CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
R OBERT
Damn, what a whirlwind.
It only took one phone call and two emails. Hudson came online with me that morning and insisted we talk moments after I sent a message saying I’d be interested in hearing more about his proposed opportunity. Half an hour later, I was booked on the last flight out from Cincinnati. I landed after ten, checked into the Four Seasons, and promptly fell asleep from exhaustion.
Now, I was on the deck of Hudson’s yacht, which had a slip in a marina near Indian Creek. Eighty feet long, hardwood flooring, vintage details. Impressive in an understated yet high-end way.
“I’m telling you, even though I’ve been here six months, this view doesn’t get old,” Hudson said from behind a pair of classic Ray-Ban aviators.
He had a beer glass in one hand, and he leaned back in his chair, surveying the view before us. A few dozen boats rounded out the rest of the marina, and from the deck we had a 180-degree view of downtown Miami. I had to admit, it was stunning, even as the temperature crept from hot to hotter. It was going to be a muggy, humid day, but my old college friend had insisted we take this meeting on his vessel.
It was all about impressing me. I knew that. It was also about showing me what was possible if we went into business together. And for the last half hour, Hudson had been dreaming. He’d always been great at that.
“I’m sorry we lost touch,” he said. “Didn’t plan for that to happen.”
“That’s life.”
“I know, but it doesn’t have to be going forward.”
“Which is why I’m here, right?”
He drank some more beer and signaled for the boat staff. “Since the fund is doing well, I want to bring on a couple of principals, guys who will be willing to cross the country and the world until they find the next unicorn.”
“I’ve never done acquisitions.”
“You have always been fucking great at marketing and promotions. Remember how you handled that Sigma fundraiser?”
“The one for multiple sclerosis?”
He nodded. “Most successful one for the chapter.”
“That wasn’t hard to do.”
He placed his now empty glass on the marine-grade polymer table between us. “Come on. You know what I’m asking.”
I could guess, but I said, “Enlighten me.”
“This is a huge opportunity. We do things right, and we won’t have to wait years or decades to see the results. We could be in the stratosphere one year from now.”
“That depends on a lot of factors.” I glanced at the view over the boat deck. “I’m not saying we can’t achieve it, but it’s going to take a lot of things lining up the right way.”
“Aha. So, you are considering this.”
I nodded. I was, no doubt about that. It would be a huge chance for me, and working at a VC firm like this was a dream. After all, I was a bit of an alpha male. As much as I tried to hide it, as much as I tried to remake myself, I couldn’t change that much about me. At my core, I liked to win. I liked to dominate. I did that in New York. Did that in every stage of my life. How many times had I walked into a meeting and known within the first ten seconds I’d be able to shape every person’s mind?
It was what I did best.
“Will I have to move to Miami?” I asked.
“Well, I’m hoping you will.”
“I’ve got a pretty good life in Ohio.” And that includes Anya...
He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “We’re talking about a one point two base salary to start, and a twenty-five percent stake in the company. Plus, bonuses.”
I gaped at him. A salary over one million dollars was generous. It was also double what I made in Manhattan, even in my best years. I hadn’t come to this meeting with a number in my head, but this exceeded whatever I would have put together. And if we managed to find the next big thing...
Holy shit, we’re talking about fuck you money.
I closed my mouth and forced my face into a blank expression. This was a negotiation too, and I didn’t want Hudson to think he had any advantage. If this was his first offer, he’d go higher. Possibly much higher.
“I’ve got a lot of things going on in Ohio right now, and the store will be opening in a few weeks.” Ten days... if I’m lucky.
“I figured that. It sounds like a great concept. I like the combination of bar, event space, and bookstore.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m sure you’ll need some time to work out how you can turn over management and get down here.”
I pulled a face. He expected I’d say yes to his offer, as if this was a foregone conclusion that I’d leave my new endeavor and relocate here, walking away from everything I’d built in New Burlington. But maybe I can figure out a way to make this work...
“I’ll need at least a few weeks,” I said.
Hudson grinned. “We’re going to do big things, my friend, and I’m sure when you meet the rest of the team, you’re going to agree that this is exactly the route your life needs to take.”
It was a heady proposition. He was right, and some of the best opportunities in life came in the moments you weren’t looking for them, when you were just going about your business. You never knew who was noticing you, and that was the best part—the possibility that someone would see you for who you were and what you could do.
“Don’t take too long to think about it,” Hudson added. “Miami and all she can offer won’t stick around.”
He was right. I had two choices. I could either move fast or get out of the way. There was no third option.
Leaving New York City had been a no-brainer. I knew I wouldn’t last in an environment that had felt so ethically immoral. But could I get a management crew to run the bar? It was too small a town to sell it, success untested. Maybe I could run it for a month, train up new management, and run it as a silent backer from Miami? That could be doable. My mom had been disappointed when I left the Big Apple, but she’d probably love the idea of being slightly closer to her geographically, especially with so much financial promise. This is an amazing opportunity for me.
So why am I hesitating?