“We don’t just look at the financials of the companies we consider for investment,” Thomas said. “We look at their leaders. Stability is important. Family. A connection to the community. If your head office weren’t here in San Francisco, to be honest, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. We’re still small enough that personal ties matter.”
Jay had no idea what to do with that. He’d always kept his work separate from his personal life. J-Tech’s early investors didn’t care whether he was married or not and weren’t interested in where he lived or how he spent his spare time. They wanted to see the bottom dollar, and if the company could turn a profit then they were happy to provide the cash.
“We are one hundred and ten percent committed to the global success of J-Tech and we’ll do what it takes to make this deal happen.” Jay clasped the older man’s hand, giving it a firm shake.
Even as a child, Jay had understood that hard work and determination could unlock opportunities that could make even the poorest man wealthy. He’d devoured autobiographies of self-made men who had come from nothing and now ran multinational businesses. He’d dreamed of giving his mother the kind of life she deserved—one without the stress of wondering how the bills would be paid or skipping meals so her son could eat the next day. Nothing had made him happier than the day he’d enlisted, knowing he’d finally be able to make some of those dreams come true.
“That’s good to hear.” Brittany shook his hand just a fraction too long, her gaze holding his until he understood her interest wasn’t just business-related. In any other circumstance, Jay might have given her hand a squeeze, met that gaze with a smile. Brittany was the kind of woman he pictured himself with in a far distant future when he’d reached his goal of taking his company to the top. But right now he had no interest in mixing business and pleasure. Not when they were about to take the company global. Not when Zara kept intruding on his thoughts.
“If we do go ahead with the investment, Brittany will stay involved.” Thomas opened the door to let them out. “I want her to get to know our clients so she can take over for me when I retire.” He put an arm around Brittany and gave her a squeeze. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my girl.”
* * *
? ? ?
“I don’t trust that dude. He wants something.” Elias walked beside Jay through the vast marble-and-glass lobby of Westwood Morgan’s office building. Everything from the modern designer furnishings to the Chihuly glass sculptures proclaimed the bank’s success. One day, Jay thought, J-Tech would have offices like this.
“He probably wants an equity share in our company or something else he knows we’re not likely to give.” Thomas was no pushover, Jay reflected. He could see the value in the international expansion and would want to share in the benefits of J-Tech’s future success.
“Brittany was checking you out during the meeting,” Elias said. “She’s totally your type. Sophisticated. Professional. Classy. Smart. She couldn’t take her eyes off you.”
With a laugh, Jay opened the front door. “Maybe it’s you she wanted and she knew you were staring so she had to look at me.”
Elias shook his head as he followed Jay out. “Women like that don’t go for guys like me. I wouldn’t know what to do at a ball or banquet or charity dinner. I’ve never been to the opera, and my idea of fine dining is all-you-can-eat wings at the bar around the corner.”
“You’re making assumptions,” Jay warned him. “Maybe she spends her weekends backcountry camping and she’s the wing-eating champion of the Bay Area.”
“No way. Her nails were too perfect. If you’re a backcountry camper you keep them short so they don’t get in the way.” Elias slowed his steps as they approached Jay’s vehicle. “You gonna ask her out?”
“I don’t have time to get involved in a relationship and I’m definitely not hooking up with the daughter of the man who holds the key to our global expansion. That’s just asking for trouble.” He unlocked his vehicle. Like everything he bought, he’d chosen the Audi R8 not because he loved it, but because of what it represented. Wealth. Power. Success. Growing up in poverty had made him very aware of appearances. No one bullied kids who wore the right clothes and the right shoes and didn’t have to rely on the school to feed them every day.
“He’s not gonna turn us down if you’re dating his daughter,” Elias persisted. “He said he’d do anything for her. You two would make a good couple.”