Chapter Eleven #2
The company was new, but the financial statements showed steady growth with clean profit margins.
He read further, mentally praising Bevin for how polished the assignment appeared.
The growth charts were impressive, detailed, and professional.
Yet the more he read, the more Finn felt that something wasn’t right.
Not with the numbers, those were solid, but with the tone.
The company write-up didn’t read like an assignment. It read like a proposal.
He had seen enough of them while working with Lucas and had even put a few together himself.
Although the company had experienced significant growth, it still had shortcomings and areas that needed improvement.
But that was the nature of new start-ups.
Not everything worked the first time. When he moved on to the next page, his breath caught in his throat.
Eighty to twenty percent stake with majority voting rights. His name was typed on the first line.
What? What the hell?
He glanced at Bevin, who still wasn’t looking his way, far too casual for what he had just handed over.
Then Finn looked back at the documents. He flipped to the front page and quickly skimmed through the rest, his pulse beginning to pound in his ears as the pieces fell into place.
The realization hit hard. This wasn’t an assignment.
It was a contract.
Finn snapped his head up, disbelief flashing across his face. "Bevin, what do you mean by this?"
"Don't play dumb," Bevin said as he put his cellphone away and finally looked at Finn, his expression steady now, no trace of teasing.
"But…"
"Do you remember our freshman year when you told me you wanted to start your own company?"
Finn nodded, wondering exactly where the hell Bevin was headed with this conversation. Of course he remembered. He had laid out his entire plan that night, every goal and step he wanted to take.
He had been certain Bevin wasn’t listening.
After all, he had fallen asleep before Finn even got to the part about wanting to be the CEO of his own company.
Still, it wasn’t as if he had only said it once.
He had repeated that dream a few more times since that night, stubborn and determined each time.
"I know you thought I haven't been listening to you all these years, but Finn, how can I not?
" Bevin stood, walked over, and sat on the bed beside him, close enough that their knees brushed.
"I've always heard you, Finn. I know what this might look like.
I went ahead and put every idea you talked about into action before you could even get started.
You might feel cheated, or what I'm about to say might make it sound like I'm pitying you or using my wealth to get what I want, but not this time. "
He sighed and gently took the files from Finn's hands, holding them between them.
"I can't run a business without you. I tried.
Sure, the figures look good, but it's not where I wanted them to be before I presented them to you.
" Bevin lifted his gaze to Finn's, earnest and unguarded.
"I wanted to impress you with everything you taught me and helped me with.
But Finn, seriously, your dream is not my dream.
So I'm giving this company to you. I'll stay on as a silent partner. "
"Bevin, I don't know what to say," Finn said after a few moments of heavy silence, his voice quieter than usual.
"Say yes, because everyone already thinks you're the CEO anyway."
Finn blinked. "What do you mean by that?"
"It's not on paper, but since the beginning, I've been telling every investor that you were my partner. And when they ask where you are, I tell them you're speaking with other investors."
Finn stared at him, incredulous. You and your father are so alike. Bossy and always trying to take over my life.
The thought burned through him, equal parts frustration and reluctant affection, because beneath the control was something else entirely. They both believed in him, sometimes more than he believed in himself.
"You're backing me into a corner here," he muttered, torn between annoyance and awe.
"I know," Bevin said quietly. "And although you're not showing it, you have every right to be angry and far from impressed that I did this without your permission. But I want to plead my case."
Finn exhaled slowly. "Go ahead. I'm listening."
Bevin held his gaze, steady and sincere. "I didn't want you to struggle or delay your dream."
Finn snorted and shook his head. "Are you serious?"
"I am. Hell, I'm sure that's why my dad offered to be your partner."
Finn opened his mouth to respond, but Bevin lifted a hand, stopping him before he could get the words out.
"No, wait," he said quickly. "I blame your charisma, your ability to bring out this protectiveness in people that they probably didn't even know was there.
I admire your intelligence, your independence, and your willingness to do things on your own without asking for help.
But after coming close to almost losing you, I refuse to not see you happy. "
His voice lost its edge, turning earnest.
"You're my friend, Finn. No, friend is the wrong word.
You're family. And if whatever is happening between you and my father doesn't work out, I'd be on your side, not his.
" He held Finn's gaze, making sure it landed.
"I want to see your dream come true, and I don't want you to wait.
You're talented. You shouldn't have to work for someone else just to get experience. You already have it."
Bevin knew Finn well, but in this case, he was wrong. Finn was not nearly as angry as he probably should have been. If anything, he was quietly impressed that Bevin had gone through all of this just to do something for him. Still, he didn’t want it handed to him for free.
"I know this isn't your dream, Bev, but what does that mean when you take over your family's company?"
"I'll be fine then, because that is my dream. I know my dad wants me to live a little, and I plan on starting from the bottom because I want to know every damn thing about my family's company. This…" He tapped the file between them. "This is for you."
Finn swallowed. "I can't take this for free. And the fact that you're trusting me with millions of dollars because of our friendship is intimidating. I really don't know if I can accept this."
"You can. Think of it as an early Christmas, birthday, and wedding present from me," Bevin said with a grin.
"Let's not think about weddings yet." Finn chuckled, shaking his head. Then his expression turned more serious. "But can I think about it, seriously?"
Bevin nodded without hesitation. "Take all the time you need."
"I'm not sure," he told Prince, pulling himself out of the memory. "What Bevin is offering me isn't something I can accept lightly."
"Then change the structure of the contract," Prince suggested, as if it were the simplest solution in the world. "Bevin might not seem like he has his head on his shoulders at times, but he knows exactly what he's doing."
Finn studied him. "How should I change the contract?"
"Rework it so it benefits you both. Right now, as it stands, you hold eighty percent of the shares and he has twenty.
I know why he did that, but don't dismiss those twenty percent.
Once your firm goes public, and it will, he stands to make millions.
But right now, you two aren't on equal footing.
" He held Finn's gaze. "Would it feel better if it were fifty-fifty? "
Finn considered that. "Maybe," he admitted.
"Then there you go," Prince said. "But I can assure you, you'll be doing most of the work once the contract is finalized. I know Bevin won't cheat you, but if you need lawyers, I can help you with that."
"No need," Finn said quickly.
The response came faster than he intended.
He didn’t feel right accepting any more help from the two Sullivan men.
Between being in a relationship with one and having the other practically throw a company at him, it was already overwhelming.
He needed at least one piece of this to stand firmly on his own.
"I know it's a lot, but don't worry, we won't take over your life," Prince said gently, as if he could read every thought crossing Finn's face.
"Are you sure? Because it feels like so much is happening all at once."
Prince leaned in and kissed him on the forehead, lingering there for a second. "We'll go as slow as you want," he promised softly. "And I'll tell Bevin to back off."
"Thanks." Finn felt some of the pressure ease from his chest. He hadn’t realized how tightly he had been holding everything in until Prince responded with such steady understanding.
"Anything you need, babe. This isn't a fling, at least not for me."
Finn’s smile softened. “Me too.”
Their lips met in a lingering kiss, slow and certain. For now, that was enough. Finn didn’t know what the future had in store, but as Prince’s hand rested warm and steady against him, he felt something close to peace. He wasn’t sure where it would all lead.
But he was ready to find out.