Page 123 of Love Is an Art
“This doesn’t seem to be in your interest,” I say. “I thought you didn’t want me to transfer out of your department.”
He shrugs. “The firm’s interest comes first.” He waves his hand at me. I’m dismissed. Abrupt as always.
I walk down the hallway back to the elevator. The Red Can intelligence is useful. Even if I don’t want to work with Paisley in any context.
I get back to my desk and sit next to Ben. “Arthur told me Red Can is looking for venture capital.”
“Arthurgave you that tip?”
“Another way to torture me.”
“Are you going to call Paisley?” Ben asks.
“I thought Ming could call Paisley.”
“She’s not going to want to hear from him,” Ben says. “And he’s kind of junior.”
“I’m not calling her.” I sound like a five-year-old.
“Why can’t you call her and be totally up front? That you heard this and wondered if you could discuss?”
“Okay.” I was fine at the wedding. More annoyed, really. I reach over to the handset.
“But probably for this first call, you should call her in private,” Ben says quickly. “Because you may have some more personal things to discuss …”
“That’s exactly what I don’t want. But you’re right. As always.” I pick up my cell phone and go up to the roof deck.
Paisley picks up on the first ring.
“Zeke?” Her voice is surprised and yet hopeful.
“Hey, Paisley.” I stop. Now that I hear that hope, how can I say that I called for a business deal?
There’s silence on the other end. That’s Paisley. She can wait out a lull.
“I need to talk to you for business reasons,” I blurt out. “Arthur told me that Red Can is looking for venture capital investors.”
“Oh.” She sighs. “Arthur’s spies at work again. He knows we’re looking for investors?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll email you our pitch,” she says. “But are you sure you can work with me?”
No.
“We’re a small team, so I’m not just the general counsel sitting off in some ivory tower,” she says. “I help out with everything I can.”
“It also won’t be me alone. Ming takes the lead on some investments. He can spearhead this one.”
“Maybe I’ll request your input,” she says.
“We’re adults, and I’m in a serious relationship with Tessa. I’m sure we can work together,” I say.
Maybe their fundamentals will be lacking such that I won’t want to recommend them as an investment to the partnership. That would be best. But Paisley wouldn’t have taken the job if Red Can didn’t have a promising future. She did want the associate general counsel title, though.
“I saw Tessa is being honored at the FLAFL dinner tonight,” she says. “I guess I’ll see you there.”
Let’s hope it’s from a distance.
