The CEO, the Puppy and Me

Was that a flicker of interest in her eyes? Or was he only seeing what he wanted to see? It didn’t matter; he’d started down this path and now he had to keep going.

He glanced down at his desk, and the only things on it were related to his current project. “Yes, I do.” He had to go with what he had, though he wasn’t sure how she would be able to help him. “I’m having a problem getting a reclusive businessman to meet with me. And it’s really important.” As he spoke, she ventured back into the office. “Everyone in the business knows he only signs on with the best of the best.”

“So his working agreement is like the gold standard?”

“Exactly.” He smiled, hoping she’d do the same. She didn’t. But that didn’t stop him from trying. “And I just have to get him to buy my technology.”

Instead of smiling, she frowned. “Is this the meeting I interrupted on that first day at your uncle’s villa.”

“Yes. Well, no, you had nothing to do with it being canceled. I just need to figure out a way to lure him to a face-to-face meeting. I know if we can meet, I can convince him to buy into my technology.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“He’s claiming there’s no proof my program works.”

“Didn’t you test it?”

“Of course I did.” The words rushed out of his mouth with a rumble of frustration. When Gia’s eyes widened, he realized his error. In a friendlier tone, he said, “But it was in a closed system with a simulated world.”

“So you need something in the real world?”

He nodded before rubbing the stiff muscles in his neck. His head started to throb.

“You seem like a man who knows everyone. Just pick someone out and try your program on their business.”

“If only it were that easy, but I don’t have anyone I trust in that line of business. And I can’t afford for news of my development to get out into the public. I can’t have another company steal the concept before I have a chance to use it to help others.”

“Help others?”

He nodded again. And then he told her about his quest to provide an efficient and free mode of transportation for goods to those in need. It was when he finished his pitch that she smiled. Not a little smile but a big beautiful smile that lit up her eyes.

“That’s an amazing endeavor. And it’s so big. I mean, it would provide a transportation route to anywhere in the world. And people who never considered donating goods could do so without any real cost to them.”

He nodded. “And the best part is that it wouldn’t cost the transportation companies much money because my program would streamline everything, and no one company would take on the burden of delivering all of the packages. It would be a shared effort. But those companies, both big and small, would have to trust me with their vital information—the backbone of their business. To gain their trust would take something major.”

“Hence the need to convince Mr. Grosso to buy your technology.”

“Exactly.”

“What exactly does your program do?” Genuine interest was written all over her beautiful face.

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He normally didn’t tell people about his work, most especially the things that were still being developed or that hadn’t been sold yet, but Gia wasn’t just anyone. He wanted to share this with her. Her stamp of approval meant a lot to him.

“You have to promise not to share any of this with anyone. In my world, it’s all about who comes up with the idea first.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell a soul. Your secret is safe with me because honestly, I’m lucky I know how to turn on a computer and enter reservation information. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear about your work.”

That was all the encouragement he needed. He started talking, laying out the generalities of what his algorithm could do for the transportation industry and how it could help charitable causes.

“That’s amazing. And you did all of that by yourself?”

He nodded. He wasn’t used to people praising him.

“You’re a genius. But don’t you have a company to run?”

He nodded again. “I quickly grow bored with paperwork. I need to keep myself in touch with technology, and I start my own personal projects. Sometimes they don’t work out, and other times they explode into something bigger than I ever imagined.” Not wanting the whole conversation to revolve around him, he said, “I’m sure that’s how you felt when you started your own hotel.”