Chapter 15

James

I walked into ScriptTech to find that Maya had been replaced with another leggy blonde. This version of Tom Wright’s fantasy woman wasn’t nearly as attractive as Maya, but she was a beautiful woman in her own way, and by the blank stare in her eyes as I approached, I figured Tom was mouth fucking her so hard he’d killed a few brain cells.

“Hello, Sir.” She looked up from her computer, and her eyes widened. “What can I do for you?” She leaned forward and showed me her cleavage.

“I have an appointment with Mr. Wright in five minutes. My name is James Thomas.”

“Have a seat, and I’ll let him know you’re here.”

The door opened beside her desk, and Tom poked his head out. “That won’t be necessary, Britney. Come on in, James. It’s good to see you, man.” He stuck out his hand and turned around to lead me inside.

I looked back to see Britney was looking me up and down as if she wanted to devour me.

I shut the door and watched as he walked around his desk. “I was hoping to revisit the numbers, and maybe we can compromise a bit. I’d really like to go with your company, but I need to do it knowing you’re not going to gouge customers who really need the drug.”

“Have a seat.” He gestured to the nearest chair. “You’re really eager to get down to business.”

“I see no reason to waste any more time. If we can’t get the prescription costs down to a decent margin, I’m going to have to pass.” Coming in and seeing that this guy had gone out of his way to hire another woman to take advantage of, was the icing on the cake. His morals were reprehensible, and I knew I couldn’t go home to Maya having left my product in his hands.

“I told you I couldn't see us changing the figures much. Maybe by ten percent at best.” He lifted his shoulders and then took a pen from his drawer and scribbled on an I love Golf tablet. He pushed the paper in front of me. Here’s what I’m willing to give you. I thought if I sweetened the pot a bit on your end, you’d see that I’m the best man and the best company.”

I read the paper and shook my head. I had more money than I knew what to do with, and even though the bonus he offered was a healthy chunk of change, I couldn’t do it. I’d promised myself that I’d be a better man since Lex had died, and I knew in my heart, that if one child died from an allergy because they couldn’t afford his tablet, I’d never be able to live with myself.

“No deal.” I held my hand out, and Tom stared at me like I’d lost my mind.

“Are you sure? You won’t find another company willing to pay you as much.”

“Then I’ll just have to make it myself.”

“What? Are you crazy? Do you have any idea how much you’ll burn just getting set up for production? Maybe you should take some more time. Take these numbers home and look at them again.” Tom’s temper flared, and he shoved the paper back toward me.

“No. I’m good. Thank you for your consideration, but I developed this drug so people wouldn’t have to die over something as common as an allergy. When you make it so unaffordable that insurance companies are not willing to cover it, and people can’t afford it out of pocket, you create a problem that endangers the lives of innocent people. Maybe you can sleep at night knowing that, but I can’t.”

“You’re going to look back one day and wish you’d signed with us. We’re the biggest company out there.”

“The biggest, sure. But not the best.” I turned and walked out with my head held high, and my wheels were turning to figure out my next move.

I felt a weight lift from my shoulders and a new rush of excitement as I planned my future. The only person I wanted to share that moment with was back home. I left the building in a hurry and headed out to my car hoping the commute would go smoothly.

I had to make plans and not only for the drug but for me and Maya as well. I wanted to be with her, like in a real relationship, and even though I still wasn’t sure how we’d end up, I wanted to try and make it work.

As I passed the offices of PharmCorp, I had another idea. As much as I wanted to get home to Maya and share the good news, I needed to make one more stop.

I walked a block and headed back into the parking garage, but this time I walked across the street and into the main entrance of PharmCorp.

All I needed was a place to package the product, and I could work with the FDA and bring the product to the shelf all on my own. It would be costly at first, and the legalities and government regulations were going to eat me alive, but if I could have PharmCorp handle production, I just might pull it off.

I knew it was a lot to work out, but I went inside and made an appointment, and then as I left I got my accountant, Gene, on the phone.

“You want to what?” Gene’s voice got a little higher and cracked.

“I want to bring the product to the public on my own. I won’t take a deal that doesn’t stay true to the cause.”

He made a sound as if he was in deep thought and then let loose a breath that sent static through the line. “My cousin is allergic to bees. He said that he got stung last year and nearly died because his pen had expired. His wife was upset because they couldn’t afford a new one. She felt responsible.”

“Yeah, there are too many people out there taking chances. My sister was allergic to peanuts. Her shitty boyfriend used to threaten her with them. It came out in the trial that he’d sent her to the hospital a week before with them.” I remembered having to keep a close eye on my sister that she didn’t make contact with any peanuts. Even peanut butter was not allowed in our house, and I’d resented her for it until I’d moved out on my own and realized I wasn’t missing much. Peanut butter was not a favorite after all. We had to always be on the lookout, even being in contact with shells and wrappers was dangerous for her. I’d always thought that would be the way she died, but I’d had no idea her fucking boyfriend would murder her. She’d been stabbed and brutally beaten, and left to die a slow, painful death before anyone found her. If I’d been a better brother, I would have. But I was too worried about my work, and nothing else had mattered.

“Find out what you need, and we’ll make it happen. Maybe you could find a few investors to help.”

“Maybe. There are plenty of people who can relate.”

“Amen, brother. Much too many. Mark told me you have a houseguest.” Mark and Gene had been friends longer than me and either of them.

“Yeah, she’s special too. I’m actually on my way to tell her how I feel about her. I think she’s the one.”

“Yeah? Marks’s been worried, but I told him the right girl would come along sooner or later. We’re all settling down, my friend. It’s just that season.” He’d been seeing his girlfriend, Piper, for months and had proposed a month ago. The two were planning their dream wedding and had even discussed starting a family according to Gene.

Mark had been on the hunt for Mrs. Right longer than anyone I knew but had yet to really find her. Just when he’d think he’d found the one, something would happen to end it.

I couldn’t go another day not telling Maya how I felt, and even though I wasn’t planning on getting married or settling down with a family anytime soon, I could see me doing those things with her. She’d be a beautiful bride, a wonderful wife, and a loving mother.

“Thanks, man, I’ll let you know how it goes.” I hung up the phone and headed out to my car for one final mission for the day. I had to make Maya mine.