3. Rashad
CHAPTER 3
RASHAD
R ashad poured himself a cup of strong coffee and opened his laptop. It was after eleven at night, but he was still used to the Al-Soubi time zone, where it was morning now. Plus, he had work to do, and he couldn’t afford to waste too much time on little luxuries like sleep. A few clicks later, he’d joined a video call with Abdul and Amira, who both looked put-together and very awake.
“Rashad.” Amira leaned forward, folding her fingers together. “I wasn’t sure we’d hear from you tonight.”
“I figured I would give you a quick update.”
“That’s very much appreciated.” Abdul tapped a few keys, likely opening a document to take notes. Of Rashad’s two business partners, Abdul was the more meticulous and concerned with records. “Did you meet Nina Kendrick?”
“I did. We spoke briefly at the event, as planned.”
“What were you able to find out from her?” Amira asked.
“Not much, not yet. She’s fairly closed off and seemed suspicious of my intentions — which makes her smart. We barely discussed her business, but I was able to talk to several of her investors and one of her employees at the event. She’s business-savvy, but kindhearted — she wants to help people. That should be a good foothold.”
“Do you foresee any issues getting her out of the market?” Abdul asked.
Rashad hesitated. An image of Nina, leaning forward with a knowing smile as she told him that she wasn’t interested in further discussions, flickered through his mind. She’d been even more lovely in person than in her online pictures. Smarter, too. It was clearer than ever that she’d be a worthy opponent — but Rashad had squared off against worthy opponents before, and he’d always emerged victorious.
“No. It shouldn’t be a problem. I just need to formulate the best strategy — a buyout, direct competition, a hostile takeover — we’ll see. I should know more after I’ve had the chance to talk to her, which should be soon. I offered her a meeting this weekend.”
“And she accepted?”
Rashad smiled, a slow smile. “Not yet, but she will.” He always got what he wanted in the end. Despite Nina’s noncommittal attitude at the event, he knew she’d agree to the meeting — a smart businessperson always agreed to a meeting in order to learn as much as possible about a potential rival. Nina was nothing if not a smart businessperson.
“Excellent. Keep us updated.”
“Of course.” Rashad hung up the call and sat back, reaching for his cup of coffee. To his surprise, he felt a little guilty about how cavalierly he’d told his partners that he could get Nina out of the market. Perhaps it was because she was beautiful, or perhaps it was because all evidence pointed to the fact that she was kind-hearted and cared deeply about others. It didn’t matter either way. Rashad would never allow himself to grow soft, not when it would mean losing his chance to dominate the US market.
Even if Rashad had wanted to go easy on Nina, Abdul and Amira would have pulled him back. They had their money and their reputations in this game just as much as Rashad did, and they would have stopped him from making a mistake. He was lucky to have them.
Rashad pulled up a spreadsheet of numbers from Health Trackr’s sales in Germany to date. It was a blatant attempt to distract himself from thoughts of Nina Kendrick, and it worked — seeing sales skyrocket in the new market was further proof that Rashad’s strategies did what they were supposed to. Nina and Heartbeat were just obstacles to success, the same way that Medtech Nord had been in Germany, the same way that Well-Track had been in Australia. In a few weeks, he wouldn’t have to think of Nina Kendrick, her evaluating blue eyes, and her flattering blue dress that accentuated her feminine curves, anymore.
Rashad directed his attention to a pile of emails that had come in during the evening. The last was from Nina.
Mr. Al-Zayed,
Thank you for your generous invitation to a meeting this weekend. I’ll come by tomorrow around eleven.
Best regards,
Nina Kendrick
Once again, Rashad smiled to himself. It was just as he’d expected; he always got what he wanted. Nina had seemed hesitant to meet with him, but now she’d agreed to sit down with him. Something had changed her mind, and, although Rashad was curious, it didn’t matter what. He only needed an hour or two with her to find out everything he needed to know. After that, it wouldn’t be long until he had a strategy to deal with her company, and Health Trackr would rise to the top. As always.
Quickly, Rashad emailed back.
Dear Nina,
Thank you for your quick response. I look forward to meeting with you tomorrow. Please pack for a weekend of sailing along the coast.
Best,
Rashad
Still smiling, Rashad turned his attention to the next order of business. He was looking forward to seeing Nina the next day, though he didn’t want to look too closely at why.
Rashad didn’t sleep until late that night. When he woke the next morning, he had time to make use of the yacht’s gym and check in with the bare-bones sailing crew he employed for sea voyages. After a quick breakfast, he changed into a casual pair of shorts and a top. A glance in the mirror of his cabin showed a man who looked relaxed and at ease. Rashad ran a hand through his hair and gave a casual smile. That smile was one he’d developed over time, and it was one of the most effective ways to throw off his opponents. If they thought he was relaxed, they were more likely to let their guards down, which made Rashad’s job that much easier.
A glance at his watch showed that it was almost time for Nina’s arrival. Rashad headed to his ship’s first balcony, which had an excellent view over the dock. He’d be able to spot Nina coming and welcome her with a glass of champagne. They would begin their meeting, pause for a light lunch as they sailed out of San Diego Bay, and resume in the afternoon.
Yet eleven o’clock came and went with no sign of Nina. Despite himself, Rashad began to worry. Perhaps she’d changed her mind and wasn’t coming after all. Perhaps this would be the first time Rashad wouldn’t get what he wanted. It was a sobering thought, and one he quickly dismissed — whether Nina came or not, he could still salvage his deal somehow.