Page 16 of Thiago
“You’re quality control, and you’re concerned about regulations?” Sam asked.
A few people laughed.
“I don’t have a problem with quality control,” the man said, shooting an annoyed look at his colleague. “I’m concerned about regulatory requirements, such as SEC filings and audits. I worked for a publicly traded company before coming here, and believe me, it was a nightmare.”
“I’m aware of all the requirements,” Thiago said. “I weighed the public scrutiny against the potential benefits of increased capital and market visibility. The reason I am telling you this now is because I have already started working with a consultant to handle the change. Our meetings have been offsite, but we’re moving to the part of the process where they will have to come onsite and inspect our records to get us up to speed. Staff may have questions, and I expect you all to allay their fears and keep the IPO quiet until we are further along in the process, with a set date for going public.”
“How long does the process take?” Helen asked.
“Approximately two years in our case, but we’re hoping to go public in a shorter timeframe. I have been working with the consultant for six months, and at most there are 18 more months to go. If we are lucky, it will be no more than a year.” It was an aggressive timeline, but one he strongly believed they could meet.
“Is this something wehaveto do?” Helen asked, sounding less than enthusiastic.
“No, we do not have to do this, but it is in the company’s best interest,” Thiago replied.
He saw genuine fear and concern on the faces of Helen and some of the other executives around the table. In an effort to put their minds at ease, he said, “Becoming a publicly traded company will be good for us. We will ensure the transition is done right and benefits everyone in the company, from my position all the way down to the janitor. Any more questions?”
There were two more questions, but surprisingly, no more afterward.
“Thank you for your time, and I will keep you updated on our progress. Please remember that what I shared with you stays in this room for now.”
There were nods all around.
As the executives rose from their seats, Thiago didn’t move. “India, could you stay behind for a few minutes? I have questions about the marketing plan.”
She appeared to be startled by his request but sat back down as the others filed out of the room.
When the door closed behind the last person, he let his gaze rest on her face. “Is everything okay?” Thiago asked.
“Yes, everything is fine,” she replied. Her voice was extra cool. No, not cool. Guarded.
“You don’t seem to be yourself today.”
“It’s a busy week so far.” She smiled, but the expression appeared less than genuine.
“Do you need more help?—”
“Everything is fine, Thiago. Really. This is business as usual for us, isn’t it? There’s nothing for you to be concerned about.”
Her answer seemed reasonable. She was trying to placate him, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong.
“Are you upset I canceled on Friday night?”
She shot him a look, halfway between surprise and a glare. Then her face slipped into another fake smile. “It’s not the first time you’ve canceled. If there’s nothing else, I have a million tasks to complete.”
Thiago wanted to demand she stay put and answer his questions—truthfully this time—because she was obviously hiding something.
Instead, he said, “You may leave.”
India stood, but as she walked past, his hand whipped out and grabbed her wrist. The sudden, automatic movement took her by surprise. She stared at him in shock. They were both shocked because he had made a rule about not touching in the office. Forbidding contact made sense, but right now, he wanted to pull her onto his lap and demand to know what was wrong. Something was definitely wrong, whether she admitted it or not.
He released her. “I should not have done that,” he said.
“It’s fine,” she murmured, rubbing her wrist. After a moment’s hesitation, she left without another word.
Thiago remained seated.
She was not the woman he had slept with Friday night. She was not the woman whose legs had been wrapped around his thighs and whose pillowy lips had been stretched around the girth of his hard dick, draining him of energy with the same expertise with which she did her daily work.
