An idea prickles the back of my mind, and the weight on my shoulders starts to lighten. “Robbie,” I say, sitting up. “I know someone who can help us.”

Chapter Forty

Sara

“Why are we meeting here?” Braden makes his way down the hallway, his posture slumped. He has deep purple circles under his eyes.

This morning I finally texted him back, after about a hundred unanswered messages. I told him I was willing to talk, but wanted to meet in a public space, and suggested the water fountains on the second floor of Business School Building One.

“It’s away from the freshman dorms,” I say. “Plus I just got out of class near here,” I lie.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

I may have also implied that it was an urgent matter.

“I...um...” I had not thought of a plan to stall him. Luckily, before I have to, Robbie rounds the corner.

“What’s he doing here?” Braden asks.

Robbie walks up next to me, and although we do not touch, I feel more relaxed just being in his presence.

“I thought I was clear on the terms of our deal,” Braden tells him.

“I haven’t accepted it yet,” Robbie says.

“What choice do you have?” Braden asks. “You’ve had a week to consider. I’m getting impatient. I don’t think you want to test me.”

Just then, the door behind me opens.

“He’s ready for you,” Professor Thomas’s assistant says.

“Okay, thanks,” I say.

“What the hell is going on?” Braden asks.

“Why don’t you come into my office and I can tell you,” Professor Thomas says, stepping into the hallway.

Braden snaps his mouth shut, his face turning a pale shade of green. He follows us into the office. Even as cocky as he is, throwing a fit in front of a venture capitalist is not something he’ll make the mistake of doing again.

We sit three across in front of Professor Thomas’s desk. He places a piece of paper in front of us.

“I have been discussing your company at length with your colleagues over the past week,” Professor Thomas tells Braden. “And have decided to make a substantial investment.” He points to the paper. “Under this agreement, I would invest in the company with the understanding that it will pivot direction. Perfect10 will shut down immediately, with plans to relaunch a reimagined project to the same users in a matter of months, while recruiting new users in the meantime.”

“I... What?” Braden looks completely confused.

But Professor Thomas continues, unfazed. “I would purchase ten percent of the company for five hundred thousand dollars. Which would leave Roberto Diaz and Sara Jones with forty-five percent equity each.”