I stand in the middle of my renovated factory and experience a sense of real pride. This place is going to look amazing one day. I just know it. The space alone is incredible. There’s so much character in a building like this. A whole different class than some drywall-and-concrete monstrosity. The exposed brick and original wide-plank flooring are a great touch too. I walk over to the tall, wide windows and look out at the majestic view of the river, and the Ben Franklin Bridge. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. I want my employees to come to work every day feeling like they’re part of something with soul.

Of course, I need employees first. But at least, I have the office space settled.

I loosen my tie and slide out of my jacket before sitting at my desk. It’s only lunch time, but it feels like it has been a long day. No doubt, there’ll be longer days if I plan to pull off winning this game show, but that’s cool with me. I’m used to hard work. Anybody who’s ever tried to get a business off the ground knows what eighteen hours days are all about.

I pull up my email and pop open an energy drink at the same time, ready to dive in and really start the work day. Taking the morning off to go to that audition was a risky move, one which I would have regretted if I hadn’t made it.

But I did make it.

And I’m going to go all the way to the end. I’m going to turn this business into what I’ve been dreaming of for the last three years, ever since I had a big idea in my dorm room at the end of senior year.

A lot has changed since then. I’m not a fresh-faced college kid anymore or living off my parents. Life sure was a lot easier when you didn’t have to earn your own money, or pay bills. When I look back on how busy I thought I was throughout college, I can’t help but laugh at myself. Studying and playing sports. Wow, what a tough life I had. Spoiled brat. I wish I could go back and give that old version of me a solid punch in the jaw sometimes.

If I could, I’d tell him to get a clue, too.

I’d warn him against the pitfalls I’ve already fallen into, only three years in. I’d tell him to take his time trusting people, to not let supposed friends fool him into thinking they’d make good business partners. I’d advise him to set aside more than he thinks is necessary for the tax man because there’s nothing like finding out money is owed at the end of the financial year, money that’s already been earmarked for other things. I learned that the hard way.

Eric comes in carrying a bag from a sandwich shop on the corner. “Dude, I didn’t expect you back so soon,” he says, putting the bag on his desk and sliding into his chair.

It’s an open floor plan, so I can see him from where I am, halfway across the room. “Yeah, I came back about twenty minutes ago.” I keep my eyes on my monitor and pretend nothing’s up, just to screw with him for a little bit.

“So?”

I can see he’s trying to be casual, but he’s itching to know. “So what?” I ask with a yawn.

“Did you make it or not?”

I have to take pity on the guy. He doesn’t have the same stake in the company as I do, but he does have a vested interest in whether or not we succeed. I promised him a twenty-five percent share of the business if we get it off the ground. And he would deserve it too, as he’s the most loyal, hardworking person I’ve found so far.

I look at him expressionlessly to drag out the suspense a little longer.

“Well?” he prompts.

“Yeah. I made it,” I shout with a grin.

“Shut the fuck up! You seriously did?” He jumps out of his chair and pumps his fist.

“What? You doubted me?” I chuckle.

“No offense, man. I’ve seen you pull some crazy shit before, all in the name of getting this business off the ground, but this is in a class by itself. Too many variables in play at once.”

I wave it off. “Whatever. I had it in the bag the second I walked in.”

“When do you start?”

“Tomorrow.”

He winces. “Wow. They don’t even give you any time to get your life in order before you have to start doing the stunts?”

“Right,” I nod. “Hey—the sooner we start, the sooner the money’s in the bank and we can really get this thing rolling.” Everything I’ve worked for in the last three years comes down to this. Nothing less than my entire life, really. If this fails, I’ll have to start from scratch. Every cent I’ve earned, raised, or borrowed is at stake. Everything in my life.

“You think you’ll win it?” he asks before taking a bite of what smells like an Italian hoagie with extra onions.

I can’t help but scowl. “First, you tell me you doubted that I’d make the show. Now you’re doubting that I’ll take home the prize. Have some confidence, man.”

“Hey, the tech world has its ups and downs and massive change can occur overnight—but that’s still not as crazy as this show is gonna be for you.”

“Is that your idea of a pep talk? Because it’s not all that inspiring. You need to watch some sports movies and figure out where you’re going wrong.”

He laughs and shrugs off my sarcasm. “All I’m saying is…it’s gonna be intense.”

One of the many reasons we work so well together is he lets things roll off his back, while I’m way too serious. “Like the last three years haven’t been intense. Believe me, man, I get where you’re coming from, but I have it under control. You don’t need to worry about a thing.” I chuckle darkly. “Besides, I’m fairly sure there’s only one person I have to worry about.”

“Who?”

“My teammate.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “Teammate?”

“Yeah. Her name’s Dakota.”

“Oh. Dakota, huh?”

I’ve known him long enough to know exactly where his mind is going. I hold up both hands, laughing. “It’s not like that. Believe me. She’s not my type.”

“Your type is no type.”

“There’s no time for women.” For the last few years, I’ve been throwing all my time and energy into developing our product, and building a business around manufacturing it.

“You could find the time if you wanted to,” he says chewing slowly.

“Maybe I don’t want to, then.” I have no intention of sacrificing even a piece of my dream just because I need to get my dick wet on the regular. There are always women willing for a quick hookup, I’ve never had a problem with that, but there’s no time for anything more.

Eric knows this, but still feels the need to bust my balls over it every now and again. “Okay, okay. So what happens when you two win? Do you split the prize with her?”

I like that he used the word ‘when’. “I’m guessing she’s the competition after that,” I muse, tapping my fingers on my desk. “I’ll take her out. No worries about that. The money is as good as ours.”

He smiles before becoming serious. “Listen. I know I give you a lot of shit, but I wanna let you know this means alot to me. Thanks for doing this for us.”

“Hey…like I told you from day one. I’m all-in. This has been my dream for too long to let a little thing like lack of capital end it.”

His phone rings and he answers. “Hello Sukie,” he says cheerfully while grimacing at me.

Sukie is an aspartame drinking bitch, who unfortunately is also our only potential investor. We’ve been courting her for three months. She has sadistic tendencies. She knows we have a solid business plan and we’re going to make her a lot of money, but she just likes to see how many hoops she can get us to jump through first. I’d really like to tell her to take a running jump, but I know I should keep her on the hook, just in case things fall through with the show. I give him the thumbs-up.

He flashes me one in return before diving into his conversation.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, something my father used to say to me. It was one of his favorite sayings, and it’s something I remind myself of every time I get too excited about the game show. That’s why we’re still jumping through Sukie’s mean little hoops and hoping she comes through on her promises. I won’t let my dream die. I can’t. If something goes wrong and I don’t win the show, I still have a backup plan.

But I will win.

I turn my chair away from Eric and look out of the window. It’s easier to think when I can look out over the river. I’ll do everything in my power to make that money mine. If I freak out over a stunt, I’ll just remember everyday of these lean years, eating nothing but ramen or cereal for days on end, just to afford rent while I peddled my designs around to potential buyers. I decided to produce it myself, when none of the buyers were willing to let me have a say in production. I might have been a little too hasty then, but I was still cocky enough to believe nobody knew my product better than I did. The clock is ticking and I still haven’t proven myself right.

I have to win.

I think of Dakota. She’s got a nasty temper and a hell of a foul mouth to match, but I can tell she’s probably never done anything crazy in her whole life. It’s one thing to tell yourself you would do something for money, but another to actually go through with it, especially knowing millions of people are going to see the footage. It’ll be nerve-wracking and if she’s not completely committed, we’re dead in the water. I’ll have to convince her to go through with the stunts.

So…they were looking for a couple with the right chemistry. I try to imagine the sort of things the audience will want from us. An image of Dakota naked and bouncing on my dick, with those gorgeous breasts free, flashes into my mind.

Just like that, I’m hard as a rock.

Fuck, how long has it even been since I got laid? I actually can’t remember. It’s been that busy lately. My inbox is chock full of emails again. I had just finished answering messages before I left for the audition this morning. It’s nonstop—inquiry replies, parts manufacturers offering quotes, latest updates from our marketing firm. No wonder I’ve got an erection just thinking about a woman.

I lean back against my chair. A spring is broken in the seat and it needs to be replaced, but I’m not going to spend good money on making myself comfortable. I shift slightly and my thoughts return to Dakota. No, I wouldn’t mind at all if the audience chose a sexy stunt for us to pull. Making out in public, or maybe something even more risky. I could definitely live with an excuse.

I stop myself before my fantasy goes too far.

Fucking chill out, Trent.

She’s already in my head. What would she think if she knew I was sitting here, thinking about her, steadily getting harder every time I picture her in my head? Before my erection gets any more obvious, I need to stop thinking about her. It’s not only the idea of Eric busting my balls for the rest of my life either. It’s the danger of getting too close to her and losing focus. I can’t fall into the trap of seeing her as a hot girl. The last thing I want to do is start thinking with my dick. When the time comes, I’m going to have to do whatever it takes to win the money.

“Yo, man. You listening?”

“Hmm?” I barely turn my head in Eric’s direction.

“Sukie wants dinner tonight. You in?”

I consider it, then shake my head. “No, I can’t. You go.”

“What?” His jaw drops. “You’re actually gonna let me go on my own?”

“She likes you better than me, anyway. She finds you more approachable.” I grin.

“No, she doesn’t.”

“I’ve seen her eyes light up.”

“She’s, like, a hundred years old,” he groans, dropping his chin in his hand and looking miserable.

“Yeah, but you know what they say about older women. They know tricks women our age haven’t even heard of yet.”

His face flushes dark red. “You don’t actually think I would sleep with her, do you?”

“Well…” I shrug, trying not to laugh.

“You’re sick, man. Sick. Ugh.” He shudders.

“You’re making too big a deal of this,” I joke. “I think you’ve already thought about it, or you wouldn’t keep trying to convince me I’m wrong.”

His mouth falls open again. “I’m trying to convince you that you’re wrong because you seriously just grossed me out.”

“Whatever, man. I wouldn’t blame you if you went for it. She’s hot for an older woman.”

“She’s not!” he sputters, shaking his head, and shuddering again.

“She’s got that classy thing going on, you know?”

“So does my mom!” he argues.

It’s too much fun, having the chance to bust his balls for once. “So what? Your mom is hot too.”

“I’m gonna straight-up kill you.”

“Whatever. I’m just saying, if she was interested in taking things back to her penthouse…” I raise my eyebrows and let the thought trail off while he fumes.

“I would do just about anything for this company you’re trying to get off the ground, but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna sleep with a woman three times my age, just to get the money.”

“Suit yourself.” I grin, turning back to the window. I’m not serious and he knows it—though it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if he convinced her to invest…