You told me to delete his information from our system, but I wanted to confirm first. That was Darien Cole, right?
From Cole Ventures. Victoria's fingers stopped typing.
So, Ms. Ashford. Jenny's voice shakes slightly.
Did you Google him? Something cold forms in Victoria's stomach.
Why would I need to Google some random guy trying to crash my meeting? Jenny sets the tablet on Victoria's desk.
The screen shows a Forbes article. The headline reads, "Darien Cole, the billionaire investor you've never heard of."
Victoria stares at the photo. Same face, same calm expression.
Same person she had thrown out of the hotel an hour ago. Her eyes scan the article.
The words blur together at first, then snap into sharp focus. Net worth: $3.8 billion.
Cole Ventures, $3.8 billion in assets under management. Forbes 400 ranking: No. 184.
Track record: 47 investments, 43 successful exits. Board member or adviser to Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, and six other companies.
Her hands start to shake. Actually shake like she's holding something too heavy.
Jenny. Her voice comes out hoarse.
Tell me this is a different Darien Cole. Jenny reaches over and scrolls down.
There's another photo. Darien at a tech conference standing next to Sundar Pichai.
Darien shaking hands with Tim Cook. Darien on a panel at Davos.
In every photo, he's wearing casual clothes, polos, button-downs without ties, never a suit. Victoria's throat closes up.
She tries to swallow. Can't.
The meeting was confirmed 3 weeks ago, Jenny whispers. I have the emails.
He was coming to discuss series C. $500 million.
500 million. The number echoes in Victoria's head like a bell.
Without that money, the company dies in 11 weeks. Victoria goes silent.
"Oh my God." Victoria stands up so fast her chair rolls backward and hits the window.
Oh my god. Oh my god.
She grabs her phone, finds Darien's number in the deleted contacts folder. Her fingers are sweating so much she has to wipe them on her skirt before she can dial.
The phone rings once, twice, three times. Voicemail.
Mr. Cole, this is Victoria Ashford. I believe there was a terrible misunderstanding this morning.
I would love to reschedule our meeting at your earliest convenience. Please call me back.
She hangs up immediately. Calls again.
Voicemail again. Voicemail.
Jenny. Victoria's voice is getting higher.
Get Marcus in here now. Marcus Brooks, the CFO, arrives 3 minutes later.
He's holding a coffee and a folder of quarterly reports. What's the emergency?
Victoria shows him the Forbes article. The investor we were supposed to meet this morning, the one I had security thrown out.
Marcus reads. His face goes from confused to shocked to horrified in about 10 seconds.
Please tell me this is a joke. Do I look like I'm joking?
Marcus sets down his coffee. Some of it sloshes over the rim onto the quarterly reports.
He doesn't seem to notice. Victoria, please tell me you didn't actually have Darien Cole removed from the hotel.
I didn't know who he was. He showed up dressed like a college student.
He's famous for that. Marcus's voice rises.