The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

I could still get paid just hanging around at the office and doing nothing. Honestly, that was the best news I could've gotten. After finishing up my sketches, I leaned back, propped my head on my hand, and started scrolling through the updates people had sent me.

The new hires Eric brought in were solid. They were handling everything without needing my input. Some even had cool ideas and new product lines they were thinking of launching, all in the hopes of making more money.

After going over their ideas and throwing in a couple of suggestions, I told them to go ahead. The funding wasn't on them-that was on Eric and me. Once I handled it, I leaned back in my chair.

By then, I was making solid money from Zane's side and my own business. I could take care of Mom's retirement and still have enough left over to help out others.

I couldn't help but wonder if there were other businesses-besides these two- that I might want to invest in. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Zane called.

brief him on the company. Afterward, Zane handed him the tasks that

his way over to me. "These new recruits

aware of the new product line idea and the profit-sharing proposal, so their ambition wasn't all

go off and start their own line. They'd still give

it quickly and set it aside.

face tightened like he wasn't fully on board with

it's not really fair if we're taking all the risk while they walk away with the

nodded like he couldn't

I talked to them, one of them walked up to me like he was doing me a favor. He told me that if I didn't jump on this 'opportunity,' he'd take it

proposed profit split. We'd cover all the production and marketing costs, but the split would be 90-10, with the employee getting the lion's share. He'd keep 90%, and we'd be left