Tina raised her eyebrows.  This is much further along than I thought it was going to be. “Gavin hasn’t probably mentioned his offer, yet?” A head-shake.

“My husband and I are not strangers to taking stakes in start-ups, Tina, even in industries where we don’t have much of a background. Given the types of risks we take, we, of course, don’t have a clean record. No one who takes the types of risks we’ve taken in virtual unknowns has. So, I admit to you that our judgment isn’t right all the time, and yes, we have backed a few new ventures that haven’t taken off. But in every case, I honestly think that those could take off in time, just like the others have. It so happens that this isn’t happening for those investments yet. But we’re patient investors. Not in any great hurry to hit on a gold mine every time we venture out.”

“Celine, I don’t mean to be obtuse. But I hope you’ll understand if …”

“The thing is, as I explained to Marissa, in your case, Tina, I don’t believe you are a risky venture at all,” Celine continued smoothly, overriding Tina’s protests. “You are not an unknown – on the contrary, you are highly respected by people, and at every level, and in various areas. You’re a known quantity to the ones that matter in your business. What we didn’t know much about was your character; your personal integrity.”

She paused and smiled at the open question in Tina’s face. “Well, we were happy with what we found out. Marissa swears by this quality most of all. And so do others.” She used her fingers to count. “Kate Arden. Some writers you’ve dealt with. The charity work, like with those people you worked with in the aftermath of that hurricane that devastated Haiti…and Scott something – the one who directed this interesting film…”

At the mention of Scott’s name, Tina’s face tightened again. But Celine hadn’t seen it: she’d looked away, glancing over her shoulder, as if to look for one of the men in white Polo shirts. She continued, “And I think the smart money has just been waiting for you to make up your mind to strike out on your own. So Gavin and I are simply anticipating that jump. Before the traditional money sources in your industry jump in after you do decide to try something.”