The Proposition

WELCOME FRIENDS

Welcome to How Nev Sees It!

In each issue, you can look forward to three engaging sections that offer a glimpse into my world:

Short Story - Dive into the first part of a 4-part reimagining of a classic story or movie, set against the vibrant backdrop of NYC. Get ready for a fresh take that blends nostalgia with modern flair!

Founder’s Update - I’ll share updates about The Santana Company and any upcoming releases/events.

Reflections - Think of this as my public journal, where I candidly reflect on the week gone by. It’s a space for me to process thoughts, insights, and lessons learned.

For today’s issue…

SHORT STORY

The Proposition

Jack Bennett walked briskly through the bustling streets of New York City, blending seamlessly with the crowd. His sharp eyes flicked from one building to another, assessing potential vantage points and escape routes with the precision of a seasoned professional. Jack was a dream architect, one of the best in his clandestine field. He specialized in creating intricate dreamscapes for corporate espionage, a high-stakes game played out in the unconscious minds of powerful executives.

His phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts. The caller ID showed “Marcus Sinclair,” a name that carried weight in their shadowy circles. Jack answered with a curt, “Yeah?”

“Meet me at the Central Park Boathouse. Thirty minutes,” Marcus said before hanging up.

Jack pocketed his phone and quickened his pace. Marcus Sinclair was a legend, known for pulling off the impossible. If he was reaching out, it meant only one thing: a job so audacious that it would either make or break them.

The Boathouse was a serene spot amid the chaos of the city. Jack found Marcus at a secluded table, staring out at the lake. His sharp suit and confident demeanor screamed success, but the shadows under his eyes told a different story.

“Jack, good to see you,” Marcus greeted, motioning for him to sit. “I have a job for you. A big one.”

“I’m listening,” Jack replied, his curiosity piqued.

Marcus leaned in, lowering his voice. “We need to perform an inception.”

Jack’s heart skipped a beat. Inception was the holy grail of their profession: planting an idea so deeply in someone’s subconscious that they believed it was their own. It was nearly impossible, and incredibly dangerous.

“Who’s the target?” Jack asked, already weighing the risks.

“Daniel Brooks, CEO of Genetix Corp,” Marcus answered. “We need him to dissolve his company. The stakes are high, and failure is not an option.”

Jack whistled softly. Genetix Corp was a biotech giant, and Daniel Brooks was notoriously shrewd. This would be the challenge of a lifetime.

“Who’s on the team?” Jack inquired.

Marcus smiled. “I have the perfect lineup: You’re the architect. Emily is our chemist, creating the dream compounds. Ryan will be the extractor, and I’ll be leading the operation.”

Jack nodded, familiar with their reputations. Emily was a genius with dream-enhancing drugs, and Ryan had a knack for extracting information from the deepest recesses of the mind.

“We’ll need to get close to Brooks,” Marcus continued. “Gain his trust, understand his deepest fears and desires. Only then can we plant the idea.”

Jack leaned back, his mind already racing with possibilities. “How do we get close to him?”

Marcus’s smile widened. “Leave that to me. We start tonight.”

That evening, Jack found himself at an exclusive gala in the heart of Manhattan. The venue was opulent, filled with the city’s elite. He spotted Marcus mingling effortlessly with the crowd, his charm on full display. Jack scanned the room until he saw Daniel Brooks, surrounded by admirers.

Jack approached, adopting a confident demeanor. “Mr. Brooks, Jack Bennett. I’ve heard a lot about your work at Genetix.”

Brooks turned, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution. “Thank you. And you are?”

“Just someone who appreciates innovation,” Jack replied smoothly. “I’d love to hear more about your latest projects.”

Brooks’s eyes lit up, always eager to talk about his work. As they conversed, Jack subtly mirrored Brooks’s body language, building rapport. Marcus joined them, introducing himself and seamlessly integrating into the conversation.

As the night progressed, they managed to secure an invitation to Brooks’s office, the first step in their plan. The real work would begin soon, and Jack knew they were venturing into treacherous territory. But the thrill of the challenge was undeniable, and failure was not an option.

Part 2 coming next week…

Santana

FOUNDER’S UPDATE

Shared Lessons & Sage Advice

I’m officially launching The Santana Company and I’d love your help. The Santana Company is an arts & culture company that believes cultural understanding is vital to creating a more connected world. Our mission is to inspire curiosity, spark dialogue, and promote greater cultural understanding to build a more vibrant and interconnected global community.

I’ll use funds raised to convert Last Breath into a play, finish publishing Maf1a, create Maf1a into an interactive and in-person game, and much more.

As a Giver you will receive the following:

• Listed as a Founding Member

• Free admission to all 2025 events for you and 1 guest

• Signed copy of a book of your choice

• More benefits to come

Please consider giving what you can. Even $5 can go a long way to helping me get started on a dream I’ve had for some time now. If you’d like to give, please use this link.

REFLECTIONS

Prove It

Happy 2025!

I hope you all are as excited about the new year as I am. 2024 was a challenging year for me, but I’m blessed for the lessons and growth. I went from no source of income at one point in 2024, to starting 2025 with 6 separate sources of income.

I’ve never been one to write down New Year’s resolutions, but as long as I can remember, I try to have a theme or mantra for the year. One year I chose “Intentionality” and another year I chose “Get The Job Done”. In 2025 I have 3 mantras that I want to help guide me through the year.

Here goes:

1. Don’t Skip Steps - I’m a Visionary. I usually think about the future, see what and where I want to be, and then either write it down or visualize it. The great thing about being a visionary is my hope for the future. Whether you use the word visionary or dreamer, I’m sure you’ve met people like me or you’re even one yourself. If so, you know one of the downfalls of people with this characteristic: we can often skip steps that lead to the end goal. I’ve been plagued with this over the years and it can eat away at my confidence once in a while. This year, I’m looking to minimize this as much as possible. I don’t ever want to stop being a visionary. I don’t want to lose hope in the future. But I also want to take my time and appreciate the steps that will get me to my goals. In 2025, I’m vowing to take this mantra seriously. I know it’ll help me create some outstanding memories and events that will be talked about for years.

2. Show, Don’t Tell - Another thing about a Visionary? We like to talk about the future. Things that we want to do in the future. If you ever sit down with a Visionary, they can make you get very excited about what’s to come. The downside is that if they’re not able to make that future a reality, you can feel like you got excited for nothing. This year I’m turning to an old rule in writing, “Show, don’t tell”. Rather than talking so much about what is to come that isn’t in production, I’m looking to stay quiet and show people the end product. I don’t only mean this for me as a writer and entrepreneur. I intend to have this mantra show up in my relationships too. If I love somebody, I intend to show them instead of telling them. If I want to support somebody, I intend to be there for them when they need me. 2025 is an important year to continue to build on a foundation that will strengthen my success now and going forward and I plan to show you how real those words are to me.

3. Prove It - Out of the 3 mantras for 2025, this is my most important one. Too often I’ve said I want something, or somebody tells me that they want something, yet we don’t put in the work to go get it. Not in 2025. If I want to finish my book, prove it. If I love somebody, prove it. If somebody says they want to partner with me, prove it. This is a year of proving to myself and the universe that I want what I say I want. I plan to put in the work necessary to get the things I desire, and if they don’t come to fruition, I’ll chalk it up to God not having it in the group of cards he dealt for me.

Have a mantra you want to share?

Hit reply and let me know. But beware, I’ll probably tell you to prove it 😉