Slices of Cake

My Proposition

--- James's POV ---

I smoothed my rented suit, and checked my hair in the mirror. 'Alright. You can do this. Just Do. Not. Stutter... and we'll be fine.' I picked up my briefcase, and walked out to the desk.

"May I help you?" The woman asked me.

"Yes, I'm Dr. James Martin, I have an appointment with the board?" I asked her, handing her my ID.

She raised an eyebrow at my age. I was only 20, so my Ph.D.'s (in three separate fields, Mechanical Engineering/Design, then Business/Economics, and finally Electrical Engineering/ Design) Often confused people. "Yes sir... The meeting begins in five minutes, sir, so you may wait here, or wait in the room."

"I prefer to be in the room when they enter." I grinned easily.

She smiled. "Don't want the nerves of opening the door?"

"Exactly." I nodded my head and followed her into the elevator. We rode to the top floor slowly.

"So what are you here for?" She asked.

"Contract... I already patented my invention, but I think they'll see the amazing ramifications of my Tech, and hopefully see we could make NG-Tech (the third biggest tech distributer and developer in the world, after Apple and Microsoft, short for Next Generation Technology.) bigger than Sony, Ubisoft, Atari, and Microsoft combined... And with Apple, it could be even better." I grinned and bounced on my toes a little, excited and nervous and scared all at once.

"Oh?" She asked, politely disagreeing.

I laughed. "No need, ma'am, I already know how crazy it sounds to someone who hasn't seen my tech and its infinite uses." I said.

She smiled. "Hmm. Well, here we are." The elevator stopped, and she led me out and down the hall. She opened a big set of double doors, revealing a large board room. "You're quite important if you got the full board to listen to you for 30 minutes."

"That's all I need." I grinned. She left, and I breathed deeply, standing at the window and watching the city far below. "How do these people not get cocky, staring down at these people the size of ants all day?" I wondered aloud.

"Hard work and a good kick in the ass when we need one does the trick, most times." A man spoke from the door.

I slowly turned. "Hello, sir, my name is, of course, Dr. James Martin, you asked for this meeting in response to my Email?" I held out a hand to shake.

He gripped my hand firmly and nodded. "John Lacier, chief of the Board. I read your E-Mail, as did everyone else in my office. We had a laugh about how improbable it was, but when we saw the proof ourselves... I called the board, and they'll need convincing as well, but you manage that, and you could be a rich man today."

I nodded. "I'll do my best, sir."

"Your best is extraordinary, so I hope this goes smoothly." He smiled and sat at the head of the table.

I sat at the other end, and asked him. "How many is the board?"

"Eight." He replied.

I grinned. "Yes!" I hissed quietly. "I only have ten Modules, the other 40 are being used by my Beta Testers." I explained.

He nodded. "I see." The other members of the board began entering the room, and I shook their hands, introducing myself and moving to the next. Once we were all seated, the head of the board spoke.

"Gentleman. Ma'am." He nodded to the one Woman, a severe looking woman with an owl-like face. "We are here today because I received an E-Mail that I believe could help revolutionize the name of our fine company, irrevocably, if we choose to allow it, and also, with the projected sales, Quadruple our net-profit and influence, here at Next Generation Technologies. Now, Dr. Martin will explain further. Please, keep an open mind."