Beneath the Shadow of Time , Always and Forever Book 3 by Vera Bell Sale Blitz! @SilverDaggerBookTours#AlwaysAndForeverIrishTrilogy @ReadingBells @verabellauthor

Will you defy your past or be consumed by it?

Beneath the Shadow of Time

Always and Forever Book 3

by Vera Bell

Genre

 Time Travel Romantic Suspense, Historical Mystery

In this riveting conclusion to the Always and Forever trilogy, Ryan's classified new case awakens Siena's greatest fears. As shadows of the past deepen and close in, only Ryan’s fulfillment of his ancient sacred vow can dispel them.

1566, ULSTER, IRELAND.

Neave lives in fear as Queen Elizabeth’s obscene bounty on Aedan’s head turns him into a target. Undeterred, Aedan enlists his allies, the Antrim Scots, in his relentless fight to free Ireland from English rule.

 But when greed and treachery hide in plain sight, nothing is as it seems. 

After Aedan’s plans crumble in a shocking twist, he makes a solemn oath to heartbroken Neave—one he may have to honor in another lifetime.

2013, MIAMI, FL.

When Siena discovers the truth about Ryan’s new case and their tragic past life, she realizes he is in mortal danger. 

Tormented, she begs him to quit, but Ryan is determined despite an inner voice urging him to do right by her. 

Unwilling to be sidetracked, he resolves to deal with it later and on his own terms. But when a ruthless cartel takes Ryan hostage, he just might run out of time.

Will Ryan uphold his vow to Siena, or are they destined for disaster... again?

If you love time travel romance with elements of reincarnation, suspense, mystery, drama, and a touch of magic, don't miss the grand finale of the Always and Forever trilogy!

• Q: What inspired you to write Through the Veneer of Time?

• A: My experience with Past Life Regression (PLR) felt like time travel—vivid and intense, filled with an explosion of colors, sounds, smells, and textures. Though my session ended abruptly and left the story incomplete, it profoundly impacted me and sparked this blend of Irish time travel romance, historical suspense, and FBI mystery.
   
  Q: What can readers expect from your novel?
  A: The plot bridges past and present, weaving a suspenseful love story with a dark historical thriller. Readers will encounter danger, love that transcends time and space, and a heroine who must confront her past life and buried secrets to reclaim her future.
   
  Q: How do you approach writing such multi-genre stories?
  A: For me, writing is like carving stone. I start with a rough draft, then refine each scene, layering in emotions, historical details, and suspense. I often listen to music when I write. It helps me connect with my characters, especially during dark or emotionally charged moments.
   
  Q: What was the hardest part of writing this book?
  A: Writing the serial killer's perspective meant exploring the darkest corners of the human psyche. Balancing themes of trauma and redemption for my heroine was equally challenging, especially in one unconventional scene where the hero must make a morally gray choice to save her. It took months to perfect.
   
  Q: Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?
  A: At its heart, Through the Veneer of Time celebrates love, honor, and resilience. It asks how far a man will go to save the woman he loves and what his wedding vow means when tested—to love in sickness as well as in health. The story explores how a couple can overcome physical and psychological obstacles together, complementing each other's strengths. Ultimately, it's a reminder that love has the power to conquer all.

**NEW RELEASE!! Get it On Sale TODAY!**

$0.99 (USA), £0.99 (UK), $1.99 (CA), $1.99 (AUS)

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BENEATH THE SHADOW OF TIME

Book 3, Always and Forever Trilogy 

By Vera Bell

Excerpt

I straightened, forcing down the unbearable tremors that rippled through me like a quake. Ryan was working on an emergency. He’d call me soon, tired and apologetic. And alive. Sorry, love, I couldn’t use my phone where I was. Heading home now. 

My brain wrapped in a thick, cold fog, I opened a search engine and typed, “Miami FBI headquarters phone number.” Then, struck by a sudden morbid idea, I ended the call before it went through, tapped on the news, and typed, “Miami FBI.”

The doorbell rang, and Guinness erupted in a deafening clamor of barking and snarling. An adrenaline-fueled rush of a wild, dying hope, mixed with the terror of foreknowledge, carried me to the door through the gunfire of no’s in my head.

Ryan would have used his key. Guinness wouldn’t have snarled. My vision blurred and dimmed as I opened the door to find Emma and Jason standing outside, their faces two pale, immobile masks. 

In a sickening flash of memory, the skull grinned at me with its eternal frozen rictus of a corpse. And all around it—wake attendants draped in black, and me in my indecent widow’s gown, and black lace and feathers to mask my horror.

I backed away from Emma and Jason—back into the apartment where only moments ago, I still had hope. I kept moving backward until I came up against something hard. 

Guinness—wistful brown eyes fixed on me—followed me in.

“No.” I pierced the flesh of my palms with my fingernails. “No.”

“Sie.” Emma approached very slowly, like I was a ticking bomb. Gently, she wrapped her arms around me. Pulled me close. “Let’s sit somewhere, sweetie. Let’s sit down.”

“No,” I said. “No.”

She walked me to the bedroom, away from the living room where Austin was watching his gaudy cartoons, the actors’ penetrating voices ringing throughout the apartment.

Ha, ha, ha! Let’s see what’s behind this door!

What if it’s a monster? I’m scared!

Look, it’s only—

Aah!

Emma sat beside me on the bed. 

Jason stalled by the door. He was dressed in full fatigues, face covered in muck, hair dripping with sweat.

“Jay,” said Emma.

He stepped inside and scrubbed a sleeved forearm across his forehead, smearing the dirt.

I pressed a fist to my mouth. I abhorred the sight of Jason in our bedroom. I hated it more than anything in the world. 

Into the Lure of Time

Always and Forever Book 2

In this gripping sequel to the award-winning novel, Through the Veneer of Time, echoes of Siena’s past life lure her into a shocking indiscretion that threatens to destroy her marriage. She alone can undo the damage, but this chilling revelation is only the beginning of her battle.

1564, ULSTER, IRELAND. 

After Aedan’s diplomatic visit to Queen Elizabeth’s court results in his compulsory divorce and arranged marriage, Neave’s violent unraveling drives her into another man’s arms.

But in seeking revenge, Neave falls into a perfect trap set by Aedan’s enemy. By the time she learns the truth, it’s too late to undo the damage to Aedan, herself, and the hard-won peace in Ulster. 

When despair makes her reckless, the price will be a lifetime of infamy, confinement, and isolation from what Neave treasures most—Aedan and her son.

2011, WASHINGTON D.C./DALLAS, TX. 

It seems like a reasonable plan—Siena finishing her final mural in D.C. while Ryan starts his new job in Dallas. But when Siena meets Ryan’s new FBI partner, an inexplicable fit of jealousy sends her on a downward spiral. To make matters worse, the present mirrors the past when her visions take a startling turn. Consumed by insecurities, Siena takes a drastic step, which proves a catastrophic lapse in judgment. When her self-fulfilling prophecy unfolds in a devastating inversion of the past, Siena’s actions could cost her the two people she most fears to lose—Ryan and their baby.

Will Siena and Ryan beat their disastrous odds, or is their marriage foredoomed?

If you love time travel romance with dark undertones, as well as elements of domestic suspense, psychosexual thriller, reincarnation, and a touch of magic, don’t miss the second installment of the Always and Forever trilogy!

"An achingly beautiful story that lingered in my thoughts long after I'd finished the last page."
— Jodi Jensen, Author of Sophie's Key

"Bell had me feeling 'all the feels' as I feverishly turned each page."
— Five Star Review from Reader Views

"Vera's brilliant storytelling comes out in full force again in this exceptional sequel."
— The Bookish Historian Book Reviews

"It's literally taking me a few days to finally come down from the rollercoaster. (I mean that in the best way)."
— Irish Booklover Book Reviews

"BEWARE... this book will leave you with an awful hangover and thinking about it for days long after you've finished."
— Kindle Babe Book Reviews

"Bell's vision is imaginative, sexy, and sweeping. The author offers a distinctive voice for the two time periods and) populates the novel with complex and flawed characters."
— BookLife Prize by Publishers Weekly

"Not only a satisfying continuation of Siena’s growth process, but a story that simmers with intrigue, passion, historical insights, and thoroughly engrossing revelations."
— D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

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INTO THE LURE OF TIME 

Book 2, Always and Forever Trilogy 

By Vera Bell

Excerpt

Everything—the floor, the walls, the air—fell away. Only this parchment in my hand remained.

Chimeric. Foretold.

Somewhere deep down, I knew I stood very still, calm, and mute, my eyes fixed on Aedan’s precise English hand. But I also hovered above, crumbling into bleeding bits. Watching my life’s blood drain out of me and wash the world in crimson, drop by drop by drop— 

Kian said something, his voice familiar, ordinary. It cannot be. I shifted my gaze to the broken seal. An English forgery to foment strife. A cruel trickery to break our spirit. But there was yet a paragraph unread—

As I shall be returning soon after you take delivery of this dispatch, I trust that as my loyal subject, you will abide my expressed demand in the proper and expeditious fashion commensurate with the sensitivity of this matter. As well, it is my uttermost wish that you will, hitherto, regard me solely as your rightful ruler, and as such, would not seek my audience in any unseemly or unsuitable manner. Furthermore, shall you find yourself in my presence, I rely on your good sense and proper decorum to act toward me with such deference and regard as befits my rank.

Earl II of Tyrone, Lord Aedan O’Neal

This 5th Day of January, 1565

The hall swayed. The parchment slipped from my fingers. His handwriting. His name. His signature. What forgery?

Kian steadied me with his hands on my shoulders, eyes frozen with horror.

He bent to take the parchment, pinching it between his thumb and index finger like it was something vile to touch. Like it would sully anyone mad enough to lay a hand on it.

“Is…is h-he…dead?”

The dais stood wrapped in saffron and gold, awaiting the O’Neal’s return.

I came back to myself. My eyes burned with salt. My throat chafed with sand. My heart burst into icy, piercing shards. How determined he was to go to London, how callous to slam our chamber door.

Through the Veneer of Time

Always and Forever Book 1

For fans of Diana Gabaldon and Susanna Kearsley comes a riveting new tale of time travel and romantic suspense: A haunted painter's past life visions are not the creative inspiration they seemed. 

They're a harbinger of her ancient revenge vow, and her FBI husband won't find the serial killer until she fulfills it. But it may already be too late.

1559, ULSTER, IRELAND.

 When a young noblewoman Neave McConway weds the newly elected King of Tyrone, Aedan O'Neal, the couple's rare union of love and passion becomes the talk of the region. But Aedan's bold rule and fierce defiance of the English crown threaten his powerful enemies, and they'll stop at nothing to crush his growing influence. 

After Aedan rides off to fight against the English occupiers, Neave suffers a shocking attack that will forever alter both their lives — as well as the lives they have not yet lived.

2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. 

While mural artist Siena Forte battles a creative block, her FBI husband Ryan Casey struggles with a serial killer case. When research leads Siena to the practice of Past Life Regression, she stumbles upon irresistible inspiration.

But after her art exposes her to a vicious ancient adversary, she discovers the true reason for her past life visions. 

They're a harbinger of her centuries-old revenge vow, and the serial killer can't be stopped until she fulfills it. But there is another person from the past with unfinished business—her husband.

Will Siena and Ryan settle their long-overdue score, or will the past repeat itself in a chilling parallel?

If you love time travel romance with elements of reincarnation, suspense, mystery, fantasy, and a touch of magic, don't miss this thrilling read!

"A true masterpiece. It is a book that once read is impossible to forget."
— Highly Recommended Award of Excellence from The Historical Fiction Company

"The intricate and creative plot is one you will not want to miss. Anxiously awaiting book two."
— Five Star Review from Reader Views

"Vera Bell's novel successfully combines historical fiction, romance, and a contemporary thriller. "
— Historical Novel Society

"Past and present lives collide in Vera Bell's hauntingly beautiful debut. A sexy, sensuous tale."
— Julie McElwain, national award-winning journalist and author of A Murder in Time

"Bell mixes romance, mystery, and history to take the reader on an adventure across centuries."
— BookLife Prize by Publishers Weekly

"Against the backdrop of love, hate, and a killer’s threat lies the attraction of a thriller’s fast pace and heated twists"
— D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review 

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THROUGH THE VENEER OF TIME

Book 1, Always and Forever Trilogy By Vera Bell

Excerpt

His words were a blast that made something inside me snap. Why couldn’t I unlock my eyes from his? Unclench my knees despite an unbearable compulsion to run? I dug my fingernails into my sweaty palms to break the paralysis, drove the graphite shards into my flesh.

“Do you ever wonder what becomes of your characters?” His vacuous smile didn’t reach his eyes. “What comes after your painstaking freeze-frame? Your warrior—” He pointed his chin at the mural. “He’s cocky, but he doesn’t know what he’s riding into. Yet hours from now, he could be lying in some field, stripped of his weapons, bleeding out into the ground as the vultures peck at his baby blues.” His eyes widened. “Leaving his beautiful young widow all alone.” 

His impossibly soft voice was a ringing blow in my ears. A tremor braced my throat. I drew a frantic breath against it. 

“I’m sorry,” I squeezed out, “I’m not sure I follow.”

“I’m sure you do.” He chuckled. “But don’t look so stricken, Siena Forte. It’s only a painting, a fantasy. Nothing more.”

“Excuse me…” I edged past him, cold all over.

I rushed into the nearest restroom, tossed the broken graphite into the trash can, and locked myself in a stall. I hugged myself. Tight. Tighter. Gasped for air, not drawing any. My vision swam at the edges. Flickering. Fading. My heart thudded, and breath came faster in my chest, choking me. 

Fragments of his words whirred around me, and I grasped my head to stop the awful cacophony. But it wouldn’t stop. The image he drew cut like a knife, piercing through something soft and vulnerable inside. Something I’d buried deep down and wished to keep that way. But he’d driven it to the surface and laid it out in the open, raw and exposed.

Vera Bell is a Georgia Author of the Year nominee and the award-winning author of the "Always and Forever" trilogy, set in sixteenth-century Ireland and present-day United States.

Book One, “Through the Veneer of Time,” 

is her debut novel. She wrote it after trying past life regression and finding herself immersed in a world so captivating that she couldn’t let it go. A former commercial artist, she lives in Atlanta with her husband, two teenagers, and one fur baby. Her favorite place to write is on her porch, overlooking a pond lined with river birches and magnolias. The topics she never tires of are bygone eras, our universal human condition, and love that transcends time and space.

Want to be in the know? Join Vera's private mailing list to get first dibs on cover reveals, sneak peeks, new releases, free giveaways, and much more at https://www.verabellauthor.com.

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Night Stalker The Cities Below Book 6 By Jen Colly Book Tour! #TheCitiesBelow #NightStalker @jen.colly.1@authorjencolly

Secrets, demons, lovers and murder…

Who can you trust?

In the Dark

The Cities Below Book 1

by Jen Colly

Genre

 Paranormal Romance

Fate will not be denied.

Faith should be crowned "Queen of the Wrong Place and Wrong Time." Her impulsive, solo trip to Paris seems like a genius idea – until she loses her way back to the hotel. In the rain. At night. When the two men she flags down for directions shove her into the nearest alley, she fears the worst.

Soren was irritable. Not surprising as he'd held off feeding as long as possible. The thought of feeding from someone he knew turned his stomach, and so he ventured above to become just another body in the chaos of Paris. But when the cries of a female in distress reach his ears, everything inside him demands he protect her, and he is unable to hide the true nature of his species.

Soren has no choice but to keep her and bring her to his underground city. It doesn't take him long to realize why he'd been drawn to Paris, to that street, that alley...Faith. She is the other half of his soul. Admitting the truth to her could damage the fragile connection they built, but when an old enemy, lurking in the dark attacks, they are separated. Now, he may never have the chance.

**Get it 75% off at Smashwords until March 8th!**

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Bound

The Cities Below Book 2

His heart belongs to one woman, his life to another.

Keir didn't exist. Not anymore. The Lady of Galbraith had saved him from death. Forever indebted to her alone, Keir had become her confidant, her spy, her assassin. He was her secret weapon against those trying to remove her from power. When Keir is ambushed by a pack of demons, he used the last of his strength to return home and warn the Lady of impending danger.

To say she was stunned when a dying man fell to her feet, was an understatement. For the first time in her life, Cleo acted on instinct and without hesitation – their lives now undeniably bound together. Her single act of benevolence left her reeling, confronted with the knowledge that a stranger had more care and consideration for her well-being than her own family. 

Political upheaval is sweeping through the city of Galbraith, splitting alliances and stoking discord. When Cleo is abducted, taken in retaliation from the side she's chosen, only Keir can get her back. And he will, even if he must start a war.

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Beneath the Night

The Cities Below Book 3

Demons are not the only enemy among them...

Waking from a seven year healing sleep should have been the biggest shock of Navarre's night. It was not. The brave female standing before him was, without a doubt, his fated mate. That wasn't the stunner either. She'd been sent here to feed him, to bring him back and restore his strength, risking her life to save his. Still, not yet the biggest surprise. What had Navarre reeling was her red hair. She was decidedly not his kind.

Cat had responsibilities. Five, to be exact. The children in her care were not hers, but she would do anything to protect them, and that meant staying in Balinese. The evidence of her mixed species was something she could not hide. As this city belonged to Navarre, only he has the authority to allow her to stay. Cat willingly faces her greatest fear, and with it, her past.

Beneath the night, a dark plot unfolds, and Navarre finds himself in danger of losing not only Cat, but his entire city.

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Sheltered

The Cities Below Book 4

When the enemy is your mind, there is no escape.

Bette feared the city, and for good reason. Valenna had become corrupt, targeting citizens with any substantial amount of wealth or power to their name. Her self-imposed solitary confinement caused her to lose track of time, and her sanity. She could no longer live this way. Only three solutions existed: allow Valenna to dictate her fate, die in the sun, or flee to the fabled city of peace. Bette ran.

Rollin was a Guardian. His job defined his life, the man he'd become, and his core beliefs. Everything he did was in service to the city of Balinese and the citizens within. When a terrified female crashed into his arms, begging for help, he did not hesitate. Everyone and everything seemed to frighten her, except Rollin. He took her home, and once safe under his protection, she began to flourish.

Problem was, in her plea for sanctuary, she claimed a demon chased her toward Balinese, but none had been found. His affection for her grows rapidly, as does his concern over her lie. Then, the arrival of a demon forces Rollin to question his beliefs, his place among the royal family, and the motives of the woman he so lovingly sheltered.

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The Guardian

The Cities Below Book 5

 

Prepared to die...fighting to live.

Savard was in a mood to die, but when a human insists on saving his life, death is no longer an immediate option. He knew of no species – human, vampire, or demon – that could see him while in his invisible Spirit form. Unique to this world, this woman's singularity was a danger to the entire vampire race

Waking behind bars in an underground vampire city was not how Sera envisioned her night drive ending. She has come to expect nothing from those who pass through her life, but this man, dying on the side of the road, proves to be different. Savard fights to free her from tyrannical vampire laws and to hide her unique abilities. What Sera doesn't understand, is why he would fight his growing love for her.

Savard's haunted past threatens to tear them apart. Soon, Sera discovers just how far her guardian is willing to go, and what he's willing to do, to keep her safe.

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Night Stalker

The Cities Below Book 6

He had every intention of crossing a line.

In all honesty, Jake had to give his trip to Paris mixed reviews. Beaten and broken by seemingly invincible men with eerie red eyes marked the low point, but abduction by a sexy, knife-wielding vampire? Better than fireworks on the Fourth of July. She was the best medicine for a wounded man's body and soul. A few busted ribs cost him precious time, but he had to keep moving. Call it vengeance or justice, either way, Jake had a man to kill.

Dulcina had witnessed the destruction left in the wake of demons for far too many years to be rattled by a bloody body. She brought him home and catered to his comfort. Big mistake. The smart-mouth, irritatingly likable man pulled through, and was determined to leave, but with knowledge of other species in his head, the human is a problem.

To stop Jake from escaping, Dulcina promised to help him finish his mission, but the price was steep, and neither were prepared for what they discovered. Secrets are uncovered, and as a Night Stalker charged with protecting all species, Dulcina is forced to make a difficult choice.

**NEW RELEASE!!**

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Jen Colly is the rare case of an author who rebelled against reading assignments throughout her school years. Now she prefers reading books in a series, which has led her to writing her first paranormal romance series: The Cities Below. She will write about anything that catches her fancy, though truth be told, her weaknesses are pirates and vampires.

 She lives in Ohio with her supportive husband, two kids, and four rescued cats.

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#paranormalromance #paranormalbooks #romancebooks #vampire #vampireromance #vampirebooks #paris #books #readers #reading #booklovers #BookTour #Giveaway #bookbuzz #bookboost #bookrecommendations #BookBlogger #Bookstagram #bookish #bookclub #MustRead @SilverDaggerBookTours #Writersofinstagram #AmReading #BookPromo #AuthorPromo #writingcommunity #readerscommunity 

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Devious Web by Shelley Grandy February 17 - March 14, 2025 Virtual Book Tour!

Gone Girl's twists, The Social Network’s scheming, and Agatha Christie’s detective sleuthing coalesce in this suspenseful mystery fiction novel set in Toronto in a mid-pandemic business environment.

When Tom Oliver, a successful Canadian entrepreneur, is offered millions from a Silicon Valley company for his data analytics business, he believes his only challenges as he considers the offer will be deciding on next steps for his company and reconciling with his aloof wife. What could possibly go wrong?

Things escalate quickly when Tom is targeted by an unknown perpetrator and his inner circle of family and colleagues comes under scrutiny. Tom’s friend, homicide detective Jason Liu, strives to keep Tom safe while he investigates to find the truth. Who would want to murder a well-liked tech CEO at the top of his game, and why? A progression of intriguing plot twists takes this bingeworthy thriller through business, politics, social media, interpersonal relationships, and even equestrian scenarios. When the dust has settled literally motivations become clear, and Tom discovers that while some relationships are worthy of long-term investment, others have expiration dates.

Praise for Devious Web:

"Writing with aplomb about a corporate world she clearly knows, Shelley Grandy has come up with a pulse-pounding psychological thriller and whodunit, with political overtones, that fully captivates. She keeps you guessing until the very end, making this an impossible book to put down."
~ Jude Berman, author of The Die

"A truly captivating read! Shelley Grandy weaves together a web of suspense and intrigue in Devious Web, leaving readers spellbound until the final page. With its engaging plot and well-drawn characters, this book is a thrilling must-read for any lover of suspense fiction."
~ Kelley Keehn, best-selling author of Talk Money to Me and Rich Girl, Broke Girl

"A thrilling and well-crafted read that will captivate fans of tech-driven mysteries."
~ Publishers Weekly BookLife Reviews

"Shelley Grandy builds a complex story packed with twists and turns. Tension, characters, and connections are so well-constructed that even savvy murder mystery readers won't see many of these developments coming."
~ Midwest Book Review

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller
Published by: SparkPress
Publication Date: October 15, 2024
Number of Pages: 272
ISBN: 9781684632749 (ISBN10: 1684632749)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Simon & Schuster

Read an excerpt:

Chapter 1

TOM AND LAWRENCE—JULY 29, 2021

The pandemic had not been kind to Lawrence Cameron, at least not to his waistline. As The Big Guy strode across the restaurant to join him for dinner, Tom could easily see that Lawrence had packed on a few more pounds while working from home. Toronto’s legendary finance guru and media commentator had earned his nickname for his investing prowess, but now the term was even more suitable for the six-foot-two-inch, 250-pound influencer.

When Tom stood to greet him at their table, Lawrence gave him his usual whack on the back and the now customary COVID-19 elbow bump. Even though Tom had played football in high school and was himself six feet tall, he always felt dwarfed by his main investor and personal mentor. Maybe it was also because of the gap in experience between them, as Lawrence was twenty years older.

“Tom, how’s my favorite entrepreneur doing?” Lawrence asked while settling into the comfortable leather banquette reserved especially for him by the manager of ONE, the see-and-be-seen restaurant adjacent to the Hazelton Hotel in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville enclave.

“Good, thanks, Lawrence, but crazy busy with all that’s going on with the business, as you can imagine,” Tom responded.

“No doubt. And I bet you never thought that seven years in, you would have brought Pellucid so far!” Lawrence said.

Tom agreed as he reflected on how truly surreal it was that the data analytics software company he had founded— Pellucid—was valued at over US $200 million, and a Silicon Valley company was now proposing an acquisition.

To have hit that milestone at the age of thirty-eight is honestly mind-blowing, Tom thought.

“I’m looking forward to hearing your updates today, Tom, but given that Grace just put me on a no-frills diet, I’m definitely ready to dive into this menu before we get started,” Lawrence joked.

Tom smiled, knowing that Lawrence’s second wife, Grace, did her best to keep her husband’s life—and his weight—balanced. He knew Lawrence would be eyeing the restaurant’s signature lobster spoons as an appetizer and something carb-heavy and definitely not on Grace’s diet plan for the main course.

While Lawrence ordered for them, Tom admired the contemporary styling of the chic restaurant.

It’s the little things everyone missed during the restrictions of the pandemic, like being able to get together with friends or enjoying this kind of ambience, Tom thought.

Yorkville, with its high-end boutiques and elegant hotels and restaurants, was where Toronto’s elite dined and shopped. It wasn’t part of Tom’s typical day-to-day, but he and his wife, Miriam, sometimes had drinks at ONE’s expansive bar because the art gallery she curated was just around the corner.

After the waiter had filled their glasses with a Chianti Classico wine, Lawrence leaned forward and spoke quietly so other diners wouldn’t overhear.

“So, what about the acquisition? What’s the latest from Crystal Clere?” he asked.

Tom confided that the California artificial intelligence company’s CEO had confirmed he would be offering US $250 million in cash and stock to acquire Pellucid. The next step would be for Tom to receive a letter of intent formalizing the offer, and then Pellucid’s board would have until September 15—about six weeks—to decide whether to approve the sale.

“I’m open to the offer, which is certainly substantial, but I still feel a bit reluctant, Lawrence. I always envisioned taking Pellucid to an IPO on the TSX and Nasdaq myself. On the other hand, it’s hard to turn down a huge payout from a well-established company like Crystal Clere that’s a great fit for our software,” Tom said.

“Not only that, Tom, but as they say, timing is everything. The pandemic has shown you never know what kind of economic climate you might encounter just when you’re ready to take the company public. Sometimes it’s good to take a profit and focus on the next opportunity,” Lawrence said, as he nodded to acknowledge a couple of people passing by their table who obviously recognized the Big Guy from media interviews.

“That’s a great point, especially after everything we’ve seen over the last year, from market volatility to the January 6 insurrection,” Tom agreed. “It definitely creates a more opportunistic mindset.”

“And of course, I wouldn’t object if my investment in Pellucid netted out to a nice-sized return,” Lawrence quipped.

“Ha, I’m sure!” Tom replied. “Well, for now, Winston is earning his CFO pay and then some, working through the due diligence to address all the financials, and Crystal Clere’s CEO and I are in discussions ensuring we’re well aligned. But so far, I can say that I like what I see. And that’s important because if we sell, they’ll probably want me and possibly a couple of my senior team to commit to working for a year or so as part of Crystal Clere.”

“Yes, it’s pretty standard for the acquiring company to want at least the CEO to stay on for continuity,” Lawrence agreed. “Overall, you’ve got this, Tom. Working through the process, making sure you have all the information up front, and doing the due diligence is the right approach. Then when you have all the facts and feel comfortable, I’m sure it will be easier to make your final decision. And, of course, whatever direction you decide to take, the board of directors must be onside with it as well.”

Tom nodded agreement as Lawrence twirled some of his impressively presented main-course seafood linguini onto his fork.

“Okay, so fill me in on Patrick,” Lawrence said. “I know you were having some issues with him last time we talked. How did that net out?”

Tom sighed. It had been a tough situation to manage. Five years before, Tom had met Patrick McGowan at the stable where they both boarded horses and had soon hired Patrick to be his business development manager. The two men were close in age but had vastly different personalities. While Patrick’s Irish flair and direct manner with prospects had proven helpful in building the business, his proclivity for partying had created problems.

Tom shared with Lawrence that he’d had no choice but to fire Patrick and, after a contentious final meeting with him, he suspected their friendship had been permanently shattered.

“That’s unfortunate, Tom,” Lawrence said. “But eventually Patrick’s shenanigans would have attracted attention and reflected badly on Pellucid. I know you hate being tough on people, but didn’t he lose an investor for you when he missed a key meeting?”

Tom indicated that had indeed been the last straw and agreed he had run out of options when it came to keeping Patrick on his payroll.

The two men lingered over coffee and liqueurs while reviewing Pellucid’s latest quarterly results, upcoming sales pipeline, and the company’s case study currently in development at Tom’s father-in-law’s business in North Carolina, one of Tom’s biggest early-stage clients.

“Are you staying here in Yorkville tonight or at your place?” Tom asked as he and Lawrence concluded their business.

“Next door at the Hazelton,” Lawrence replied. “Grace and I have been living up north at the cottage during the pandemic, and I’m more comfortable playing tourist here in Yorkville rather than rattling around our big house in Rosedale without Grace.”

Tom chuckled at Lawrence’s candor and, as always, admired the close relationship Lawrence had with his wife. The two men parted ways, with Lawrence going to the bar for a final nightcap before turning in and Tom heading for home.

***

Excerpt from Devious Web by Shelley Grandy. Copyright 2024 by Shelley Grandy. Reproduced with permission from Shelley Grandy. All rights reserved.

Shelley Grandy is a Canadian communications professional whose journalism degree from Ottawa’s Carleton University fueled a career that started in newspapers and progressed to a high-tech company, Nortel. She subsequently founded Grandy Public Relations Inc. and has supported tech sector clients in Ontario and Quebec for the past fifteen years. You can find her at the boarding stable with her horses, Chancey and Briosa. Shelley lives in Trenton, Ontario, Canada, with husband Roy, Husky dog Luka, and cat Otto, and within spoiling distance of her granddaughters, Emilia and Olivia Oulds.

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