Page 30 of Can't Get Enough

“I know, but now I have to hear how you turned an ill-advised affair with an older woman into a billion-dollar enterprise. Spill the tea.”

“I lived in Vegas for a good part of my life since that’s where my dad worked. And he was in professional sports. That combination led me naturally to a fascination with sports betting. Online betting started in the late nineties, but the technology wasn’t there for an app till the early two thous. We got in on the basement. I knew the industry and LaTanya understood the technology.”

“And the rest is history?”

“The rest became history,” I say. “But it was a lot of luck and hard work first. So I know what it’s like needing help in the earliest stages of a business.”

“So you invest in a lot of young businesses?”

“Oh, yeah. I even make investments that my advisers deem unwise, but just feel right to me. Guess that’s the gambling background coming into play.”

“And what have your advisers told you about Aspire?”

“Nothing yet. I haven’t asked them.”

“Maybe you should.”

“Maybe I’m asking you.”

Neither of us speaks for a moment. It’s the kind of quiet that percolates. It brims with tension and teasing and possibility.

“What do you want to know?” Hendrix finally asks.

“Tell me about Hue.”

“Oh, youhavebeen doing your research,” she chuckles. “Hue was in our first round and they’re doing very well.”

“And if I wanted to invest?”

“How do they say it? Yesterday’s price is not today’s price.” Her voice is teasing, but smooth with the truth of her words. “Their valuation is much higher than it was when we first started.”

“The mark of a good investment. Have your people send details to my people.”

“I am my people.”

“Then you send it to me.”

Another longer silence and then she replies. “I can do that, but if you really want to help somebody…”

“I do.”

“Then I’d love for you to consider becoming an LP in fund two or even investing in some of our current portfolio companies who are still raising,” she says. “Since you’re a man of risk and all.”

“Oh, throwing my words back in my face, huh?”

“Not in your face.” Her laugh unfurls, unrushed and unbothered. “Just reminding you of what you told me. Now we do have a showcase coming up.”

“A showcase?”

“A time for potential limited partners to hear from our fund one founders about their experience as we raise for the next round.”

“When is the showcase?” I lean forward, and tell myself the eagerness is for the opportunity and not about seeing the woman offering it.

“It’s being finalized, but it’ll be here in Atlanta and soon. I mean, if you don’t mind coming here.”

“Text me the details when you have them. Your assistant has my number.”

She and I both know we could organize the specifics through our assistants, but we also know she doesn’t want a potential investor like me to walk.

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