invested.”
“What?”
“No strings.” Grandma met her eyes directly. “No rights to the Board of Directors.”
“You don’t invest in gaming companies. It won’t impress Hudson.” It would, actually. Grandma didn’t invest in companies very often—not even her own children’s companies—and her financial stamp of approval would go a long way toward garnering Hudson’s curiosity, at least, although it wouldn’t necessarily snag his deeper interest. But Venus wasn’t stupid—if Grandma was in a bargaining mood, so was she. She would milk this as far as Grandma would let her.
Grandma’s eyes flattened and her mouth pinched. She regarded Venus a long moment, but Venus didn’t break eye contact, didn’t waver in her gaze.
“Fine.” Grandma turned to the refrigerator and opened it. “I’ll also introduce you some time in the next few months so you can pitch the idea to him.” She set an egg and a plastic container of cantaloupe onto the counter. “I can give you fifteen minutes with him.”
Yes ! “Agreed.”
Grandma straightened with a carton of soymilk. The disgruntled look on her face indicated she regretted not bargaining more.
“And that’s only conditional on if I like Drake’s terms,” Venus continued.
Grandma went back to preparing her breakfast. “I’m sure you’ll find it to be more than acceptable.”
Working for Drake. Venus suppressed a shudder. He was ruthless—she could even say he was more ruthless than Grandma. Venus had never submitted to him and he’d hated her for it. His about-face surprised her and yet didn’t—if he knew Venus was the only one who would get the job done, he’d put aside personal preference and hire her, especially if it was only for a few months.
Plus, maybe he’d changed. She’d heard about his unexpected heart attack last year—he was still young, only about forty—and while he’d recovered well and could have worked for a few more years, he’d retired when he sold the company. The Drake she remembered wouldn’t have given up his high-powered lifestyle to go into early retirement. He thrived on the frantic, busy pace of a startup company. Yet he’d announced it—and this coming out of retirement was for a family member, not for himself, so it wasn’t really getting back in the full swing of things.
So really, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to work for him. She wouldn’t have to see him that much, right? She rarely saw her CEO except at meetings.
“Well, what are you waiting for?”
“Huh?”
Grandma made a shooing motion. “Go get dressed. Go talk to Drake. Put on something nice.”
“What do you mean?” Venus opened innocent eyes. She spread out her arms and looked down at her jeans and T-shirt. “I can’t interview for Chief Technology Officer in this?”
Grandma folded her arms and glared. Really, sometimes Grandma needed to lighten up.
“I will invite you to the bank’s Christmas party if you’ll change into something expensive and feminine before you go to see him.”
Grandma was still bargaining? “Fine.”
Her sudden smile shot a crossbow bolt into Venus’s gut. “Good. None of those manly business suits.”
Oooh, she’d been suckered. That’s what Grandma had been after. “Expensive and feminine.” She eyed her grandmother with ire. “That was low, Grandma.”
The smile widened, as if to say, Be careful if you want to play with the big dogs. “I’ll be happy to buy you something for the Christmas party. It’s more posh than some of the ones you’re used to.”
“I can buy something myself, thanks.” No way would she let Grandma dress her up like a Barbie doll.
“Well, I need to eat breakfast, and you need to go home to change.” Grandma plugged in her egg cooker. “Remember…expensive and feminine.” She eyed Venus with a look as sharp as a ninja star. “Don’t disappoint me.”
EIGHT
B ananaville was a complete circus.
Venus entered the front door to the
“What?”
“No strings.” Grandma met her eyes directly. “No rights to the Board of Directors.”
“You don’t invest in gaming companies. It won’t impress Hudson.” It would, actually. Grandma didn’t invest in companies very often—not even her own children’s companies—and her financial stamp of approval would go a long way toward garnering Hudson’s curiosity, at least, although it wouldn’t necessarily snag his deeper interest. But Venus wasn’t stupid—if Grandma was in a bargaining mood, so was she. She would milk this as far as Grandma would let her.
Grandma’s eyes flattened and her mouth pinched. She regarded Venus a long moment, but Venus didn’t break eye contact, didn’t waver in her gaze.
“Fine.” Grandma turned to the refrigerator and opened it. “I’ll also introduce you some time in the next few months so you can pitch the idea to him.” She set an egg and a plastic container of cantaloupe onto the counter. “I can give you fifteen minutes with him.”
Yes ! “Agreed.”
Grandma straightened with a carton of soymilk. The disgruntled look on her face indicated she regretted not bargaining more.
“And that’s only conditional on if I like Drake’s terms,” Venus continued.
Grandma went back to preparing her breakfast. “I’m sure you’ll find it to be more than acceptable.”
Working for Drake. Venus suppressed a shudder. He was ruthless—she could even say he was more ruthless than Grandma. Venus had never submitted to him and he’d hated her for it. His about-face surprised her and yet didn’t—if he knew Venus was the only one who would get the job done, he’d put aside personal preference and hire her, especially if it was only for a few months.
Plus, maybe he’d changed. She’d heard about his unexpected heart attack last year—he was still young, only about forty—and while he’d recovered well and could have worked for a few more years, he’d retired when he sold the company. The Drake she remembered wouldn’t have given up his high-powered lifestyle to go into early retirement. He thrived on the frantic, busy pace of a startup company. Yet he’d announced it—and this coming out of retirement was for a family member, not for himself, so it wasn’t really getting back in the full swing of things.
So really, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to work for him. She wouldn’t have to see him that much, right? She rarely saw her CEO except at meetings.
“Well, what are you waiting for?”
“Huh?”
Grandma made a shooing motion. “Go get dressed. Go talk to Drake. Put on something nice.”
“What do you mean?” Venus opened innocent eyes. She spread out her arms and looked down at her jeans and T-shirt. “I can’t interview for Chief Technology Officer in this?”
Grandma folded her arms and glared. Really, sometimes Grandma needed to lighten up.
“I will invite you to the bank’s Christmas party if you’ll change into something expensive and feminine before you go to see him.”
Grandma was still bargaining? “Fine.”
Her sudden smile shot a crossbow bolt into Venus’s gut. “Good. None of those manly business suits.”
Oooh, she’d been suckered. That’s what Grandma had been after. “Expensive and feminine.” She eyed her grandmother with ire. “That was low, Grandma.”
The smile widened, as if to say, Be careful if you want to play with the big dogs. “I’ll be happy to buy you something for the Christmas party. It’s more posh than some of the ones you’re used to.”
“I can buy something myself, thanks.” No way would she let Grandma dress her up like a Barbie doll.
“Well, I need to eat breakfast, and you need to go home to change.” Grandma plugged in her egg cooker. “Remember…expensive and feminine.” She eyed Venus with a look as sharp as a ninja star. “Don’t disappoint me.”
EIGHT
B ananaville was a complete circus.
Venus entered the front door to the
Similar Books
