“So, Mr. Owens.” The panel member in the middle started. “Why do you think this software of yours would be good for our company?”
There was a condescending tone to the way he asked the question but I wasn’t going to pay attention to it, or the fact that my already itchy skin in the tight suit and even tighter tie, was beginning to itch even more.
“Sir, I have worked so hard on this project. I’m bringing to you something that is going to change the trajectory of security systems as we know.” I hoped the desperation wasn’t obvious in my voice. I needed to sound as calm as I could. As calm as she would want me to be. Expelling a deep breath, I continued. “Think of the volume of data in your reach. Think of cracking the anonymity of the dark web. The world would be at your fingertips.”
I knew I got the attention of the other two men on the team by the way their eyes lit up at the mention of the world in the palm of their hands. Humans were greedy. And perpetually thirsty for power. Fortunately, I understood that greed and thirst quite well. So, I was going to prey on that.
“Okay,” the man in the middle spoke. “All this sounds so fancy but what about you? How can you convince us that you haven’t designed an alternate software somewhere to counter all of this. How do we know this is not some sick ploy —”
“But to what aim?” I gritted out and paused. Think of her. This was all for her. Gifting them my signature winning smile, I continued. “Gentlemen, I place before you an offer you can’t refuse. I’m just a man trying to get by and give the best to his girlfriend. If I was truly that powerful as you claim, wouldn’t I be wreaking the havoc myself instead of coming to you?”
The men glanced at themselves and then went to the corner of the room to discuss.
I came home to the smell of something sweet. Like lemon and vanilla in its purest form. And then I saw her, and I remembered why my favourite place to be would always be home.
“Well, you’re back late,” she said without looking up from the batter she was mixing. I knew what that meant. She was mad at me. Like she’d been. For the last two years.
I made my way to the kitchen which was separated from the living room by a large window-sized space. I tried putting my arms around her, but as I anticipated, she pulled away.
“I’m sorry, baby. I was pitching my piece to the company and I’ll tell you what, my love, this one looks promising.”
She stopped mixing and looked at me. “This one? This one, Kevin? You’ve said that three hundred times in the last five years.” She gritted her teeth as she said the last part so I knew she was fighting to remain calm.
“I know, Shar,” I said holding her reluctant hands. “I know you probably think I’m a failure and I know I am because of how many times I’ve said this only to end up disappointing you, but I swear it to you, this is going to be the last. They said to come back tomorrow to hear their decision but I just feel it that this time, it’s actually happening.”
She looked up at me with teary eyes. “Don’t say that.”
“Say what?”
“That you’re a failure. Cause you’re not and I’d never think you were. No matter what.”
I looked at the woman who had been the love of my life for the last eleven years and felt my heart blossom anew with devotion. Sharon did that to me every time. Even when I was sure I’d ruined her life by letting her stick with me all these years, she never stopped believing in me. Never cussed or said one derogatory word to me.
And that was why this deal had to work.
I read it in their eyes just before I walked out of the room. The doubt etched so clearly on their faces. They weren’t going to buy my software. But I had to at least try to convince them tomorrow. Sharon may believe in me but I could see she was beginning to doubt herself. Beginning to doubt her decision of believing in me in the first place.
That night, as I cuddled her already sleeping form after our passionate but comfortable session of love making, I thought of the little box nestled deep in my coat pocket and the diamond ring I knew would be glinting inside it. She didn’t know that I’d mortgaged almost all we had to get that ring. And she was going to kill me once she found out. But I had to do it. I had to give her the best. This was all for her. Looking up, I said a prayer for the first time in nearly two decades. "Let this work, please."
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