As Professor Novik asked his question, he glanced at Susan with doubt in his eyes.
"Does your assistant know what you really want to research?" he asked.
I met his gaze squarely, "Susan wanted an interesting job, so I gave it to her," I explained, my tone matter-of-fact.
Turning to Susan, I gave her the opportunity to voice any objections she might have.
But instead of hesitation, she responded with a smile. "Absolutely," she affirmed. "I'm happy to keep working for you."
I addressed Professor Novik directly. "For your expertise, I am willing to offer $15,000 a month. On top of that, you'd have a stake in the new company I'm setting up."
Professor Novik paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Shares in the company, you say? Hmm... That could complicate things if the truth were to come out."
"So, you don't want shares in the company?" I asked.
