I read the agreement carefully, trying not to get lost in the legalese. HH will pay me the net sum of one million dollars, as well as any taxes on this amount, effective today. In exchange, I grant HH all intellectual property rights on the “Supplement”, which includes the formula, test results and all my methods, concepts and ideas.
Exactly as we discussed. Fair and reasonable. But my breath catches at one of the terms.
Immigration Outcome. If Inventor’s application to immigrate in the United States fails for any reason, HH will return the Supplement and all Intellectual Property Rights to the Inventor, and will not disclose such Rights to a third party or use them in competition with the Inventor. Inventor is under no obligation to return the Purchase Price of $1,000,000.00 to HH.
Bloody hell! It takes me a few moments to find my voice.
“Mr. Hale, everything looks great, but are you sure about this paragraph? If you give me back the supplement, you’d be out a million dollars and I wouldn’t be out a thing.”
“I’m quite sure. And I can’t take credit for it. It was your idea. You proposed to invest the money in my companies so I wouldn’t be out a dime. It seems fair that I extend the same thoughtfulness to you.” He looks at me with some strong emotion, except I don’t know what it is.
“Thank you,” I say because no other words will do. I can’t refuse it. The only reason I’m parting with the supplement is so that I can stay and not feel like I bought my American dream with sex rather than hard work.
“Are there any terms you would like to add?” he asks.
“Yes, but they’re minor.” I pull out my notes from my purse. I don’t really need them but I do need a paperclip, and this gives me an excuse.
“Let’s hear them,” Aiden says, smiling.
I run through my terms slowly, checking them as I go. Recognizing my dad in press releases, not using the supplement as a performance-enhancing drug, not turning it into a biological weapon. For each term, Aiden nods thoughtfully. As always, he takes no notes.
“We’d make good business partners,” he says as I check off my final term. “Is there anything else you would like to discuss?”
I take a sip of water and keep my voice even because this last one is important to me. “Only one thing: if you ever want to sell the supplement, will you let me know first in case I can afford to buy it from you? If I can’t, you would be free to sell it to someone else.” I’m not sure I’ll ever have the money, but at least I’ll have the option and I’ll follow its journey wherever it goes.
“I doubt very much I will ever part with it, Elisa, but if I do, I agree to your term.” That nameless strong emotion floods Aiden’s eyes again. I search his face for clues but he controls it immediately.
“Then, that’s all, Mr. Hale.” I smile hugely. This was much easier than I thought. I didn’t break down once and he didn’t argue. “Thank you for making this so easy.”
“I’m not known for making things easy, Elisa.”
Is he referring to our disastrous morning-after? Probably. But suddenly I don’t want to focus on the negatives anymore. What he said to me, what I said to him. They won’t help, and it’s not how I want to remember us. I want to think only about the good things he brought into my life. That way, with time—with a very, very long time—maybe I will be able to let him go. Until then, there is no reason for him to suffer in guilt.
I smile at him. “All is well that’s meant well.” I modify the expression, hoping he understands my olive branch.
He smiles without his dimple. “It’s only so far your intentions can take you. Now, there is something I’d like to discuss.”
“What is it?”
“What I do with the supplement and where you invest the money. I know you want to invest it in one of my companies. To be frank, it’s the fairest business deal anyone has offered me. However, I’d like to propose an alternative.”
He pushes a button on a triangular device on the table and a screen drops from the ceiling against the wall facing Aiden. It lights up with a massive organizational chart. It takes me a moment to realize that this is the universe of his companies. All 120 of them.
Aiden stands. He moves with fluid precision despite his unrelenting rigidity. The motion is so hypnotizing that I have to look away.
On the screen, he circles a few companies. “These are the companies that will meet the immigration standards. You’re welcome to invest in and work at any of them if you wish. But would that make you happy? Or wouldn’t you much rather work in a laboratory, inventing and testing?” He leans over the table, his eyes ablaze as if he is trying to extract my thoughts.
“Well, to be honest, science is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. But I can find a job in a lab once I have my green card, Mr. Hale. You don’t need to hire me.”