Dangerous by Default

37. The partner

Mina rushed into the lobby with an apology prepared in her throat, but as her hands slammed open the cold metal doors she was arrested in her tracks. The executive assistant was standing over a man's body. Lurched back on the couch, a large black cowboy hat pulled over the face.

"Are they.." Mina couldn't say it aloud. Another investor is.. Dead?

To Mina's disgust, her executive assistant posed next to the body, only to hold up a piece sign and snap a selfie. Mina moved him out of the way to check the body for signs of life. It's only distinguishable features were a well tailored black suit and the creeping snout of a tattooed beast just beneath the line of his pressed white collar. To her relief, the man's chest heaved, then ripped a gurgling snore. The assistant dug his face into his hands to hide a giggle. Mina shot him a menacing glance.

In the calmest voice possible, she asked, "what the hell is going on here?"

"This is the investor. Looks like he had a rough night."

Mina's back began to sweat. He looked like the bassist in a rock band, not a tech investor capable of sitting through a lengthy and detailed review of her company. He looked like he was sleeping off a hangover. Was that too much to ask for the investor to at least be able to stand? There was too much on the line. Could this really be the savior who is supposed to bail out her company?

Mina sat on the couch begrudgingly and pressed her hand on his shoulder.

"Excuse me, sir?"

He snorted to life. His head jolted back, sending the cowboy hat to the floor. In an instant, Mina registered the man's face and her blood started to boil. He stared back at her with blood-shot puppy dog eyes.

"H! What are you doing here?"

"Good morning everyone" he said with a bleary smile. The assistant handed him a glass of water, which he drank gratefully.

"Are you lost?" Mina asked politely, turning to her assistant. "Get a hold of Caine, now. Take my key. He's sleeping so you might have to shake him." She leaned in further to whisper. "I want this man gone."

"No, no, no, no." Pecahude pulled himself up and smacked his face grotesquely. His skin was bright red, as if all of the capillaries had burst from an alcoholic reaction. He was grisled and in need of a bath.

"Ah, what a night I've had," He admitted between yawns. "I'm awake now, ma chere. Shall we see the lab?"

Everyone laughed amicably. Mina didn't.

"I'm Sorry but this isn't an amusement park. You can't just drop in..."

"I think you told me last night that if I had $150 million Iying around, you'd be happy to show me around. And I believe we even have an appointment - I'm here on behalf of Dove Equity Partners."

Mina's jaw had dropped. Pechaude stood to his feet, looking more put together.

"Look, I'm not sure how this works. But I'm usually visiting artists, and as soon as I see their studio, I will make my judgments in a snap. I have a nose for what I want. So shall we cut to the chase? I'm in."

Mina laughed as a reflex. The two words Pechaude had spoken had not totally synced in yet, two words that had in that instant changed her life in ways she could not yet fathom.

"I'm in."