The Dating Plan(22)
“I think we should go for drinks and brainstorm ideas to save the company,” Josh said. “Friday night after work. Who’s in? Daisy is, of course, because she absolutely loves going out with her work colleagues to party.” He gave her a hopeful grin, even though she always turned him down.
Before she was forced into an awkward explanation, Tyler walked into the office looking more unkempt than usual, in a rumpled shirt, baggy jeans, and sock feet. His thick graying beard and uncombed hair were a decided contrast to the clean-shaven look he had sported until things started to go downhill.
Tyler had never been interested in running the company. He’d left the business side to Kristina and her then-boyfriend, Derek, who convinced them to expand the product line to include diapers, adult incontinence undergarments, and sexual health products. Unfortunately, their new slogan, “From Cradle to Grave, Top to Bottom,” didn’t translate well internationally—“Baby Bite My Grandfather’s Ass” not being the optimal message for foreign consumers. Funding dried up. Derek took his money and ran. A jilted Kristina left the company to do outreach in developing countries. And poor Tyler was left holding the bag.
The noise quickly died down and Daisy pushed her chair into the aisle to hear what he had to say.
“As you might have guessed from the move, our last round of fundraising didn’t go well,” Tyler said. “I’m still not giving up, but I know many of you have families and financial commitments, so I want to tell you where we stand so you can make informed decisions about your future . . .”
Daisy stifled a gasp when he outlined the cuts that were about to come. Josh had been right about the layoffs, but that was only the beginning. If things didn’t pick up after one month, another 20 percent of the team would have to go. Travel and conferences were canceled. All tech purchases were frozen, and there would be no more new hires.
Should she start sending out résumés right away? Where would she go? What if she couldn’t find a job she liked as much as this one? Her hands shook as anxiety sent tendrils of worry through her veins.
“Tyler . . .” Rochelle, the company receptionist, walked through the open-plan office, stilettos clicking on the tile floor. Her long blond hair was swept back from an elegant oval face dominated by wide blue eyes. She’d been Derek’s executive assistant until he’d disappeared from the company. Good-hearted Tyler had offered to keep her on as a receptionist. Another woman might have turned down what was effectively a demotion, but Rochelle carried on, as officious and condescending as she had ever been.
“We have a visitor.” She smoothed her hand down her pearl-white sheath dress, drawing attention to the curve of her slim hip.
Tyler’s gaze flicked to her, slightly annoyed. “I’ll be there in a minute. I’m making an important announcement.”
“You’ll want to come now. He’s from Evolution Ventures. His name is Liam Murphy.”
Daisy sucked in a deep breath. It couldn’t be him. Liam wouldn’t dare come to her office. Not after she’d made it clear he wasn’t welcome.
Or would he?
? 9 ?
“THE Liam Murphy?” Visibly shocked, Tyler staggered back. “From Evolution Ventures? Here?” He waved his hands frantically in the air. “Everyone. Calm down. Don’t get excited. We’re right in the middle of start-up central. He probably got lost on his way to see Google or Twitter. I need a clean shirt. And my tie. Where’s my jacket? Where are my shoes? And just in case it is the miracle we’ve been hoping for, who has the pitch deck?”
“What’s Liam doing here?” Daisy whispered, half to herself.
Mia leaned toward her. “Do you know him?”
“He was my brother’s best friend.”
“Did you miss the part where Zoe asked if anyone knew a VC with money to burn?” Josh spun around in his chair. “That was your chance to say, ‘Why yes, I know one of the senior associates in one of the top VCs in the country who found a unicorn when he was just starting his career.’”
Daisy shrugged. “We’re not close.”
“Who cares if you’re close?” He grabbed the arms of her chair and gave it a gentle shake. “Look around you. People are scared about losing their jobs. Tyler looks like a caveman. The snack bar is going to be permanently closed. And you and I will never get into the flow until all these people go back downstairs.”
“He’s not here to save us,” Daisy said. “He wants to rent the second floor. I saw him the other day and I told him not to. I guess he didn’t care what I thought.” The words poured out of her in a tidal wave of anger, flushing her anxiety away. “But then that’s the kind of person he is. He stood me up for my senior prom and then disappeared without a word after practically living with my family for eight years.”
“But he has money to invest,” Josh protested. “So he wasn’t a nice guy ten years ago. People change.”
“Don’t be an idiot.” Mia glared at him. “He stood her up for her prom. That’s huge for a teenage girl, Josh. Huge. And then just bailing on her family? Unforgivable.”
“Thanks.” She gave Mia a smile, feeling a lightness in her limbs. Mia understood her pain in a way not many people did.
Josh grabbed his phone. “Evolution Ventures have ten million in assets across four funds, locations in New York and Silicon Valley, over eighty investments, and they’ve done three IPOs and two acquisitions. What’s not to like?” He turned the phone around to show them a picture of Liam. “And check this guy out. I wouldn’t mind having that eye candy walking around.”