that is. Start-up companies are like plants: They constantly need water, and sometimes it takes a lot of water before they bear fruit.â
âThatâs quite poetic. How close is the company you work for away from bearing fruit?â
âVery close, actually. Weâre two weeks away from going public.â
âTwo weeks! That must be very exciting.â
âRight now, itâs more anxiety-producing than exciting. I need to raise about two hundred thousand dollars to shore up our liquidity to get to the IPO.â
Chet whistled through his teeth. He was impressed, and gathered that Angela had to be a rather high-level executive. âIs the company going to be able to do it?â
âI try to be optimistic, especially since the investment-banking gurus promise the IPO will be a sellout. Maybe you, as a board-certified physician, would like to invest. We can certainly make it worth your while with interest or equity or both. We do have a lot of physician investors: more than five hundred, to be exact.â
âReally?â Chet questioned. âWhat kind of company is it?â
âItâs called Angels Healthcare. We build and run specialty hospitals.â
âI suppose that means you know something about doctors.â
âYou could say that,â Angela agreed.
âSadly, Iâm not as liquid as Iâd like at the moment,â Chet said. âSorry.â
âNo problem. If you change your mind, give us a call.â
âWell,â Chet voiced, obviously wanting to change the subject. âAre you single or married, or somewhere in between?â
Back to the come-on, Angela thought. All at once, she didnât care to keep up her side of the conversation. Sheâd been amused, but suddenly she felt tired, which had been the goal. She wanted to go home. âDivorced,â she said, and then added what she thought would be a turn-off. âIâm divorced, and I live with my ten-year-old daughter, who is home sleeping.â
âI guess that rules out your apartment,â Chet said. âIâm singleâvery single, actuallyâand I have a terrific apartment just around the corner. How about a nightcap?â
âAnd see your etchings, I suppose. Sorry. Iâve got both my daughter and the two hundred thousand dollars to think about.â Angela waved to one of the waiters and motioned for the check.
âIâll take care of the check,â Chet said magnanimously.
âNo, you wonât!â Angela said with a voice that brooked no disagreement. âIâm afraid I used you, in a way. As penance I insist.â
âUsed me?â Chet questioned with a confused expression. âWhat do you mean?â
âIt would take much too long to explain, and Iâve got to get home.â
Chet acted a tad desperate as Angela signed the check to her house account. âHow about dinner tomorrow night?â he suggested when sheâd finished.
âThatâs very generous of you, but Iâm afraid I canât take the time. Iâm not sure what to expect at the office tomorrow.â
âBut it would give you a chance to explain how you, quote, âused me,ââ Chet said. âI certainly donât feel used, and Iâve truly enjoyed meeting you. If Iâve offended you, I apologize. I promise I wonât be so flippant. Itâs just an act.â
Mildly surprised at Chetâs willingness to reveal what seemed to be vulnerability, Angela stuck out her hand as she got to her feet. While shaking hands, she said, âIâve enjoyed your company. I mean that. Maybe after the IPO we can have another drink or even a dinner.â
âIâd like that,â Chet said, regaining his aplomb. âAnd it will be my treat.â
âItâs a deal,â Angela said, knowing that now it was her turn to be the one less sincere.
2
APRIL 3, 2007
7:15 A.M.
L isten,â Dr.
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