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“Don’t mind if you do,” she stood and extended her arm for a quick hug.
I placed a drink order and began telling her about Bromage’s reaction to the software. “He was impressed by the colorful design that you came up with. That was the most creative design I have ever seen, so I know it’s going to be a popular draw.”
“Well, I’m glad he liked it,” she said in a humbled tone.
“Are you ready to take over the game?” I asked and raised my glass to hers.
She lifted her glass and clanked it to mine. “I just want to do what I love. It feels good to be paid for my talents.”
“In doing what you love, you have no option but to be at the top, because no one else can do you better than you, Lissa,” I told her.
“You’re right. I’m trying,” she said offering me a modest smile.
“I get that you’re humble about being the greatest. Don’t you do it to do your best…to be the best?”
“We all have different reasons, I assume.” Her gaze left mine for far too long. I couldn’t tell what was on her pretty little mind. I sat my glass down on the table and peered at her. The brilliant beauty sitting across from me intrigued me. How could she make it so far and not know that she’s the best of the best?
“What’s your reason?” I asked.
She placed her glass down and looked into my eyes. “To prove that I don’t depend on a man,” she said bluntly. “I’ve always been creative. When people saw things in black and white, I could envision the colors blended in. I knew the patterns that would make it pop and could imagine a blank canvas a thousand ways.”
“Yeah, I can see that about you. Your eyes lit up when I gave you the general idea for the holistic software and what you came up with was amazing.”
“It just comes to me all at once and I can see it as clear as day. The only thing I have to do is snap that picture in my mind and get it coded into actual software,” she said and took a sip of her wine.
“The technical part is probably where it’s less fun, right?”
“Yep,” she laughs. “I figured by this point in my life I would have recoded the world and moved to China with the man of my dreams to start a family, but this stuff apparently takes time,” she said and laughed.
“Oh, yeah? Ha! Why China?” I asked.
“Come on, it’s a techie’s dream, the technology superpower of the world. I think I would be in heaven there with all of the next generation thinkers.”
“I can see that happening for you,” I said and smiled. “I can see you accomplishing both of those goals.” There was a long pause, during the time we both take sips from our drinks.
“What about you? What’s your reason for opening your business and going out and landing juggernaut deals like you do? I mean, you have established a well-known business with high integrity and that says a lot about you.” She gave me her full attention as she awaited my answer.
“My family.” I pushed my drink to the side and fiddled with my silverware. “You want to move to China and start a family. Me, I decided to start a business for my wife and two children. With my degree, I could have easily gotten a cozy, high-paying job and we would have lived well, but I started True Colors Technology because I wanted to leave a legacy for my children. I wanted to build something that would feed my offspring for years to come. I had a vision of doing what I did today hundreds of times over and really growing a big company. I grinded day and night. I stayed up on the industry, networked and worked my ass off and, yeah, it took time.”
“From the looks of things, you have accomplished your goals. You should be proud,” she said.
“I am proud of the business,” I said. But what did I really have to be proud of outside of the confines of True Colors Tech? The very people I worked for fled the state to lead the life I imagined for them without me in the picture. The wealth I worked so hard to achieve was handed to Jacob when he was born, and what was his reward? My family. I worked hard and ended up without anyone to share it. What a shitty deal?
“Well, why does it seem like you’re not satisfied? Like there is so much competing for space in your mind right now?” Lissa asked with concern etched into the soft features of her face.
Was it that obvious? “I’m contemplating my next move. I always stay a step ahead of new blood looking to come along, review our software and one up me using my own creation as a template,” I shifted the subject to something more comfortable, and I was thankful she went along with me.
“Been there before, but you know what they say? The only reward for hard work…”
“Is more hard work,” I cut in, finishing her sentence.
“Don’t I know it?” She took another sip of her drink.
“Are you ready to order?” I asked.
“I thought you’d never ask. At the rate I’m going, I’ll be drunk before the food gets to the table.”
“Well, let’s get this party started.” I waved our waitress over to place our order.
