Lost in Time (Forever and Always #20) Read Online Free PDF

My father built
this company when he was my age, and now I run it alongside my
brother.”
    She nodded. “Will he be joining us?”
    “My brother? No. He’s out on maternity
leave.”
    “Oh.” She smiled. “His wife is having a
baby?”
    “Yes,” I said with a smile. “I’m going to be
an uncle.”
    “Congratulations.” She seemed sincere.
    “Thank you. I’m excited.”
    She glanced down to my wedding band. “You’re
married?”
    “Yes,” I said quickly. “I’m a newlywed.”
    “Oh.” She seemed a little disappointed. Her
eyes scanned the pictures on my desk, each one containing a picture
of Scarlet. “Your wife is beautiful.”
    “Thank you. She and I have a baby on the way
too.” It was nice to say it out loud like it was a certain
event.
    “That’s wonderful,” she said. “How far along
is she?”
    “She’s in her second trimester.”
    “Congratulations.”
    “Thank you,” I said with a nod. “So, shall we
get down to business?”
    “Certainly.”
    We discussed the rights for the operating
system, but when I said my company wanted exclusive rights, she
wasn’t accommodating. Since she appeared to be so sweet and gentle,
I didn’t expect this aggressive side of her. She was a shrewd
businesswoman, never taking less than what she felt she deserved.
It caught me off guard.
    She and I argued about the contract, but
every compromise I made still wasn’t acceptable to her. I was
desperate for this operating system. While our products were of
quality and had quite a reputation, this new technology would put
us at the head of the game. Aris wouldn’t budge.
    She sighed. “Those are my terms. Think them
over and I’ll return tomorrow so we can discuss it.”
    I was irritated things hadn’t gone my way. My
father would have somehow negotiated everything to his preference,
but I wasn’t my dad. The experience he gained in his life was
something I’d never have access to. “I will. Thank you for
coming.”
    She stood up and shook my hand. “It’s nice to
meet someone at the same level.” She held my gaze while she said
it, the confidence brewing.
    I wasn’t sure what that meant.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    I dropped my hand “Good bye.”
    She put her purse over her shoulder then
walked out.
     
    I called my brother the next day.
    “What?” he said over the phone.
    “Hello to you too.”
    “It’s only been a day and you need
something.”
    “You know that operating system we’re trying
to get?”
    “Yeah.”
    “I met with the vice president yesterday and
she was a hard ass.”
    “It’s a woman?”
    “Yeah, I was surprised too.” Really
surprised.
    “She said no, I’m guessing?”
    “She said she would sell it to us, but
exclusive rights wouldn’t be given. I already offered her a lot of
money. Should I offer more for the exclusivity?”
    “Hmm…” Mike pondered the question. “Having
that technology privately really would give us an edge until other
companies started to copy us. We’d make back that money in no
time.”
    “So you think I should do it?”
    “I guess. It’s probably the best way to
go.”
    “Alright. I’ll tell her when I see her
today.”
    “Cool.”
    “Bye.”
    “Wait,” he said. “How’d it go at the
doctor?”
    “Good,” I said. “The doctor said everything
should be smooth from this point forward.”
    “That’s great.” He seemed genuinely
happy.
    “Yeah.”
    “Be warned; when Scarlet gets big, she’s
going to be bitchy.”
    “My wife is already bitchy.”
    He laughed. “It gets worse.” He hung up.
    I sat at my desk and waited for noon to
arrive. That’s when Aris would be returning. I wasn’t sexist, but
playing hardball with a woman was odd to me. In the year that I’ve
been here, I’ve never had to deal with women in meetings or
negotiations. It was strictly a male dominated world. I was
naturally gentle with women because that’s how I was raised. It was
hard to be aggressive with them.
    She came inside at