The Before Short Story Series. Part 1 - стр. 13
‘I think it is a good idea, Jo. A short break in the “Jordan Benson and Co.” team will totally benefit everyone. I am “for”, my friend.’
‘You might have held it at least a little bit,’ they both smiled, ‘or like this it even is a bit offensive.’
‘Right, right. Anything else you’d like to discuss?’
‘Yeah. I will send you a list of what I need to work at home, here to the lab.’
‘Sure, we’ll do everything.’
‘Then that’s all. Or well— please tell the guys I am very sorry for having burst like that. Will you?’
‘Yeah, sure, Jo. I guess they understand you anyway though.’
‘And make sure to tell them that doesn’t make them any less dumb idiots!’
‘Oh Jo, I nearly forgot.’
‘Right, please go on.’
‘On Wednesday we have a video-call planned with a big investor from the East Coast.’
‘And?’
‘Jo, we need you there. No-one can represent our project as well as you do. And they will be flattered by seeing you there.’
‘You know though just how much I like all these rounds and finance issues.’
‘I do, Jo. But you do understand it’s the right thing to do, don’t you?’
‘Sure. I’ll see what I can do. Please send me the details.’
‘I will! Let’s keep in touch.’
Ozzie was lying in her favourite spot, on a leather couch near by the window, and from time to time she was checking whether her master was still there.
‘Jordan, you ask us for one billion more. Would you please tell us about the current stage of the project?’ The participants’ glances were carefully studying Jordan from a big panel in his study.
‘First of all, gentlemen, we were never intending to ask anything from you,’ continued Jordan. ‘Not me, that’s for sure. What we are ready to offer you is to take part in our project. It will—I shall not be afraid to sound trivial—allow you to become infinitely richer. If you want to—please invest your money. If you don’t—that’s fine: I don’t believe we will get troubles with funding either way. Next, even if I do start telling you how our working process is organized, what we do, how we do, and what purpose exactly each stage serves, you will understand nothing in it—and this includes the so-called experts you hired. So please allow me to give you some advice—get rid of them. It will only benefit you financially.’
‘The idea that Jordan is trying to get across, gentlemen, is the following:’ Beg turned his microphone on. ‘We are interested in working on with your foundation and sure enough we are ready to inform you on the current stage of the project from time to time. Isn’t this the very reason of our meeting here today. However, the field in which our company specializes is too specific for us to be able to present our work to you in a precise fashion. That’s why we will have to limit ourselves to some general information, not going into excessive details—I agree with Jordan, they will clarify nothing at all.’