Chapter 12
Twelve
S ybil
We need to talk asap. Where can we meet and when?
Cooper finally texts a week after he left me in that boardroom with his cryptic whisper in my ear. This last week has been a shit-show, but the ownership shares have been exchanged. It’s done. Leave it to him to get his five percent stake before bothering to contact me.
The board is outraged, several members upset about a contract they knew nothing about.
I’m surprised Lance Vale is holding it together so well.
It’s a clear indication he’s gunning for the official CEO position, and I think he’ll get it in the near future.
Hayes is earmarked for the role down the road, but it’s going to be a long time before my little brother will be ready.
My goals haven’t changed. Soon, I’ll become president of the Laurence Foundation. Despite my age, I’ve proven myself capable of the role, and it’s what my father wanted for me. His legacy still matters.
Through all this, it’s been him I can’t stop thinking about. Dad is constantly on my mind.
Staring at my phone, reading over Cooper’s text again and again, I debate what to type back. Part of me never wants to see Cooper again, but I know that’s not realistic.
Frustration swirls in my stomach. I have to see him face to face, even if reason says I should turn this conversation into a phone call. I can’t bring myself to do that.
I open the thread to reply, thumb hesitating over the screen. The old me would’ve told Cooper to come over, but he’s never been to my new apartment, and there’s no way I’m letting him into my safe space.
We’re not friends anymore.
Meet for drinks in an hour? I reply.
His response is instant. Yes. Where?
I send him the location of a nearby hotel lobby bar, hoping for a discreet and neutral public place.
An hour later, I’ve put myself together, brushing out my hair and slipping on my favorite jeans and a simple black sweater with matching boots. I look stylish, casual, professional, confident, and not like I’m trying too hard. Perfect. Forget the fact that on the inside, I’m a nervous wreck.
When I arrive, Cooper is at the bar, talking with Perry Hargrove.
I smile immediately. Perry has been able to keep all his friendships alive after the split between the Laurences and the Kings, which is saying something, considering most everyone else chose sides.
But that’s Perry, always keeping it real and doing his own thing despite what everyone else says.
“Hi guys,” I say, sliding onto the barstool beside Cooper. “What’s going on?”
The men turn on me, Perry with that dazzling smile on his broad lips and Cooper with a wicked glint in his eyes. Oh boy, they’re up to something.
“Sorry I had to crash your… uh… meeting,” Perry says. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you both about.”
Cooper waves him off. “Let’s order the lady a drink first.” He motions the bartender over. “Do you still prefer cosmopolitans?”
I do, but I’m not about to let him think he knows my drink order.
“I’ll have your house Pinot Grigio, please,” I tell the bartender.
“I’ll have a whiskey sour,” Perry says, and Cooper opts for a Coke.
The bartender gets us our drinks, and I eye Cooper. I’ve never known him to go alcohol free at a bar.
“You’re not drinking?” I ask.
“Not tonight.”
There’s something more, his tone guarded.
Maybe he took what I said to him at New Year to heart, and he’s laying off the alcohol.
He was drinking too much—a problem he’s had since college.
If he’s sober now, I’d be surprised. More likely he’s realized his limits, and he’s not drinking before business meetings.
I raise a brow. “That’s not like you.”
His eyes snap to my face, his mouth hardening. “I’ve changed a lot over the last year.”
My stupid eyes flit to his pant leg and back up again, shame immediately burning across my cheeks when he catches me. I shouldn’t be looking for his prosthetic. I don’t know how to act about it, what to say or do.
“Alright, let’s talk business.” Cooper shifts the subject, leaning so I can get a better view of Perry on his other side.
Perry is a dazzlingly handsome African American man. He’s got beautiful dark skin and onyx bedroom eyes and the kind of open smile that’s framed by deep dimples, drawing people in.
But it’s Cooper I can’t stop looking at. His face is hard and closed off. His hair has been recently cut into a shorter, harsher style than when I last saw him, as if to match his mood. He’s as devastatingly handsome as ever, but he’s different.
He’s unreachable.
“You ready to have your mind blown, Laurence?” Perry turns his charm in my direction, and I prepare for a pitch. “I have an incredible idea for a television show I want to co-produce with King Media and Laurence International as my backers.”
I blink rapidly. Uhhh… what?
Maybe I shouldn’t be shocked, considering he’s building a career in television production and has had success already launching and selling a hit show.
Why would he want Laurence to have anything to do with his next project?
Laurence got completely out of the media business when we cut ties with King.
We’re in almost every other sector—especially technology—but our media holdings were so tied up with King that when the relationship imploded, Dad convinced the board to take our money and run.
“Why would you be pitching this to me?” I ask. “No offense, but I’m with the Laurence Foundation. I work in philanthropy. We have nothing to do with television production, let alone reality television. Cooper, I understand, what with all of King’s media holdings, but me?”
The men stare me down, completely unflappable.
“Hear him out,” Cooper instructs, unable to fully mask his annoyance.
Perry nods. “The show is a modern, younger, and fresher take on popular reality shows, similar to Real Housewives.”
“Okay, I know those are popular, but I hate those kinds of shows. I’m not the right person for this. I’m sorry, Perry.”
Perry smiles like I’d be a fool not to hear him out.
“Will you let the man talk?” Cooper snaps, and I shoot him a scathing look and take a long drink of my wine.
“You may hate those kinds of shows…” Perry laughs. “Hell, I don’t love them myself, but most Americans eat that shit up. Do you remember that old MTV show, The Real World ?”
“Vaguely. I think it got canceled when we were little.”
“Doesn’t matter. It was incredibly popular. That cancellation was an MTV-issue, not a Real World-issue.”
Perry leans forward, his eyes not just bright with passion, but burning with it.
I’m not surprised. This is how he’s always been.
Perry double majored in business and film studies.
We were twenty when he decided he was going to carve his own path with his career in television production instead of walking the one his parents had ready-made for him in plastics manufacturing.
He’s stronger than most of my friends, considering he actually followed through on his dreams.
“All those people lived together in a house and moved to a new city for a set amount of time. That was the premise of the show. Simple, but it worked.”
“Your new show is going to be like that?”
“Kind of. We’re going to pick people who already live here in New York City, but we’re going to move them in together and follow their lives for a three-month span.”
“What makes that special?” I don’t say it, but this sounds like everything else out there already. I don’t see it landing with audiences. Been there, done that.
“It’s all in the casting.” His eyes sparkle with determination and his large hands steeple together.
“With enough funding, we can get the kind of people on the show everyone in America will tune in for. Young, attractive people who are already famous. I’m talking about athletes, supermodels, and movie stars.
People like that will have everyone watching my show. ”
Cooper turns to me, his gaze holding mine. “You know the kind of people he wants to cast, Valentine. They’re the ones everyone wants to be or wants to be with.”
For a second, I imagine Cooper on the show. At least half of Americans would tune in for this man. A gorgeous billionaire and heir to a media empire? Absolutely.
“You honestly believe those people will agree to go on a reality television show?” I lean across the bar toward Perry, suddenly very aware I’m in Cooper’s personal space, the scent of coke and expensive cologne mixing with his maleness.
“Look, I’m not one to nay say on my friends’ dreams. If this were possible, you’re right, people would tune in.
But the high-profile cast you’re looking for won’t live together with cameras in their face all day and night. ”
“How do you know?” Coop asks.
I turn on him. “Would you? We’ve lived in these types of circles our entire lives. We’re trained to avoid negative media attention.”
Perry’s grin catches my attention, his enthusiasm like that of a little kid at Christmas. “What would you say if I told you I already have agreements with several cast members?”
My spine straightens. “I’d say you’re more serious about this than I thought.”
“I’m dead serious. I want to be filthy rich and successful in my own right, and this show is how I’m going to make that happen.
” He’s more certain of himself than ever.
I’ll be honest, it’s pretty impressive, and he must agree, given the cocky grin on his face.
“I’ve been shopping this idea for months, and King would like to partner with me, but… ”
“But my father doesn’t want to invest the amount of capital that is needed to land the high-caliber cast,” Coop cuts in. “We need more money—a lot more—and that’s where Laurence comes in.”
I try to relax in my chair, the weight of this heavier than I thought.
I don’t want to let Perry down, but I can’t get his hopes up.
“I’m sorry, but the board won’t agree to something like this, and I don’t have the kind of money you’re talking about.
No offense, but Laurence is trying to distance ourselves from King, not enter into more agreements. ”
A hush falls between us. For a second, we’re at a standstill. Whose move?
“Perry, why don’t you excuse yourself? There’s something Sybil and I need to discuss in private,” Cooper says, and my stomach drops.
His move, apparently.
“I actually need to head out, but I’ll be in touch. Sybil, you don’t want to miss this.” Perry finishes his drink and disappears out the front door, his hand raised to hail a cab.
I glower at Cooper. “If you think you’re going to use your little five percent to blackmail me into going to the board for you, you’re crazy.
I love Perry, but our two companies working together is not a good idea, and I’m not going to be the one to pitch the idea that has a snowball’s chance in hell. ”
Cooper is slow to answer, as if methodically thinking every word through. I wish I could be like that. I’m hot-tempered, the words often rolling off my tongue as soon as I think them.
“He’s trying to build his career. Do you blame him for asking?” Coop asks.
“I’m trying to build my career, too.”
He lets out a small laugh. “I thought your career was already made for you.”
Anger burns hot. I know I’m a nepotism hire, that I come from immense privilege, but I fight tooth and nail to prove myself every day. Cooper should understand what that is like, considering we’re in the same position.
“As if you have room to talk.” I take a long sip of my remaining wine, trying to hide my frustration behind the glass.
He raises his Coke in a touché gesture and takes a long drink.
“If you agree to do this—really do this—get the board to give you the money to fund the first season successfully. Then I’ll give you that five percent stake I took.”
The world has been upside down for the past two weeks and suddenly it flips right side up. I set my glass down, trying not to gape at him or get my hopes up. “Are you serious?”
“We’ll put it in writing, but there’s a caveat.”
“Of course, there is,” I sigh, the hope gone as quickly as it came.
“The show has to be good. It has to succeed, for Perry’s sake, or it’s all a waste.” He pauses, and a faraway regretful look overtakes his features. “I’m doing this for my best friend. I’ve had a lot of friends over the years, and Perry is the only one who stayed with me when it mattered most.”
Ouch.
Everything I was about to say falls flat on my tongue. He’s talking about me. I know he is. And while I had my reasons, I still don’t blame him for hating me. I ruined our friendship. I gave it away.
Because I had to.
“I don’t need stake in your company,” he continues. “As much as it delights me to have your panties in a twist, it’s not what’s driving me forward.”
“As if you have any effect on my panties.” Once again, my words tumble out without going through my brain first.
He smirks, his eyes dropping down my body and slowly back up again. Traitorous heat floods every inch of my skin. This cannot keep happening. It’s been years. Cooper shouldn’t be able to rattle me like this with a suggestive look.
“Sure,” he drawls. “No effect at all.”
Damn him.