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“How did your parents take that?”
I chuckle. “Not well at first, but with time they came around when they saw how passionate I was.”
“It’s good that you had supportive parents.”
“Yeah, I guess it was.”
“Speaking of your parents, I’ve been meaning to ask about your mother. Howis she doing?”
“Honestly, she’s not fine, but we hear that is what’s to be expected from the chemo.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.”
I shrug. “She’s soldiering on. She’ll be fine.”
“Is there anything I can do? I sit on the board of some of the best hospitals in the country. If you ever need a second opinion I could arrange that.”
“That’s kind of you, but I’m way ahead of you. She’s already seen the best oncologists in the country.”
“Good, but if there’s anything you ever need…”
I nod. “Thank you… Well, I’m feeling kind of bare now. You know a lot about my family and why I chose the career path that I did. However, I know almost nothing about you.”
“That’s because there isn’t very much to know.”
“I doubt that very much.”
He takes a deep breath. “Well, as I’m sure you probably already know, my family made its money during the oil boom in Texas about three or four generations ago. So yes, I grew up incredibly rich and incredibly spoiled, but my mother came from a family of little to no means. So she’s always made sure to keep us humble and grounded. I have two brothers and I inherited the family company,Texa Oil, when my dad died 10 years ago.”
“Do you enjoy the oil business?”
“I won’t say I enjoy it, but it’s the family business. So I basically didn’t have a choice but to take it on.”
“How do you feel about that?”
He shrugs. “I don’t feel much about it, honestly. I’m not exactly happy about it, but I won’t complain because it’s an amazing opportunity and it affords me a lifestyle that most people only dream of. However, it became obvious quite early that I wasn’t going to be able to dedicate my life to thecompany. So I let my brother manage it while I do this.” He gestures around him.
“What? Buy up companies?”
“No, help them grow. I am a business person through and through. I found heading our family business to be quite boring. It’s been going for generations now. It’s literally a well-oiled machine. All it needs is someone to oversee. There isn’t a lot of room to innovate and that’s what I need.”
“So your brother manages the family business while you run the consortium?”
“Yes, it seemed like a good arrangement because, to be honest, he wants it more than I do. He has always kind of resented the fact that I was the firstborn son who would inheritTexa Oil. So it seemed like a win-win to put him in charge while I actually do what I want. I’m the CEO in name only, but he does the actual work, and that seems to be enough for both of us. The consortium is very important to me. Every company I acquire needs to succeed. I guess I still have a chip on my shoulder from when I set it up in my youth. Many people said I would fail. At this point I have nothing left to prove, but I’m still a little intense when it comes to my acquisitions. That’s why I need DeLisle to perform.”
“I understand you a little more now. Why you’re so adamant about making DeLisle a cash cow.”
“So now will you do as I say?”
“No.”
“Of course not…” We both laugh.
“Listen, I understand why you think the way you do, but I’m going to need you to trust me. Yes, there’s a lot of money in fast fashion, but there is also a lot of money in luxury. We can dial things down a little bit, but I guarantee if we have good products that also happen to be accessible,customers will come. If it doesn’t work, you won’t even have to ask for my resignation. I’ll give it to you myself.” I look him in the eyes as I finish my speech.
We stare at each other in silence for a moment then he climbs to his feet and offers me his hand. “Deal.”
I stand and shake his hand.
