Page 81 of Daring Destiny

He has a little corporate PTSD. The past couple of years have taken it out of him. Between his changing role at CognifyAI and the legal battles over Reuniverse, he’s had enough stress and sleepless nights to last a lifetime.

I have a good feeling about this, though. Sitting across from Jason, there’s a sense of possibility in the air. Like Brennan and I are standing on the edge of something monumental.

“We’re intrigued.” I offer Jason a warm smile. “Brennan and I have talked about this endlessly and we both see the potential. We want Reuniverse to change the way people connect. We’re also cautious. Neither of us have the tolerance to go through what happened with CognifyAI.”

Jason nods. “Completely understandable. Let me be clear. I think you have something special here. Reuniverse isn’t another social app, it’s a platform with the ability to touch people’s lives on a personal level. We’re talking about reconnecting with old friends, finding long-lost family members, reigniting forgotten memories—all in a completely new way. That kind of emotional pull? It’s not something you see every day. And it’s certainly not something we should be cautious about. We should be confident.”

Brennan clears his throat. “I’m glad you see the vision. When Astrid brought me the idea, I felt the same way. And, I felt the same kind of excitement, which is why I fought like hell to keep the company. But…” He hesitates, glancing down at the sleek black table before focusing on Jason. “The scale. The growth. I’ve been there. Astrid was being nice. I don’t want to make the same mistakes I made with CognifyAI.”

“I’m aware of what you went through.” Jason taps a pen to his lip. “What did you learn?”

Brennan nods, his jaw tightening. “I learned the hard way scaling too fast without clear boundaries can be a nightmare. My board was too focused on growth and pleasing investors, in my opinion, we lost sight of what made the company innovative.” He takes a breath. “I don’t want Reuniverse to become a corporate machine where creativity gets suffocated under layers of bureaucracy. This time, I want to make sure we keep our core vision intact, even if it means a slower, deliberate path. It shouldn’t be about numbers or a stock price.”

“I see.” Jason’s face softens but his eyes remain sharply focused. “Exactly why you need to carve out your own space, away from Cognify’s shadow. Reuniverse must stand on its own. It needs to be a brand. A movement.”

Brennan takes this in. His fingers drum lightly against the edge of the table, a habit I’ve noticed when he’s processing something.

I lean forward to interject my own thoughts, considering I’m Brennan’s equal in this venture. “That’s where your guidance is so valuable, Jason. We’ve got it to this point on our own. The reunion is in less than three months and we’re fine tuning the tech, but it’s ready. Taking it to the next level and scaling is where we would like your help. We’d like to go big but we need to do it properly. We can’t afford another situation like CognifyAI where financing technicalities take away our control.”

“Exactly why we’re here.” Jason nods his approval. “Let’s get one thing straight, this isn’t about avoiding mistakes. It’s about building something remarkable. I’ve seen countless tech startups come and go. The ones who stick around understand it’s not selling a product. They’re creating an experience. Reuniverse has the potential and I can help knock this out of the park.”

“Let’s discuss it.” Brennan squeezes my hand under the table.

Jason points to his copy of the portfolio. “Read pages three through six.”

We do as he asks. Initially, I feel a nervous flutter in my stomach because I’ve not been to college, let alone business school. I think I comprehend what I’m reading, but I can’t be sure. It terrifies me to appear stupid. Especially when Brennan and I have probably overprepared for this moment because we’re both scared shitless of overlooking something.

When we both glance up, Jason looks at us through bridged fingers. “Look, I get it. You’re both used to handling things yourselves and you can only get so far without help. Scaling means letting others come in and pave the way. People you trust to see the same vision as you. I can offer fundinganda partnership. I’ll personally teach you how to build out a leadership team, refine your strategy, and get the resources you need to go global.”

“You’re serious?” Brennan looks shocked. Intrigued. I see a flicker of fire in his eyes.

“Absolutely.” Jason leans back in his chair. “Your risk is my risk, which means I’ll set you up for long-term success, not a quick profit. I’m proposing something out-of-the box. I want to invest in Reuniverse, but I’m really investing in you both. For example, have you heard about what some investment firms are doing now with founder health and wellness programs?”

I’m thoroughly intrigued. “I’ve read about it, but please explain.”

“It’s not only about business.” Jason leans forward and emphasizes each point by tapping his finger on the desk. “It’s about making sure the people behind the business are thriving. Both of you will have leadership coaching, wellness retreats, even stress management counseling. My idea of winning is making sure you’re in the best possible shape to lead Reuniverse for years to come. We’re talking about building a company culture, which means it starts at the top and radiates outward.”

I can see the wheels turning in Brennan’s mind. “I’ve never heard of anything so collaborative,” he admits. “I’m not sure why because it makes perfect sense. As founders, we’re pulled in so many directions. Engrossed in getting through the day-to-day. We rarely have a true opportunity to focus on the long-term, other than making the numbers and creating some stupid five-year plan.”

“Well, I believe that type of thinking is becoming outdated.” Jason stands and walks to the window. “I’d like to extend the offer to both of you.”

Brennan’s hand tightens around mine and I squeeze back, trying to convey my excitement.

“We had a rough few months last year.” I join Jason at the window. “Brennan and I have always known this idea is bigger than us. We appreciate your guidance.”

The two of us look at Brennan, who is thumbing through the portfolio. A hint of a smile tugs at the corners of his lips. His eyes widen as he flips through the pages and I can see he’s reviewing the projections and plans laid out in meticulous detail. “This is so much better than I expected.”

“To summarize, we’ll provide the funding, help build the infrastructure, the team, and the support network. We want Reuniverse to be a household name and we’re willing to put in the time and effort to make it happen.” Jason sits next to Brennan and claps him on the shoulder. “I want to be part of your team. I’ll personally mentor you both through the challenges ahead. We’re going to make Reuniverse bigger than Facebook or TikTok with the right people, and the right mindset.”

“What do you think?” He peers up at me. I watch all the uncertainty and doubt literally melt away. Replaced with something stronger. “You and I need to consult with our lawyers, but I’m inclined to say yes.”

Jason has a twinkle in his eye. “Great. Take your time going over the proposal. I never want you to feel pressured into making a snap decision. Do your due diligence and I’ll eagerly wait for your official response.”

We say our goodbyes and Brennan and I walk to the car holding pinkies. Neither of us look at each other. Until we get into my car.

The we turn to each other and scream our excitement at the top of our lungs.

Holy shit!

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