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Ben chuckles. “You’ll size up his business, find all the details no one—even him—sees, and show him exactly why he’s been lost withoutyou.”
I warm at thepraise.
I’m good at what I do, and my staff is, too. But sometimes when I’m trying something outside my comfort zone, like landing a huge client, it helps to hear it from another person Iadmire.
“Watch out. I’ve got yourwing.”
“On it.” I focus on the game for a few minutes before things settle in and my awareness returns to the room. “I liked the picture of Jet. Was that atLAX?”
“On the BMW sailboat at the Oracle campus. You have no idea what I had to do to get himthere.”
He’s been sending me pics of the ceramic dog on every trip since I got it forhim.
“See how he’s grown on you? When I presented him to you as your MBA graduation gift, you weren’t impressed,” Isay.
“You got him at a yardsale.”
“The best things come from yard sales. Besides, you said you wanted a private jet oneday.”
“Uh-huh. And do you remember what you told me?” I bite my cheek and he continues. “You said, and I quote, ‘You don’t need a hunk of flying steel, you need something to teach you how to love. But it would be irresponsible of me to get you a real dog, so I got youthis.’”
Ben curses at the screen as sudden fire comes in from an enemy. “I got hit. Keepgoing.”
His avatar falls to the ground, wounded. I know it’s not really Ben, but I hate the sight of him lying there. “I’ll heal you. Don’tmove.”
“That’s not the plan. Justgo.”
I take a hit on the screen. More fire comesin.
“D, justgo.”
The exasperation in his tone doesn’t stop me. I’m determined to heal him,until...
I die, then we’re bothtoast.
“Why can’t you leaveme?”
I set down the controller and turn toward him, leaning an elbow on the seat of the couch. “Because I can’t,” I saysimply.
Ben sets down his controller and reaches for his glass, his strong arms flexing. He narrows his dark eyes at me over the rim as he takes a sip. “You’re too good for me,” he says when he’sdone.
That’s not true. Not evenclose.
“Why did you miss your flight?” I ask, propping my head in myhand.
“There was a surprise call notifying me that I’m a finalist for a big venture award next month. It hasn’t been announced publicly, but Xavier’s on the awards committee. He wants to talk tomorrowmorning.”
“It’s a big deal,” I say, reading between the lines. The senior partner at the prominent venture firm calls the big shots, but my friend is a rising star. His first few years at the company, the investments he backed had more than twice the returns of anyoneelse's.
“Rumor is Xavier is retiring in a couple of years. This award would be a big step toward being named his successor. Not only would I decide on deals, I’d get to influence the venture landscape in a whole newway.”
“That’s great,Benji.”
His eyes crinkle at the corners, a glint of satisfaction in them as he tugs on his hair. “Itis.”
There’s no cockiness in it, though he’s more than capable of it. But when it’s the two of us, his walls come down. He’s worked hard to get where he is, and he deserves therewards.
I’m so damnedproud.
