“Honestly?”
Grace nodded.
“I stay late to monitor the error log and make sure everything goes smoothly as the update rolls out.”
Grace burst into laughter. “That sounds like you. And I’d probably do the same, usually. But you really need to try a better way of celebrating.”
“Do you have a recommendation?” Alex asked.
“Sure. Go for a walk. Go out to dinner. Have a drink. Throw a party.” Grace named suggestions as if they were all easy to do.
“Lots of great ideas.” Alex grinned. “And tell me honestly—how many of those things haveyoudone to celebrate?”
“I’ve definitely gone for celebratory walks before diving back into work,” Grace replied. “And let’s remember, I was the one who suggested going out for drinks.Andwe’re eating, so I’m responsible for a celebratory dinner, too. I’m winning here.”
“Touché,” Alex said, raising his glass to her. “Well done. So, what do you usually do when you aren’t working?”
“Work some more,” Grace said. She tucked her hair behind her ear again and looked down at the tabletop.
“I have to ask,” Alex said. “You seem to love coding. But according to your résumé, you didn’t do it right away.” Then Alex winced, remembering that he’d already asked this and hadn’t gotten an answer. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“No, I don’t mind.” Grace paused for long enough that Alex began to wonder if shedidmind, before she spoke again. “The truth is, my dad got cancer in my senior year of high school. I’d already been accepted to a computer science program at a university in LA, but I didn’t want to leave when my dad was so sick—even though he told me many times to go and live my life. I stayed to support him and my mom, and I got a job as a waitress to help make ends meet when the medical bills started adding up.
“Later, when my dad passed away, I worked another year as a waitress to have enough for tuition, then I went to college. I don’t regret staying with my parents when I did, but starting my career late did make it more difficult to climb the ladder.”
“I’m so sorry about your father,” Alex said.
“Thank you.” Grace met his eyes. “I appreciate that. It was years ago, but I miss him a lot. He’s part of the reason I work so hard—I want to make him proud.”
“I’m sure you have.” Alex smiled at her. “What was he like?”
“He taught high school science. He was one of those guys who was funny and goofy, which used to embarrass me. I wish it hadn’t. He was serious about work, though—he’d spend hours prepping lessons, and I’d sit with him in his office, coloring or reading. Even when he got sick, he found ways to make himself and everyone else smile.”
“He sounds like a great guy,” Alex said.
“He was.” Grace smiled. “Thank you for saying that.”
“Of course. Also, I wouldn’t say starting late set you back,” Alex added. “Maybe it took you a bit longer to find the job you wanted, but now that you’re working at MatchupNow, you’re doing a fantastic job. I’d say you have great prospects.”
Grace smiled. “Thank you. That means a lot. Can I ask you something, too?”
“Of course,” Alex said. “Anything.”
“Well, I was wondering—why do you hate San Valentino’s rich and famous so much?”
Alex nodded slowly. After Grace had opened up about her father, she deserved an honest answer to her own question. He couldn’t let her be vulnerable and not return the openness.
“I grew up in a family that wasn’t well-off. My parents worked hard to make ends meet for my sister and me, and they did a wonderful job, but it wasn’t easy. Just like them, I worked hard for every penny I’ve made and every piece of my company that I’ve built. The rich and famous here tend to inherit everything from their parents and never have to work for it. That makes them entitled and annoying.”
“I agree about how annoying old-money families can be. I had no idea you weren’t always rich, but I should have guessed. You work a lot harder than most of those guys do,” Grace said.
“That’s not the only thing that sets me apart. The old-money folks around here love to remind me that I don’t really belong because my parents weren’t CEOs or movie stars. No matter how hard I work, they’ll always see me as an outsider.”
“I’m sorry,” Grace said.
“It’s okay. I like to remember that I’m different from them—in a good way.”
Grace raised her glass. “I’ll drink to that. I grew up here, but people still like to remind me that I don’t belong in the wealthy circles. I went to a public school and took the bus back and forth instead of riding in a limo every day, so I must not be as great as they are. Right?”
