Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Sarah Starbucks 59th Street: Hey, stud. You got any plans tonight?
If I’m honest, I only sort of remember who this Sarah is—pretty sure I met her five or so months ago—and her message isn’t the least bit enticing to me.
Now, if the sender were someone by the name of Katy Dayton, I’d be all fucking in.
Besides flirtatious text messages and stealing quick kisses in her empty classroom, I haven’t had any alone time with her since last weekend at her apartment. I’m hoping desperately to remedy that soon.
I don’t bother with a response to Sarah-whoever and slide my phone back into my pocket.
Aside from Katy, I don’t want to talk to anyone right now.
I’m nervous as hell, wearing a suit I bought two nights ago, and so out of my element you can’t even find me on the periodic table.
“Hi,” I say to the security guard at the fancy marble reception desk. “I’m here for a four o’clock meeting with Thatcher Kelly.”
He smiles benevolently—he obviously knows what a big deal my cousin is.
“Take this pass and head on up to the twenty-fourth floor. Kelly Financial will be down the hall to the left, and you can check in with the receptionist there. I’ll let them know you’re on your way up.”
With a grateful nod, I head to the shiny, gold-doored elevators and take a quick ride up to the twenty-fourth floor.
Once I step out, I make my way down the marble hallway and walk through the see-through glass door that says Kelly Financial on the front in gold letters.
His assistant greets me with a smile. “Mack Houston?”
“That’s me.”
“They’re already waiting for you in his office,” she says and points toward the closed door behind her. “You can head on back.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s about damn time!” Thatch booms before the door to his office can even shut behind me. Technically, I’m on time, but I know in these deals that on time is actually late, and I should have been here fifteen minutes ago.
“Sorry I’m running behind. I had dismissal duty, and one kid’s dad was late picking him up,” I apologize and note that all four men in the room, including Thatch, are dressed in suits and ties that I’m willing to bet they didn’t buy off the rack like I did mine.
“No worries,” Thatch dismisses before introducing me to the room. “Mack, this is Kline Brooks, the man who runs the TapNext empire. This is Wes Lancaster, the asshole owner of the Mavericks. And last and certainly least is Caplin Hawkins, corporate lawyer to the rich bastards of this city.”
All three men roll their eyes at Thatch’s colorful introductions, but I’m so in awe of the amount of business savvy in this room, I don’t even laugh.
“Nice to meet you.” I shake hands with all three men. “I really appreciate your taking this meeting with me.”
“If I’m honest,” Caplin chimes in with a smile, “we didn’t have a choice.”
I grin at that. “I have to admit, this might be the one time I’m thankful for my cousin’s mulish tendencies.”
Kline laughs, Wes nods, and Caplin crosses his arms over his chest.
Thatch just smiles like a man who loves any and all attention thrown his way. “I know how to get shit done. That’s why you’re all friends with me.”
“Well, that, and the fact that we can’t seem to get you to go away,” Wes jabs and I laugh.
Just a few simple barbs and I’m already feeling more at ease. “Thatch, I have to say, I like your friends more than I like you already.”
He chuckles at that in good humor, clapping a hand at my back, and gestures for us all to move to the large conference table inside his massive office. “Let’s take a seat, boys, and dive into the meat and potatoes. I need to make sure I’m out of here by five or Cassie will guillotine my dick.”
My cousin’s wife is one awesome but crazy chick, so it’s not a stretch to believe him.
I hurry up and grab the packets I created from my backpack and hand them out. “This is the actual business plan of how Music in Motion will be run, as well as the monthly and yearly goals, and how investments and future donations will be handled. Cash flow isn’t exactly the goal here, as with other nonprofits, but the more strategic we are with the funding, the more music programs we’ll be able to save.”
“Are you sure you guys are related?” Wes questions. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Thatch this prepared for anything in his life.”
Thatch scoffs. “Says the fucker who trusts me to invest his billions.”
Kline and Cap are quiet, reading through the information in front of them meticulously. Nothing like casually looking on as a few billionaires evaluate your dream project.
Talk about a puckered asshole.