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Ever

If you give another person the slightest clue you think you’re less important than they are, it’s over Now that Chef Claude went out of his way to glad-hand me, I was certain the point wouldn’t be lost on Maddie

After ordering, I turned uard Not only was she a knockout, but the business idea she’d coood one I watch startups fail all the time Mostly it's because they just run out of o of it Of course, when that happens, it’s great to be in the position I’e of bankruptcy than I can reains are in life When people are desperate, they’ll do alht not be desperate just yet, I figured it wouldn’t be long

I sensed an opportunity and there was no way in hell I’d leave toithoutmy intentions known

I took a sip ofmy taste buds as I sed it with a hard contraction It was about the only thing that could have washed away the taste of her skin from my palate Not that I wanted to be rid of it, h the meal

Placing the icy beverage down on the table, I looked across the table at her as she lifted her wine glass to her lips Her fingers wrapped around the long, slender ste of the deep purple liquid I studied her throat muscles and watched as they contracted while the alcohol lass back down on the snohite tablecloth, made eye contact with me and smiled

“So,” she said, as she cleared her throat a bit “You mentioned you had a proposal you wanted to discuss with me?”

I nodded and leaned back in my chair

“I have to tell you I’m impressed,” I said

“Impressed?” she replied

“Yes, with you, Maddie With your business idea”

“Oh,” she said I noticed her skin turn the shade of red I’d grown accusto that caused her embarrassment “Thank you, Grey That’s kind of you I’d be a liar though if I told you it’s gone s but”

“Yes” I nodded in agreement “I’m well aware of that But that still doesn’t h”

“Help? What do you mean? What kind of help?”

Placing e, I leaned forward and folded ers together, I said, “So how do you intend to grow your fledgling operation from this point on? What's your plan? Do you have one?”

She broke eye contact withit round her index finger, she continued, “Funny you should mention that”

“Oh? Why is that?”

Maddie griet a referral fros went”

I stopped ainst one another

“Sure Maddie, I’d be happy to give you a referral,” I replied, as I smiled and leaned back in my chair

Her expression brightening, Maddie straightened up in her chair and began to speak before I interrupted her with a warning

“Even so, I can tell you right now you’re going to need a lot more than a referral fro-ter capital A plan to grow Do you have any idea how to put that in place?”

Maddie’s face froze I watched as her lips pressed together She shook her head

“No I don’t”

With a half-shrug, I reached forit down, I continued, “Well, you need those things if you hope to have any chance to make it For instance, without sufficient cash reserves, you’ll be bankrupt in a few months, if not sooner”

While I spoke, Maddie twirled her hair in tight spirals, releasing it every few seconds before starting all over again At last, she puffed her cheeks and exhaled

“Bankrupt?” she said “I o broke that fast”

“Ah yes, the eternal optimism of the entrepreneur Maddie, I’ve seen this more times in my life than I care to recount You can choose to accept nore it at your peril”