“I want to discuss the reason I called you to join us this evening. It wasn’t only for us to celebrate another great release but also to talk to you about a business proposal.”
I stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue.
“You’re a great asset to the team and without you we would have lost millions when our computers were infiltrated.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded. “No thanks needed. You deserve it. I know you’re working on starting your own tech business and I want to help you with that.”
Now I was lost. It was no secret that my goal was to start my own cyber technology firm. All the money I made, I put up to get it up and running. I already had a few clients under my belt that I’d done minor work for, but that was nothing compared to what I wanted to get up to.
“Michelle, did you bring the folder?” Erik asked his wife.
“I did.” Michelle leaned down and picked up the bag beside her. She pulled out a tan folder and held it out. Curiously, I grabbed it and flipped it open.
“Let us fund your business.”
My eyes snapped up from the contents of the folder. That was the last thing I expected him to suggest.
“No offense, Erik. I appreciate you wanting to do this, but the reason I didn’t get the money from my dad and am working to start my firm is because I don’t want any handouts and want to do this on my own.”
Erik smirked and shook his head. Folding his hands on the table, he leaned back in his chair. “You’re misunderstanding things. I’m notgivingyou anything. This will be a loan. Think of me as a silent partner if you will. We fund your business, you get it up and running, then you pay me back.”
Not responding right away, I brought my attention back to the file and pulled out some of the pages, reading them over.
“Michelle already went over the numbers and we spoke with our lawyer and had him write up a contract.”
I had some business skills. It was one thing I made sure I learned while in college. I took as many classes as I could to make sure my firm would succeed when I started it.
“What’s the catch? Me wanting to start this firm isn’t anything new, so why now?” No one did anything for free. No matter how much the Barnetts saw me as family and welcomed me, I knew one thing Erik didn’t play about was his money.
“Smart man. That’s why I like you.” He laughed. Erik then went into details about what he expected of me. By the end, even I had to admit it sounded like a good deal.
“Was this your idea?” I glanced at Roman.
He shook his head. “Nah, it makes sense to me though. I should have thought of it myself.”
“Yosiah.” Erik called my attention back to him. “I look after those who are good to me. Have a lawyer look over the contract and think it over. As I said, the business will be one hundred percent yours. Once you’re established and making a profit, you can work on repaying me back.”
“You know Pops would never be on any shady shit with you, Siah,” Ryo commented.
That wasn’t my issue. My dad always made sure to make a point of hard work. Even with the mess he was in now, he always valued earning things and not accepting handouts. It was what he and my mom made sure to instill me in.
“You don’t have to decide now, Yosiah. Give it some thought and let us know. Regardless of what you choose, we’re happy to have you on the team,” Michelle said.
Skimming the forms in front of me again, I slowly nodded.
Within two weeks I’d been given two big decisions now weighing on me. The Barnetts were giving me my future on a silver platter sooner than I originally planned, which would be profitable in the long run. On the other hand, tomorrow I’d meet with my dad to give my answer on whether I would agree tomarry Xylina Fox and save his business or leave him to fix the mess he’d caused on his own.
The good mood I was prior to arriving at my dad’s office faded the moment I walked into his building and disappeared as soon as I stepped into his office and saw he wasn’t alone.
“Just the man we’ve been waiting on. Yosiah, come and join us,” my dad called out from his desk.
Frozen in my tracks, my eyes swept his office, going from him to the middle aged Black man and younger deep brown skinned girl sitting next to him. Phillip didn’t bother to turn toward me, but Xylina faced me with a toothy grin on her heart-shaped face. Her dark, upturned eyes beamed. On her lap was a golden brown dog laying peacefully.
“Don’t just stand there, son, come sit down.”
Clenching my jaw, I fought to keep my frustration hidden as heat flooded my stomach. When I agreed to come meet my dad, I was under the impression that it would be just the two of us. Being bombarded by these two wasn’t in the plans.