Never Forgotten: Second Chances Read Online Free Page A

on some big gains, but I've also held onto my money when others were in a panic. Why should mess with a successful strategy?"
    "Maybe just so you know you are alive. Didn't you just tell me how overrated certainty is?"
    He found that funny. "That wasn't with respect to money. I don't enjoy the gambler's adrenaline rush. It makes me nauseous. I'll put my intuition and ability to judge investments up against anyone's but this is too fluid. I wasn't lying about my situation. Even if you had the money in hand now, I'd be considering selling my shares. The money I've tied up in Diamond would be very useful elsewhere right now."
    "Then how about helping me get past this one last hurdle? Then we won't be in a rush to find a buyer, and you'll get a better price."
    His smile was knowing. "Is that how you see this situation? It's a hurdle? And the last one?"
    "Yes. It's simple. An infusion of cash lets us have a good launch, one that touches all the bases. Then money starts coming in."
    "Aha."
    She frowned. "What does that mean?"
    "Let's say you have a successful launch. Your program is doing well, and out of the blue a competitor launches their product—like Striker did in the existing market. What then? Of course, you'll need more cash to defend against it, to improve marketing or add features, and most likely both. Or say distributors are a problem, stalling, and the cash flow isn't enough to grow the company and repay debt. What do you do? You scramble again. You confront the next crisis. No, Megan, this isn't the last hurdle before reaching some mythic stability. Business is the ebb and flow of crises and you better be ready to constantly be juggling such things."
    She tried to laugh off his negativity. "What's wrong with that?"
    He smiled and refilled their glasses. "Nothing at all. For a large company that can rob cash from one product to support another, it's a just a day at the office. But you don't have that luxury. That's why I can't let you get away with telling me, or any investor, you need funding to get past this hurdle, and all will be well. Anyone investing now will have to invest more later on to protect that initial investment. That's business too. That's what you're asking me to do now, to cough up the next round of funding to protect what I've already put in."
    "I suppose so."
    "Megan, I'm tired of this software business. It makes no sense to me. But be careful. To convince an investor to put in the money you want, they'll want a bigger piece of the pie. My hunch is you'll wind up losing control of your company quite soon."
    "So you won't help me achieve my dream."
    "Would a friend help you live out a fantasy in a cave when he knew you could do so much more in the real world?"
    "What do you mean?"
    "I think you should sell out too. Walk away from this nonsense. I could find a buyer for a package of your shares and mine in a heartbeat. They'd have majority control and a new product. Then we'd take your money and do something really profitable."
    "You want me to work with you?"
    "Not work." He reached over to stroke her face. "But I want you with me, and I want you very much."
    Suddenly the business conversation had drawn to a close. There was nothing more to say once Thom had made a business decision. His intractability infuriated her, but he had good qualities, and his delicate and loving touch was one. Simply by stroking her cheek he made her feel adored. She wasn't foolish enough to think he actually adored her, but he lusted after her in his way, and he was good to be with. That made him the best thing in her life at the moment.
    She barely felt it as he slipped her robe down her shoulders, but when his hand caressed her bare breast, when his fingers teased her nipples hard, she began melting. Her tough-minded businesswoman personae slipped off with the robe, in fact, she'd shed much of it in the shower earlier, leaving her vulnerable to his seduction, wanting it. Thom was a beautiful seducer, who made the