Chapter 6
The spreadsheet on my screen is a sea of red, like a digital battlefield where all the numbers have been slain. I blink and rub my eyes, half-hoping that a second look will magically resurrect those digits into black. But nothing happens.
If it were up to me, the idea would have been scrapped days ago. Cash, however, has a strange fascination with this sinking ship, which is the only reason why I’m contemplating throwing them a life jacket. Because if I don’t rein him in, he’ll do it anyway, and we’ll end up paying way too much.
I call his number.
He picks up on the first ring. “Hey. What’s the verdict?”
“The verdict is no.” Even as I’m saying it, I know he won’t listen to my voice of reason. “My advice would be to leave it and move on.”
He’s quiet for a second. From the hum and occasional honk in the background I can tell he’s in the back of his limo, on his way to his next meeting. “We’re good at fixing things, Noah. We don’t run from challenges.”
“I agree. We can navigate anything that’s thrown at us.
” I think about the insider trading fiasco and how we managed to get through it without much help from our CEO.
It was at a time when Cash was so distracted by a random woman he’d met in Hawaii but couldn’t find, I thought the entire company might tank while he searched for her.
Then she showed up out of the blue—we’d hired her without realizing who she was—and Dusty turned out to be the love of his life.
So we forgave him, of course. But I know as we’re talking that we’re both well aware that it was Colton and me who managed to pull I.E.
back from the brink. It’s one of many reasons I know he’ll listen to me.
“Ashton Holdings is an unnecessary risk. It’s one we don’t need. ”
“Our line of business is all about risk, brother. It’s literally how we make money.”
“I’m aware of that, Cash.” I rub my hand across my jaw. “But my job is to analyze whether the risk comes with a big enough reward. And this one isn’t guaranteeing that.”
“Only because it’s been mismanaged for a long time. Surely you can see the potential here, Noah.”
“Yes. I can. But it’s not worth the asking price you’ve given me. Cut that number in half and then maybe we can do something with it. We need to go in lower.”
Cash pauses but finally relents. “Okay. Let’s offer fifteen million then.”
I’m glad he’s finally seeing some sense. “For the record, I still think it’s a bad idea. But you’re right, there’s potential here. And we can work with fifteen.”
“You know, I’m surprised,” Cash drawls. “I thought you’d jump at the opportunity to help a poor little undervalued company with huge potential and a tragic backstory.
You know that kid is having a bad month.
” The kid who inherited the company and is now acting CEO is listed as L. Emerson. “We’re about to make his day.”
“Either that or ruin it.”
“I respect your opinion on this, Noah, you know I do. I want you to be happy with the numbers.”
“Happy is overstating it. But for that price, we can make it work.”
“Okay. Good. Thank you, Noah. I’ll give this L. Emerson a call tomorrow morning then.”
“Keep me posted.”
We end the call and I lean back in my chair, rubbing my eyes. Fuck, why does it feel like it’s the longest day ever?
Usually I love my job.
I thrive on it.
But the decision I made this morning is coloring everything.
I’ve given up.
No, I’ve decided to be realistic. There’s a difference.
Is there?
The door of my office opens, and Colton walks in with his phone held out, like it contains something rare and breakable. “We have a match, ladies and gentlemen!”
I narrow my eyes at him. “What?”
“Feast your eyes upon your perfect woman. Ninety-eight point two percent compatibility. You should probably just skip dinner and get hitched already.” Cole grins, holding his phone out to me.
I read the name in the middle of the screen. “Lucky Irish? You’ve got to be kidding me. What is she, a leprechaun?”
“Either that or your pot of gold.”
“Jesus, Colton. This has to be a fake.”
Cole laughs. “Your name is fake too, Mr. Steel.”
“I can’t believe you named me that,” I grumble.
“Sloane and Cleo wanted to go with Noah Grey, given your reputation, but I reined them in.”
“What reputation?”
“Apparently one of the girls knows someone you went out with.”
“So?”
“They call you ‘the beast’.” Colton’s grinning from ear to ear.
I ignore him as best I can. “Anyway, I’m not dating Lucky Charm.”
“Lucky Irish. Before you refuse, at least look at her photo.”
“Colton, would you drop it already?” This is starting to piss me off.
“Dude, I’m trying to help you. We need to do something to improve your atrocious mood.
The app has suggested the two of you meet at a bar called Hopeless Romantic tomorrow night.
It’s new. It’s only three blocks from here and has so far received only five star reviews.
One tap and you’re booked for tomorrow— if she taps too, which I’m betting she will. ”
I stack and file the paperwork I’ve been staring at all afternoon. “The app tells you where to meet?” I guess that’s mildly interesting.
“The algorithms figure out the place where you’re most likely to feel comfortable based on your profiles.”
“You’re wasting both our time.” I sigh, feeling surly. “She probably wouldn’t even show up.”
Colton smirks. “Oh, she’ll show.”
“How do you know? Are you pretending you’re me and chatting her up or something?”
More laughter. “I would never do that.” He’s enjoying my misery immensely. “Besides, the app doesn’t have a chat function. It’s designed to get people to meet in real life. No texting until after you’ve met.”
“I’m not doing it, so you and Cleo and Sloane can stop meddling in my love life and work on your own.”
“My love life is already perfect, thanks for asking. Yours, however, has room for improvement.” Colton sets his phone down, sliding it across the desk. “At least look at her before you refuse.”
Grumpily, I pick up his phone, glancing at the picture.
Zooming in a little.
Holy hell.
She’s smiling. Her hair is white-blond and wavy, hanging almost to her bare, warm-looking shoulders.
She has olive skin and eyes that are a bright, off-neon shade of blue.
Her teeth are white and neat-looking and her lips are full and pink.
She’s very… colorful . There’s something wholesome about her, but with an edge.
You get the feeling she’s got a wild side.
She looks, in a word, luscious . Against my will—and at the worst possible time imaginable—my mouth waters and my cock thickens.
Fuck. Behind her, the trees and faraway buildings are framed against a blue sky.
She’s in Central Park, on one of those perfect New York days.
“This has to be fake. Nobody looks like this.”
“Photos are scanned to see if they’re AI-enhanced. This one isn’t.”
“It tells you that?”
“Yep.”
“This is real?”
“Completely real.”
I zoom in a little further. She’s fucking gorgeous. You can tell she’s both sweet and sassy just by looking at her. She’s curvy and has a quirky style, reminding me of one of those fifties pin-up girls with a modern twist.
She’s absolutely flawless, is what she is.
Colton is highly amused by the way I’m staring. “All you have to do is click confirm. Then if she also clicks, it’s a date.”
“She hasn’t confirmed yet?”
“Not yet. But the algorithm only made the match around ten minutes ago. Give her time. Cleo and Sloane chose the photo and they both said you look hot.”
“Which photo?” I ask, hating myself for suddenly caring about my profile on this ridiculous app.
“That one of you on your deck at the Hamptons house. Cleo and Sloane said you look normal and approachable.”
“Approachable?” I cringe, still staring at Lucky Irish’s picture.
“Yes. You don’t look like a lunatic, in other words.”
“Oh.” I’m too distracted by the photo to reply further.
“At this stage, both of you have only given non-identifying information. But we do know she’s lived in New York her whole life and she works doing something in finance.”
“She doesn’t look old enough to be in finance.”
“She’s probably having the same doubts you’re having, Noah. She’ll be just as surprised as you that she’s found someone who’s compatible with her. So, what do you say?” His eyes lock onto mine, the humor fading into something that could almost pass for concern.
I hesitate, flicking my gaze from Cole back to Lucky Irish.
“You might as well meet her,” he says. “Look at her. She’s fucking gorgeous.”
I frown and I can’t name the emotion that’s suddenly coursing through my veins. He can see that too? Of course he can. Is this suddenly feverish pull… jealousy ?
“Can I have my phone back now?” he grins.
“No.” I’m not done staring at her.
“So,” Colton says, almost gently. “You like what you see. All you have to do is click to confirm and you can meet her tomorrow night. You’ve got nothing to lose, bro. Just do it.”
Unfortunately, he’s right. I don’t have anything to lose. Tumbleweeds are currently rolling through the deserted wasteland of my romantic life. I also, I remind myself, this very morning, made the decision to give up on finding love and work instead on getting fucking laid.
This girl who’s smiling beatifically at me in all her sun-lit glory could in fact be the answer to all my disillusioned prayers.
The fact that I’m practically hard from one glance at a total stranger in a slightly out-of-focus photo on a tiny screen confirms that my dry spell has sent me spiraling into the outer orbits of severe sexual frustration. Something needs to be done about it.
“Live a little,” comes my brother’s relentless encouragement.
Which at this point I might even be grateful for.
He brought me Lucky Irish. “We all know you’re the steady one.
The reliable one. The one who keeps everyone grounded and always has our backs.
Well, this time I’ve got your back. The app is legit, the girl is real and you’ve got no plans tomorrow night.
Cleo already checked your calendar. I’ve got a good feeling about this one, man. I want you to find what I have.”
I look up at him, a little shocked by the genuine emotion coming from my playboy-turned-smitten brother. “Wow, Cole. That was?—”
“Deep?” he interrupts, the smile returning to his face. “Yeah, Lila says I have layers. Like a sexy onion. So, are we booking this date or what?”
I glance back at Lucky’s profile and then back at Cole. His eyes are still filled with that new light—love—that has changed him for the better. The kind of love I’ve never experienced. It’s the kind of glow I want to feel. Just once.
“All right,” I say, punching the confirm button. “Let's see if Noah Steel has better luck than Noah Maddox.”