know what you think of me.”
Her chuckle had no glee behind it. “Oh yeah? What do I think?”
“That I’m some corporate pig who’s just trying to make a buck.”
She didn’t answer.
“But the truth is, I was just a computer nerd, fooling around with an idea, and it got blown all out of proportion.”
“Poor you.”
Man, she was tough. “I’m not complaining,” he said. “I just don’t like being painted with that brush of yours. When I watched you get up and talk to those kids today, I was amazed. You had them in the palm of your hand. They were riveted.”
“They knew Ella,” she said. “She was well-liked. Her death hurt all of them.”
“But it was more than that,” he said. “You’re a good speaker. I’m guessing that you make a big impact on all the girls you work with.”
That didn’t seem to give her any pleasure. “Thank you.”
“I’m just saying that you have determination and a passion that comes out in your speaking. If you went on TV and did interviews…”
“I don’t want to go on TV and talk about Ella.”
“Then would you consider just coming to talk to my board of directors?” The words were out before he could recall them.
She snapped a look at him. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. I don’t think it would hurt anything for them to hear from you directly. In fact, it might be a good thing. I can’t promise you that the changes will be made, but it could at least give them the perspective that I’ve gotten from listening to you.”
Her face softened. “I would really appreciate that opportunity.”
Their eyes locked, and he fought the urge to push a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. “You remind me of the way I used to be,” he said.
Again, she whispered a laugh. “Why do you say that?”
“Confidence, passion…feelings I used to have.”
“Used to? You seem pretty confident to me.”
He shrugged. “Things have changed a lot since I started in my dorm room. I was happier sitting in a twelve-by-fourteen room with a bunch of computers and a few friends, trying to fill a need, than I’ve ever been running a major corporation. But again, I can’t complain.”
“It sounds a little like complaining.”
“No, not at all. I’m happy to be where I am. Who would have expected a kid like me to make this much money? I was raised by a single mom who worked two jobs. I only went to MIT because I got a full ride.”
“Willow’s offer must’ve blown you away.”
“It did. I bought my mom a new house. Helped her retire.”
She almost smiled. “That’s nice.”
“Yeah, it was kind of fun. She always did everything for everyone else. No one ever did much for her. She was the casserole queen at church. When someone died or was sick, she was the first one over with her casserole and a hug.” He paused and lowered his voice. “But then she met Louis, her new husband, and he started milking me for as much money as I’d give them.”
“Really? Your mom let him do that?”
He wished he had some water; suddenly his mouth was dry. Why had he taken the conversation here?
“She was lonely and she loved him.”
“What about your dad?”
“They’re divorced.” He hoped she caught the period on the end of that sentence. He opened his door and started to get out.
“You grew up in church?” she asked, stopping him.
He smiled. So that was what impressed her. “That’s right. Every time the doors opened.”
“Do you still go?”
“No, haven’t been in years.”
Her disappointment was clear, and he wished he had a better answer. “Did you stop believing?”
He wondered why the question made him so uncomfortable. “Not really. I still believe in God.”
“You just don’t think he’s worthy of worship?” The words came softly, just above a whisper. Not accusing.
“To tell you the truth, I don’t give it much thought anymore. Church isn’t what it should be.”
“What do you think it should be?”
“I don’t know. Honest,
Her chuckle had no glee behind it. “Oh yeah? What do I think?”
“That I’m some corporate pig who’s just trying to make a buck.”
She didn’t answer.
“But the truth is, I was just a computer nerd, fooling around with an idea, and it got blown all out of proportion.”
“Poor you.”
Man, she was tough. “I’m not complaining,” he said. “I just don’t like being painted with that brush of yours. When I watched you get up and talk to those kids today, I was amazed. You had them in the palm of your hand. They were riveted.”
“They knew Ella,” she said. “She was well-liked. Her death hurt all of them.”
“But it was more than that,” he said. “You’re a good speaker. I’m guessing that you make a big impact on all the girls you work with.”
That didn’t seem to give her any pleasure. “Thank you.”
“I’m just saying that you have determination and a passion that comes out in your speaking. If you went on TV and did interviews…”
“I don’t want to go on TV and talk about Ella.”
“Then would you consider just coming to talk to my board of directors?” The words were out before he could recall them.
She snapped a look at him. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. I don’t think it would hurt anything for them to hear from you directly. In fact, it might be a good thing. I can’t promise you that the changes will be made, but it could at least give them the perspective that I’ve gotten from listening to you.”
Her face softened. “I would really appreciate that opportunity.”
Their eyes locked, and he fought the urge to push a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. “You remind me of the way I used to be,” he said.
Again, she whispered a laugh. “Why do you say that?”
“Confidence, passion…feelings I used to have.”
“Used to? You seem pretty confident to me.”
He shrugged. “Things have changed a lot since I started in my dorm room. I was happier sitting in a twelve-by-fourteen room with a bunch of computers and a few friends, trying to fill a need, than I’ve ever been running a major corporation. But again, I can’t complain.”
“It sounds a little like complaining.”
“No, not at all. I’m happy to be where I am. Who would have expected a kid like me to make this much money? I was raised by a single mom who worked two jobs. I only went to MIT because I got a full ride.”
“Willow’s offer must’ve blown you away.”
“It did. I bought my mom a new house. Helped her retire.”
She almost smiled. “That’s nice.”
“Yeah, it was kind of fun. She always did everything for everyone else. No one ever did much for her. She was the casserole queen at church. When someone died or was sick, she was the first one over with her casserole and a hug.” He paused and lowered his voice. “But then she met Louis, her new husband, and he started milking me for as much money as I’d give them.”
“Really? Your mom let him do that?”
He wished he had some water; suddenly his mouth was dry. Why had he taken the conversation here?
“She was lonely and she loved him.”
“What about your dad?”
“They’re divorced.” He hoped she caught the period on the end of that sentence. He opened his door and started to get out.
“You grew up in church?” she asked, stopping him.
He smiled. So that was what impressed her. “That’s right. Every time the doors opened.”
“Do you still go?”
“No, haven’t been in years.”
Her disappointment was clear, and he wished he had a better answer. “Did you stop believing?”
He wondered why the question made him so uncomfortable. “Not really. I still believe in God.”
“You just don’t think he’s worthy of worship?” The words came softly, just above a whisper. Not accusing.
“To tell you the truth, I don’t give it much thought anymore. Church isn’t what it should be.”
“What do you think it should be?”
“I don’t know. Honest,
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