“And we’re still working on increasing that number,” Ivan told them. “But what I’d like to offer to Hutch and Mitchell is an opportunity for us to build a financial corner page, where you sponsor it for the first year, for fifteen hundred a month, to help increase an even stronger new client base here at the company.”

He looked at Barry and added, “You could even post a blurb each month with your own financial advice page.” Then he looked back to John. “My counteroffer would be a hundred and eighty thousand. We do that, and you sponsor the financial corner page for the first year, and it’s a deal.”

John slowed down Ivan’s optimistic idealism and told him, “Well, we would need time to look at this, ah, website of yours to determine how much of a benefit it would be. And it’s still a bit of a jump for us to get involved in your, ah, party promotions website at this point. We would just like to compensate you for what you’ve been able to do for the company lately.”

Ivan nodded and said, “I understand that. Business is business. But my party promotions is how I’ve been able to do it. So take your time. Do your research on it. And call me back in when you’re ready. But in the meantime, I still work for Hutch and Mitchell Accounting, and I plan to continue doing my job while I’m here.” He then handed both of them his IDPromotions.com business card.

John looked at the card and raised his brow. “Looks like you’re really putting your personal seal on this thing.”

Ivan smiled and said, “Without a doubt. And if anyone else decides that they can do the same, I offer them an opportunity to try it. But at the end of the day, the real numbers do the talking. And we’ve been putting up the real numbers.”

WHEN IVAN walked out of John Hutch’s office, the two partners closed the door behind him to discuss their thoughts.

“Well, what do you think, John? Pretty bright and ambitious kid, right?” Barry quizzed his partner. He had always been impressed with Ivan. Ivan was rarely the one to toot his own horn. So the fact that he was so confident in his new business carried a lot of weight.

John was still staring at the business card behind his desk. He was definitely curious. He had noticed the confident changes in Ivan’s personality around the office himself. He had been impressed with the young man out of South Central Los Angeles as well.

He said, “Well, first we’ll need to investigate this website and party promotions business of his to understand it for ourselves. But for us to triple his salary, this website idea needs to be far better than average.”