Page 51 (1/2)

"Has it?"

"It’s getting there, but it’s coh risk and liability We need to balance that out with a lower-risk, high-profit addition to our brand That’s where you come into play"

"Me?"

"You," he confirms "I don’t have time to look for that next venture You’re smart and I trust you I’d like you to help me narron the prospects to two or three, and then we’ll run nuence" He pats the folders "These are the companies I looked into with my notes, but we’re not liun looking"

"I’d love to help," I say, both thrilled and honored he wants me to do this

"I have a private CPA to help with the back end If there’s so you have a question about, and need answered, he’ll help" He flips open a folder and indicates a card stapled in the front "This is hi to get rid of the financial division your father runs?"

"Everything that exists noill be replaced, but that knowledge is to stay with a sroup of insiders, which includes Seth, Jessica, and the CPA"

"Because people are going to be upset"

"Yes They will"

Myoff of the Bentley "Did that black Escalade that showed up in the garage have anything to do with your plans to exit any of these divisions?"

"It was about exiting a bad business deal Derek got us into"

"Since I’ for replacement investments, can you tell me what it was and why it was bad, so I don’t make the same mistake?"

"You are not Derek," he says "You would not have made this deal"

"What was it?"

His hands co you need to worry about"

"But I’ood job"

"You don’t want to tell es "Is it a trust issue?"

"I trust you You know I do"

"But obviously there are boundaries to what you feel co"

"Don’t do this Don’t put a wall between us that doesn’t exist"