Page 48 of Heartless

Why is it so hard to let go of something that you know has run its course, especially when you’ve been in that relationship for a while?

12 – ONYX

“So, how are things working out with the project planning team selection?”

“It’s been intense. I’ll be honest. It’s been a hectic, fast-paced two weeks, but I’m loving it. I’m excited about this project and seeing how it develops. I’ve got some wonderful members on the team already. We’re still in the process of vetting a few more external applicants before I present your final team, though.”

“I’m looking forward to digging in and getting the work started.”

She smiles at me and shakes her head.

“What?”

“You. Owning your own company and being the boss; it’s a good look on you, Nyx.”

“I always told you I would.”

“You did.”

“Shouldn’t have doubted me.”

“Not your capability,” she says, pointing her coffee cup at me.

“Then what did you doubt?”

“Whether you would be happy settling into one space for too long. You always had this wanderlust in your heart. I expected you to trot around the globe changing the world.”

I throw my head back laughing at her statement and when I stop, I see that she has a warm smile on her face. “Well, I do change the world in my own way. But you. You were theone always trying to help someone out by bridging gaps through pairing people up who you recognized as being compatible to work togetherandhaving something that the other one needed. I thought you would be the one who would own your own company one day.”

Shaking her head, her hair flies from side to side. “No, I was never interested in that.”

“You were brilliant, Sharla. You could have. People followed your lead and listened to you. You always had these great ideas.”

“I was a visionary but I didn’t want the responsibility of being settled down with a company and all these people depending on me for their well-being. Like with this team you’ve tasked me with building, I enjoy partnering with the different people that I’m collaborating with to build the team. I love identifying their strengths and weaknesses and assessing how they would be or wouldn’t be suitable for this team.”

“You’re excellent at what you do,” I say, dragging a shy smile from her. “And one day, you just might own your own company that does exactly what you do; bringing resolution initiatives to the people.”

“No. You are great in this space,” she says, laughing as she draws her fingers back and forth in dizzying lines.

“It’s a huge responsibility, but I don’t regret a single moment.”

“Look at you, being Mr. CEO.”

Laughing, I reply, “It’s in my DNA.”

She lifts her eyebrows and looks away before taking a bite of her tuna sandwich. It’s the middle of the day, and I came down to the park across the street from the office like I sometimes do for lunch.

It’s great to break the monotony every now and then. When I looked up and spotted Sharla walking my way, I invited her to have a seat on the bench with me.

“And married, huh?”

“I am.”

“How long?”

“Two, going on three years.”

“So, you’d already started your company before you married her?”

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