Page 17 of Knocked Up by my Best Friend's Brothers

“We’re not kids anymore,” I add. “Wholeheartedly agree.”

A knock on the door makes the three of us sit up.

“Here we go,” Nathan says.

Alexandra Jones saunters in with a subtle but charming smile. “Good morning, gentlemen,” she says in her slightly nasal California accent. “Thank you for having me.”

“It’s our pleasure,” Cassius says, motioning her to a chair.

We met her at an energy conference in Chicago earlier this year. We were still developing our green project at the time, but we knew we’d need additional funding even then.

“Coffee?” Nathan asks, hospitable as always.

“Yes, please,” Alexandra replies, then watches as my brother pours her a cup and follows her instructions on the sugar and cream.

She’s got this pixie look about her—her long, perfectly straight black hair makes her seem even smaller. She’s a slim thing with a tiny waist and bony wrists. Alexandra looks comfortable in a semitransparent white blouse and ridiculously tight navy blue pencil skirt cinched around the waist with a red leather belt. Usually, I’d pay more attention to the gold-plated buckle on her belt, but her perky breasts wrapped in black lace, visible through her blouse, are rather distracting.

Her outfit choice is not a coincidence.

She’s not the first woman to outline her more intimate features in order to mess with the heads of her male counterparts. I make a habit of noticing these details quickly, so I know who I’m dealing with.

“I was surprised to hear from you, I’ll be honest,” I tell her. “Back in Chicago, you didn’t seem too convinced about our green energy initiative.”

“In all fairness, I was still quite green myself on the topic of renewable energy,” Alexandra says and laughs lightly, then gingerly tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. She’s doing all the dainty feminine things experts in body language claim assuccessful manipulation tactics. “I’ve been reading up in the meantime. Met a few entrepreneurs along the way. My trip to Scotland was incredibly insightful on the matter.”

“Scotland?” Nathan asks.

“Last year, about ninety percent of Scotland’s energy output came from their windmills. The Hawthornes have access to vast land all around Portland, plus the ocean along the Tillamook,” she says. “If we’re going into business together, I could facilitate some of the government approvals to start building wind parks on both land and water. You also mentioned solar panels.”

Cassius nods and takes a sip of his coffee before he gets the presentation rolling on the screen. “That’s right. It’s our focus for the next five years—solar and wind, namely for the reasons you just mentioned. Oregon is one of the best states for this kind of initiative, and we’re confident we can supply our neighboring states as well in less than ten years.”

“The future is green.” She chuckles softly.

Personally, I think she’s trying a little too hard to be charming and likable. There’s an underlying layer that irks me. a side of her she’s determined to hide. Maybe it’s my time in the service that’s honed this instinct, but I’ve learned to heed it.

“So, Alexandra, tell us about your company,” I say.

“Verdant Ventures is my brainchild, but most of the funding comes from my inheritance,” she says. “I was in a different line of business when I was named in my aunt’s last will and testament.”

“Who was your aunt?”

“Florence Vidal of the Orange County Vidals,” she replies. I know Nathan is googling these details on his phone as we speak. “Thing is, it was a lot of money. About $4.5 billion. I invested a small part of it in cryptocurrency, but I’ve been looking to diversify my portfolio and put what’s left to good use. According to everything I’ve read on this topic, green energy is the future, and I’d be an idiot not to jump in.”

“How much are we talking about?” Cassius asks.

“Funding available for your project, you mean? On behalf of Verdant Ventures? Oh, anything up to $3 billion.”

Hawthorne Corporation spins some great numbers, but nothing close to that for a single renewable energy project. That’s why we’ve been looking into outside funding. Even so, I’m surprised.

“Alexandra, surely you’ve been approached by bigger sharks for that money,” I suggest with a half-smile.

“Of course. But I’m interested in you,” she replies, pink, glossy lips stretching into a smirk.

“Why?”

“I liked your enthusiasm when I met you in Chicago. Passion drives you. Money is a tool. Everyone else I spoke to seemed driven by money. I find passion more exciting,” she says. “And you’re right; Oregon is full of opportunities other entrepreneurs have yet to recognize. If you’re willing to push this forward, I’d like to be involved.”

Cassius nods again. “We’d be looking at an equal partnership. Verdant Ventures and Hawthorne Corporation.”

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