeager publicist, so I can redirect my attention to signing the necessary documents for this merger. This business deal is so impactful that we no longer need the investors that were giving us the runaround before we went to Vegas. Now, they are clamoring to do business with A&M.
Once we have all the documents signed, our belongings are packed up, and I breathe the first sigh of relief since my day started. Nothing went wrong. The numbers I ran were exactly what they were supposed to be, and Pearson, Keifer, and their company lawyers agreed to everything. I can finally relax. But for some reason, the ominous feeling is still with me.
* * *
KAYLA
My mood is liftedwhen I receive a phone call at work from Anderson telling me the deal he’s been working on for months with Pearson Grant has gone through. I couldn’t be prouder of him. Anderson and Brady worked so hard to get the deal withMedia Tech Innovation.Now,TechX-us A&Mwill be a part of the world’s leading technology conglomerate. Shoot, I might ask them for a job the way they will be rolling in dough.
After the call, I get back to my tedious work. I’m installing new software on our company network when I hear a knock on my door. I sigh because even though I’m busy, the program practically runs itself, so I don’t have a valid excuse for not answering the door. I just hope it’s not Ken. He’s been a pain in the ass since I told him off a few months ago.
“Come in,” I respond to the knock without getting out of my chair.
The door opens slowly, and in walks Warren. I can’t help the frown that covers my face. For all the calling and texting he did, he never tried to talk to me at work. He at least respected those boundaries, but it looks like since I blocked his number, that respect has come to a crashing halt.
“Hi, Kay. We need to talk.” Warren’s voice is stern like he’s somebody’s daddy. He sure the heck isn’t mine, so I sit back in my chair and arch my eyebrow.
“So, you’re not going to say anything? You’re just going to sit there looking smug?” he questions, putting bass in his voice that I really don’t appreciate.
“There’s nothing that needs to be said. I’m busy. Please leave,” I state calmly. I will not be the angry black woman in this situation. I am a professional and I will not let my personal life invade my work space.
Warren sighs when he doesn’t get the reaction he was expecting. I know he wanted me to either get loud or crumple under his glare. I’m not the pushover that I was, but I’m certainly not combative either.
“You look… pretty.” The words are said almost begrudgingly.
I want to laugh as Warren looks at me for the first time in months. Hell, he probably never looked at me like he is now when we were together.
“Thanks. Again, I’m busy. If you need technology help, let Ken or Wendy know, and the team will be able to assist you,” I say, reiterating that I am not about to talk to him.
“Kayla… please, I just need you…”
I hold up my hand and shake my head. I refuse to negotiate with this man. There’s nothing left for us to say. I get up from my chair. Warren’s eyes nearly bug out of his head when he sees my clothes. My black pencil skirt and fitted blue blouse hug my body in all the right places. My outfit is professional yet sexy. The new black stilettos I’m wearing accent my shapely legs and makes me taller. I never realized how much shoes could change the way you look.
I pretend to ignore the lecherous way Warren is staring as I open up my office door. I give him a pointed look without verbalizing what I want him to do. I’ve already told him more than once to leave. It doesn’t need to be said again.