Page 17 of Ivory Obsession
“Okay,” I agreed, pulling my hand away to reach for my coffee.
We sat in silence for a moment longer, the noise of the city below providing a soundtrack to our quiet breakfast. She busied herself with picking at the rest of her meal while I sipped at my drink.
“I guess what I want to know is how this benefits you,” she said, tucking a strand of her behind her ear, her breasts bouncing when she did. “BioHQ has contracts with pharmaceutical companies, with giant producers of biological material. But you…you’re in real estate, right? I mean, your last name is all over the real estate scene. And when I’ve seen you at conferences, you said you were a science hobbyist. So I need you to explain this.”
I took another sip of my coffee, relishing the bitter taste. It was time to break it down for her, to explain what I saw in this partnership that she was missing. “You’re right about my family business,” I began. “We’ve got our hands in real estate, construction, you name it. But we also have a significant investment in pharmaceuticals. And your work, Jade...it has the potential to revolutionize the industry.”
“I’m still not following,” she said, her brow furrowed.
“Think about it,” I pressed on. “Your research could lead to breakthroughs in medicine we haven’t even dreamed of yet. And the manufacturing process...well, that requires facilities and infrastructure, doesn’t it? And yes, it needs meticulous work at BioHQ, but imagine if you could streamline some of the process.”
“Definitely,” she admitted, her expression shifting to one of curiosity. “But hiring a team like that takes resources that BioHQ doesn’t have.”
“Exactly,” I said, leaning forward. “That’s where I come in. I provide the resources, the facilities...everything you need to bring your research to life. We don’t cut any corners or rush anything; we just create an environment where your work can thrive.”
“And in return...?” she asked, her voice trailing off as she looked at me for answers.
“In return, my investment pays off when your research leads to new drugs, new treatments...new hope for people who need it.” Suddenly everything was out in the open, and I could see her mulling over my words, turning them over in her brilliant mind.
“But what about BioHQ?” Jade asked. “I mean, the work belongs to them. It’s their intellectual property.”
“Look, I’m not suggesting we steal anything from BioHQ,” I said, my voice firm. “We do this the right way. You keep your commitments, and we work around them. That’s why we need that complementary NDA. It’ll keep both sides safe while we build something monumental together.”
Jade hesitated, her lips parting slightly as she considered my words. She reached into her purse, searching for something. “I should show you the email from legal about my current NDA stipulations.”
Her hand emerged clutching her phone, but in the process, a slim plastic card edged its way out of her overstuffed bag, teetering precariously on the table’s edge. She was so engrossed in her search that she didn’t notice it slide out.
I caught a glimpse of the keycard—the one that granted access to the heart of BioHQ’s labyrinthine labs. The very labs where her life’s work breathed and grew. My eyes flicked to Jade, who was still scrolling through her phone, oblivious.
As if by instinct, I continued talking, maintaining eye contact with her, ensuring she remained absorbed in our conversation. With a casual sweep of my hand, I brushed the keycard off the edge of the table and into my lap, where I expertly palmed it and slipped it into the pocket of my black pajama pants.
“Found it,” Jade said, finally looking up from her phone. She seemed none the wiser, her focus solely on the screen as she showed me the email.
“Good,” I said, nodding as I glanced at the digital document. “This is good. We’ll craft our agreement to complement this perfectly. Your work with BioHQ will remain untouched and protected.”
“Okay,” Jade said slowly, still reading through the email with me. “If you think it can work without causing any legal issues, then... let’s proceed. If I had a team of researchers, I would certainly be able to go faster.”
“Trust me,” I assured her, my voice smooth as silk. “I have a vested interest in making sure everything goes smoothly—for both of us.”
She nodded, seeming to relax a little, and tucked her phone back into her purse. Unaware of the keycard now hidden in my pocket, she took a sip of her coffee and sighed, the weight of responsibilities momentarily lifting from her shoulders. I couldn’t help but admire her—the way she dedicated herself to her research, her unwavering ethics, even if they made my life more complicated.
“You can email that to me and I’ll set up a meeting with my legal team,” I said. “We need to make sure every aspect of our partnership is covered.”
She looked at me, her dark hair falling like a curtain around her face. “You’re right. I need to understand all the legalities involved.” Her eyes, filled with that steely determination I’d come to admire, met mine. “But Dante, I want everything transparent and by the book. No grey areas.”
“Transparency and compliance,” I echoed firmly, my gaze never wavering from hers. I hoped she couldn’t tell I was bullshitting her. “Those are our foundational pillars. You have my word on that, Jade.”
As breakfast began to wind down, I noticed Jade’s focus drifting back to her work—her true passion. It was time to kindle that fire she had for making a difference. She didn’t get into this because she was really into convalescent bonds, I didn’t think. I pushed aside the last of my croissant and leaned back in my chair.
“Jade,” I said, voice low and compelling. “Imagine the lives we could save, the diseases we could cure with your expertise and...our resources.” I gestured broadly, encompassing the world outside the penthouse windows. “We’re not just talking local impact here—we’re talking global.”
Her eyes lit up, and I knew I had her. “The advancements we could pioneer together will be groundbreaking. We could reshape the future of medical technology.”
Jade’s excitement was palpable as she leaned in, drawn to the vision I painted. “That would be incredible, Dante. To make such a transformative change... it’s what I’ve always wanted.”
“Then let’s make it happen,” I said, standing and rounding the table to her side. The promise of what the future held energized me, and I could tell it did the same for her. This venture wasn’t just another notch in the belt of the Moretti empire—it was personal. It was hope—a rare commodity in my world.
“Come on,” I urged, offering my hand. “Let’s get started on making history.”