05.09.21
It's a rainy Sunday here, how are you all doing?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Hook, line and sinker.
GPOV
A day after José and Ana's meeting, we got emails from two interested investors for unfortunately, roughly around the same time the following Tuesday which meant we'd have to split up to cover ground. While it hadn't happened before, it was certainly not uncommon. Thankfully they were both in the area, well one was in Tacoma and the other in downtown Seattle.
I've been sitting in this private meeting room at the Fairmont for ten minutes. This is what I hate about big shot wannabe investors. They think they can dangle the carrot of money and promises in front of you and effectively treat you like shit as if your time and life isn't valuable. Scrounging through my bag for gum, I find a granola bar and remembered that Ana bought us boxes of these to make sure we had snacks when heading out to meetings, since big meals were expensive and taking a lunchbox would've cramped our style. The thought makes me smile a little but I quickly rid myself of the trip down memory lane. She did what she felt she had to, and I did what I knew I needed to. End of story.
20 more minutes later, I've pretty much had it. Checking my email one last time to see if maybe this Joseph Welch guy had sent word that he was running late, I threw my phone into my bag and started to gather my things when the door to the door opened.
I almost drop my laptop to the floor when none other than Seattle's most eligible bachelor enters, his eyes looking me up and down as he walks towards me with the sexy ass smirk on his lips. The man looks even more delectable in person. I know he likes what he sees by the way his eyes lingered on my breasts. Not a chance in hell that this man is gay. I'm wearing a simple but fitted black pencil skirt that accentuates my hips paired with a cream colored silk shirt with my hair in a loose bun, and black patent leather Louboutins. They were a birthday gift from Sam. I do think of him fondly every time I step into them.
"Ms. Reed, I apologize. We had a last minute mix up and Welch won't be able to make it. I hope you don't mind the change in the program." His voice is like warm honey being dripped all over my body and then licked off by his tongue and I feel the sensation deeply between my legs. Fortunately, I gather my wits in time to take his extended hand and shake it.
"Not at all, Mr. Grey." I do my best to keep my smile professional when all I want is to get on my knees and worship him. "I wasn't sure if he would show which is why I was packing to leave but if you'll give me a minute or two, I'll set everything back up." I reply, and he nods before taking a seat on the couch. He looks so fucking good, how the hell am I going to keep it together while I present.
The dark charcoal suit he's wearing only seems highlight his, what I can tell, toned as fuck body and brighten his grey, piercing eyes. Outwardly, I'm doing best to keep my thighs clenched and appear calm and collected while inwardly, I'm at the precipice of losing my damn mind at the sight of this mind.
He probably fucks like a god and I'd happy sell my soul to experience it at this minute.
"I was under the impression that Mr. Welch was a private investor. At least, that's what he led me to believe." I say wanting to keep him a little more engaged.
He smiles and relaxes a bit in his seat. "Ah, yes. He along with some other of my employees usually represent GEH's interests in these sorts of things under the radar. I don't like my name being attached to something even in passing unless I believe in it."
I make my pitch, doing my best to remain professional and keep it short and sweet which is a challenge in itself. His eyes flit between both the screen and myself, lingering a little longer on me. He's definitely eye fucking me. It's the only explanation. After I'm done, he asks me a few questions about the app functionality and I hand him our demo phone. He nods and quietly goes through it.
"So why privacy?" he asks, handing the phone back to me. Our fingers brush and it takes everything in me to not moan.
"The more technologically dependent we become the more we're at risk. Most people think AI is the future threat but it's honestly our privacy before that even comes into play. Little tidbits of information that are seemingly harmless to the average person, suddenly it can be weaponized and used against them. Subliminal messaging, data breaches where passwords leak, phone numbers, bank information, it's like termites. You get one, and five days later you have a colony feasting throughout your house which in this case is your life."
He looks at me for a few moments and abruptly stands up. Fuck, is he leaving? Is he not at all interested?
"I can see that you're passionate..." His eyes travel down my neck and then immediately back up to my face. "About your vision, I admire that a great deal."
"I find that passion is the key ingredient to any success you want to have in life." I smirk. Grey, give me five minutes and I'll show you how passionate I am.
"Have lunch with me." He says. "I'd like to discuss these passions a little more."
Hook, line and sinker!
I shyly smile and agree before quickly packing up. A few minutes later, a table is set up in the private meeting room with Mr. Grey issuing rapid fire instructions and ordering a selection of food for us.
Once we settle down, he pours me a glass of white wine and we make small talk about where we grew up. He listens with close attention, this man could seduce a nun with his eyes.
"Your co-founder wasn't here today, why was that?" He asks, after taking a sip of wine.
"We actually had a scheduling conflict, another investor wanted to meet around the same time but he was in Tacoma. If you'd like to meet him, I can send him a message, I'm sure he should be done by now." I hope Josè says no, I want to savor this lunch date with this sex god a little while longer. He hasn't made any moves to talk money but I have a very good feeling about this. It could also just be my pussy doing backflips in anticipation, whatever it is, it feels good. Never have I met a man who could have such a strong effect on me.
"No, that's fine. I'm getting all the necessary information I need from you." He grins. My panties are fucking wet mess, just take me already. Fuck me, use me and throw me away but please fuck me. "It's not a secret that I'm a very private man. I value privacy a great deal and go to great lengths to maintain it. A member of my R&D team briefed me on Acero a few weeks ago after watching you present at SeaTech but we were also looking at other viable candidates for a GEH funded startup accelerator. I personally resonated with yours." The way he says those last few words sends delicious tingles down my spine.
"Well, I'm flattered you were." I smile and reply breathily. "I hope you will seriously consider us."
"I already have." He says, his voice dropping an octave lower. "If you'll have me of course."
My breath catches and I mask it with a short laugh. "Of course, I mean I have to discuss it with José but we are really looking forward to expanding our team and thrive under the right mentorship to take Acero the distance it can go."
The food arrives and we get busy eating while I answer a few more of his questions in regards to functionality and great big ideas beyond the search engine scope of things.
"I am a man with means and connections, Gaia. Is it okay that I call you Gaia?" He asks. You can call me your pink little pony but yes, call me by my name. In fact, I'd love to hear you scream it when I demonstrate how passionate I am.
"Yes, of course, Mr. Grey." I smile.
"As part of the GEH funded startup accelerator, I'm willing to invest $5 million over a 1 year period. During this time, I will mentor you, personally." he says with the sexiest smile ever. "In addition to having my entire R&D team for support along with connecting you with other big players in Silicon Valley and beyond. We will shield you from any potential litigation from the big players too. However at the end of this, I expect perfection and we will have goals you have to meet along the way. You will be provided with living expenses, housing, transportation and all that. For all this, I will want 25% equity in Acero."
My eyes almost fall out. Did he just say what I think he said?
Sold!
But José. Fuck, José… Ugh.
"Mr. Grey that is a very…." I swallow, trying to keep my excitement at bay. "A very generous offer, except I have to discuss it with my co-founder."
"I understand." He replies. "Your co-founder, Mr. Rodriguez, you mentioned you've known each other since highschool?"
"Yes, we have." I reply.
"Are you two fucking?" He asks, point blank. I'm slightly taken aback and immediately shake my head.
"No, we are not. We've just known each other since childhood, best friends and all." I reply, desperately trying to keep my voice even.
"Good to know. I'm a straight shooter, Gaia. I'm not going to just be investing my money but my personal time in this should you both choose to accept it and I don't have time for domestic issues that can fuck with my investment. So I prefer there be no fuckage between co-founders to avoid drama."
"I completely agree. José and I are just friends who grew up together."
"Good to know." A slow smile spreads across his lips. "So you're unattached, I take it?"
He wants me. Fuck! I need to stall José on the registering of our wedding certificate from the Dominican Republic.
"I only ask because a commitment like this requires complete dedication and leaves little room for a romantic life." He adds.
"I'm single." I blurt out and try to quickly recover. "You're right, it is demanding and most people can't keep up with the tunnel vision so it gets difficult."
"Which is why it's so important to find like-minded and passionate individuals but as you said, it's difficult. Who knows, the tide may turn in your favor soon?" He smiles. "It's the only hope that keeps me going for myself."
"I hope you're right." I giggle. Fuck the tide, bend me over here and let's see how like-minded we are.
"By the way, you have 48 hours to accept my offer." He casually throws out, typing on his phone. "Welch will email you a copy of our contract, take a look at it and let us know your final answer by 3pm on Thursday."
"I'll let you know as soon as we reach a decision." I nod. He stands up and throws a few hundred dollar bills on the table as a tip. "Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. Grey." I extend my hand out and do my best to stay professional as I can.
He first reaches into his pocket and takes out a card before shaking my hand. Fuck, his hands are so sexy. I'd sell my mother right now to have them all over me.
"Here's my card. It has my personal number on it." He smirks and shakes my hand holding it for a little longer than the first time. "I hope to hear from you soon, Ms. Reed."
"You most certainly will, Mr. Grey." I promise.
Back at the apartment, I watch José pace the entire living area back and forth.
"Christian Fucking Grey?" Jose shrieks. Well, there was no fucking even though I would've sold my soul for some.
"He believes in the vision we have for Acero, 12. This is the best deal we're going to get. He only wants 25% and he's going to fully fund us for 12 months then we can create a fully functioning titan of a search engine and move forward with the phone cloaking feature."
"We need to run the contract by our lawyer."
"We only have 48 hours." I look at my watch. "Scratch that, 45 hours. I looked at it, it's pretty standard. We will retain decision making authority. He's just an investor and he's only asking for 25%. Sheldon asked for 5% on 100k. We'll still own 70%."
"I don't know, babe."
"It's not going to get any better than this. Partnering with GEH will cut out half our issues. They'll mentor us, fuck their entire R&D team will be at our disposal. We'll be picking the brain of some brilliant people… not to mention his connections."
"Yeah, I guess. I mean we've been struggling for the past two years just to get to this point. But holy fuck, Christian Grey!" He laughs and picks me up to spin me around.
We emailed Christan Grey shortly after about our final decision. Not an hour later we had copies of the signed contract in triplicate messengered over by this guy in a suit. He waited while we quickly signed them and handed him two copies and kept one for ourselves after which he presented us with a bottle of some expensive ass whiskey. Fuck yeah!
Our lives were changing, I knew things would work out in the end and reminded José of just that which he finally acquiesced to. Stick with me 12, we're going to go the distance.
José's bout of happiness led to horniness which I obliged in only to get it over with. The only thing that got me over the edge was thinking of Christian Grey. I know he wants me, all the signs were there. The blatant eye-fucking, the flirting, the choice words he used. I'll let him lead this dance if he wants, just as long as I come out on top, literally and figuratively by the end of it.
After he went to sleep, I found myself too wired and my mind running at the speed of light, buzzing with ideas of all the possibilities of the heights we could achieve. Looking out the window, I began to mentally map out how I was going to work on getting close to Christian Grey. People keep saying you can't have it all but fuck that, I was going to snatch it all for myself. I only ever want to go up and will do anything to achieve that.
Suddenly, I hear my phone chime with the alert of an incoming message. I note that it's almost midnight, who the hell could be texting me right now?
C-Grey: Welcome to my world, Ms. Reed.
G-Reed: I have to say, I'm liking it so far, Mr. Grey. Thank you for the welcome gift.
C-Grey: Anytime. Here's to hoping we'll soon get a chance to enjoy the pleasure of each other's company, perhaps over dinner?
I felt my heart skip a beat and covered my mouth to suppress a squeal. CHRISTIAN GREY WANTS ME.
G-Reed: Dinner would be lovely.
C-Grey: Then it's a date.
A/N: Damn, she already moving on. Can't even say poor José cause this is what he signed up for... yep!