Chapter 267
The man was the epitome of politeness, offering a slight bow as he greeted us. “Sorry, I’ve been away for a while. I didn’t realize how crazy the evening rush in RiverCity could be.”
“No worries at all. We’re just glad you could make it!”
Laura stood up to introduce us. “This is the CEO of RF Group, York Carlson. It’s a pleasure to have you with us, Mr. Carlson.”
I half expected someone of his stature to be a bit standoffish, but he was surprisingly approachable and even took the initiative to refill our drinks.
Christine and I exchanged bewildered looks as he set down the decanter to get down to business. “Investing won’t be an issue, but obviously, RF will need a significant stake. I hope you’re prepared for that.”
“We are,” I nodded, accepting the fact.
I had done my homework. Founders often ended up with a smaller piece of the pie, but without the capital ourselves, we had little choice.
Christine, with her knack for negotiation, added in good spirits, “Mr. Carlson, we’re all from RiverCity here. You’ve got to leave us enough.
to live on.”
“Ms. Jackson, you’ve got a sense of humor,” he responded, a mix of warmth and age–defying wisdom coloring his tone. “We’re looking at a 51% stake. The only catch is, any future financing rounds will need RF’s approval.”
Fifty–one percent. It was lower than I expected, but it was a delicate balance that tipped the scales of control.
Christine caught on too, “What about the day–to–day management and decision–making?”
“We won’t interfere,” he assured us.
With the major concerns of shares and decision–making power addressed, the rest of the negotiations went surprisingly smoothly. All that was left was to wait for RF’s contract.
Replaying the evening’s events in my mind, it suddenly clicked. The man, York Carlson, looked familiar.
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