The Last Network - Chapter 25
Clone Club
Rabbit was in his backyard picking up palm fronds. It was a disgusting late September day, six months from the last good rain. Wind kicked dirt everywhere. His gardener had come yesterday, just before the Santa Anas rolled in. He wouldn’t be back for a week, so it was on Rabbit to pick up the pieces. He took a break, feeling sweat run down his back.
His phone vibrated on the patio table, edging itself between the slats, threatening to fall to the tile below. He was in no mood to talk, but he needed to put that phone somewhere before he had a cracked screen.
Frank Meyers was ringing. That was odd and worth answering.
“Hello.”
“Rabbit, Frank Meyers here.”
Rabbit wiped the sweat from his brow. “Hey Frank. What can I do for you?”
“I was just up in the Valley last week. Spent a lot of time on Sand Hill Road.”
“Good for you.”
“Not good for you.”
Rabbit looked around for a glass of water. “How’s that?”
“You know how VCs all chase the craze du jour? Clean tech, subscription boxes, big data, clouds.”
“Yeah.”
“Well Rabbit and Peared are on the menu this week. Everyone is coming for you.”
“Success brings imitators. I’m not surprised.” Rabbit walked inside and grabbed a bottle off his counter.
“Neither am I. I was at Thorn Capital. They want me to join the management team of a teleportation startup. I’m going to be the adult in the room.”
“They tried to buy me last week. I figured this was their next move. They only want you to piss me off. If I were you Frank, I wouldn’t waste my time up there. Thorn might be big, but I’m burning a lot hotter than anyone knows. Don’t get in the ring.”
“I appreciate the concern, but there’s a tsunami of money lined up against you. It’s not just Thorn. You aren’t deep enough to get in the pool with the Valley.”
Rabbit squeezed the water bottle in his hand, forcing it to crinkle and crumble. “I’m printing money right now. Don’t think I can’t hang with the best of them.”
“I don’t think you know what money looks like Rabbit. There’s still time to sell. Adam Mason wanted you to know their offer still stands.”
“Tell Mason my offer still stands. Thorn is more than welcome to invest in an LA based Peared that I run.”
“Rabbit, that ain’t happening. You’re dirty and you know it. Swallow your pride and sell while there’s still a big payday for you. If you don’t accept their offer, they’ll steamroll you. Don’t get into a war you can’t win. Sell and take your victory lap around LA. The Valley is an entirely different world. You can’t beat them.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Just offering advice, to a friend.”
Rabbit laughed. “Friend? You’re a competitor Frank. I’ll be gunning for you real soon.”
“I’ll see you around, friendo.”
“Go fuck yourself Frank.”
The phone slipped through his sweaty hands and landed on the tile. It caught an edge and then fell on the hard metal back. He picked it up. Still in one piece.