Two Sides of Us

Chapter 2. Andrew

I sat behind my cluttered desk, staring at the mess of papers and half-empty coffee cups. The office still smelled faintly of detergent, a constant reminder of its former life as a laundromat. It wasn't much, but it was ours, built from the ground up.

The guys were at their desks, a small group I'd known for years—most since high school, a few from college. We weren't just coworkers; we were a team. Mark, with his usual cocky grin, leaned back in his chair, always quick with a joke. Jason was focused as ever, his eyes glued to his laptop.

"Hey, Andrew," Mark called out, his chair teetering on two legs. "Did you see the numbers on the last project? We actually came in under budget for once. Maybe we should get a bonus for not screwing up!"

The guys chuckled, and I couldn't help but smile. Mark had a knack for lightening the mood.

"Don't get too used to it," I said, leaning back. "We're still paying off that loan for the new equipment. No one's getting a bonus until that's settled."

Jason grinned. "Maybe our next big client will help with that. You know, the one who isn't scared off by our classy laundromat décor."

"Hey, this place has character," I retorted, gesturing at the dingy tiles and peeling paint. "Where else can you get cutting-edge tech with the faint scent of dryer sheets?"

Laughter followed, warm and familiar. We'd built something real here, even if it didn't look like much from the outside. But beneath the jokes, we all felt it—the need for something bigger.

The door creaked open, and in walked Tom, my lawyer and best friend from high school. He looked a little rough, his usual just-rolled-out-of-bed look in full effect, but his eyes were sharp.

"Hey, Tom," I greeted, waving him over. "What's up?"

Tom nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, I've got something important to share. Can we talk in your office?"

The casual banter in the room died down, and a knot of unease twisted in my stomach. Tom wasn't usually this serious unless it was big. "Sure," I said, leading him to my tiny office at the back of the building.

Once inside, I closed the door and sat down. "So, what's going on?"

Tom rubbed his hands together like he was gearing up to deliver big news. "Andrew, I've got huge news—potentially life-changing for the company."

My heart skipped a beat. "Life-changing? Good or bad?"

"Good," Tom said, grinning, though I noticed it didn't quite reach his eyes. "No—great. Amazing, actually. I've just scored you the biggest deal of your career. Major funding. Enough to get us out of this old laundromat and into a real office. Three-digit salaries for everyone. The works."

For a moment, I just stared at him, trying to process what he was saying. "Are you serious? How did you pull that off?"

Tom's grin widened. "I've been working on this for weeks. There's a high-profile investor, a guy who's big on sustainable tech. He loves what you're doing and is willing to fund the business in exchange for a small share. I'm talking enough money to not only keep us afloat but to expand, hire more staff, and really take things to the next level."

I felt a rush of excitement, the kind I hadn't felt in a long time. This was it—the break we'd been waiting for. "Tom, this is incredible! Thank you. This could change everything for us."

But then I noticed the hesitation in Tom's eyes, and my excitement wavered. "There's a catch, isn't there?"

Tom exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, there is. The investor—he's a bit old-fashioned. Hardcore family man. He's known for only supporting businesses run by people who have families. Something about stability and trustworthiness, I don't know."