Page 84 of The Deal Breaker
He stood. “What’s going on?”
She took slow, measured steps. “I’m sorry for coming here without talking to you first, but I didn’t know where else to go. I got fired today.”
“I’m sorry.” Dash walked around his desk. “You helped build that company.”
Raina shrugged, but her face pinched. “I don’t fit their “new” vision. There was other stuff they said, but it’s all a blur right now. I never expected this to happen.”
He motioned to a chair. As she sat, he leaned against his desk. “It sucks.”
“It does.” She half laughed. “The kicker is they promoted a supervisor on my team to take my place. The guy is barely twenty-two, and the whole reason my game had so much trouble. If I was a conspiracy theorist, I’d say he did it on purpose, but I have no proof. I only know something went down while I was away at the bachelorette weekend.”
The one he’d convinced her to attend. She didn’t say that, but he could tell she meant it.
“It’s hard to believe being gone for two days would change things so much.”
“I’ll never know now. Security stood by me while I cleaned my desk. They didn’t let me say goodbye to anyone.” Tears filled her eyes. She blinked. “I turned in my badge to HR and was escorted to my car.”
He hugged her. “Do you want me to call Fritz?”
Dash wouldn’t call the guy who owned her former company wasn’t a close friend, but he was more than an acquaintance.
“I don’t know if it would make a difference. I didn’t see Fritz today, though I was told this came from the highest level which would be him, but thanks for offering.” She sniffled. “But I could use your help.”
Because this is your fault.
Dash didn’t need to be a mind reader to sense that. “With what?”
She sat straighter. “Starting a gaming company.”
He did a double-take because she’d loved where she worked so much. “That’s a big step.”
Raina raised her chin. “I’m up for it, but I need funding.”
His hinky meter kicked on. “Are you here for sympathy or money?”
She blinked her eyelashes before shrugging. “Both?”
Dash’s cell phone buzzed. He rolled his eyes. No doubt his mom forgot to tell him something. He could deal with her later.
“Today’s been rough on you,” he said. “Take a few days to process things and clear your mind. Then, if you’re serious about your own gaming company, put together a business plan, and I’ll review it.”
“I knew you’d help me.”
“I didn’t say yes.”
“You will.” She smiled. The tears had gone away. “You love gaming as much as I do. With your help, we can make this happen together.”
With his money was what she meant. “It’s getting late. I need to get out of here.”
“Want to have dinner?” she asked, sounding hopeful.
He shook his head. “It’s been a long day.”
“Another time.” She stood. “I’ll be in touch.”
As Raina left his office, he checked his phone. His mom hadn’t texted him. It was Iris.
Iris:Hey, I know work has slammed you this week, but it’s 6:40, and you said you were picking me up at 6:30. Is everything okay?
