Page 82 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

‘Not me personally, or my company. But they’ve learnt to be wary, with good reason. We produce medical devices and technology. Most medical researchers are motivated by the desire to help people. They see themselves making the world a better place. But there are cases where companies acquired breakthroughs, commercialised them and only those with plenty of money benefited from them.’

She sat straighter. ‘That’s not right.’

‘I agree. Our business model is different. We establish strong partnerships with research teams, and we’re serious about their desire to make life-changing inventions widely available. We’re still driven by the need to make profits, but make specific commitments to our research partners. For instance, a percentage of all our products is either available at cost or donated to communities around the world that couldn’t otherwise afford them.’

Portia felt a glow deep inside. ‘That’s wonderful!’

He shrugged. ‘The interesting thing is that our ethical stance has attracted a flood of innovators and investors. Our profits have soared and new opportunities keep beckoning.’

‘And you’re making a difference to people’s lives. You must be proud.’

‘I am. It was a hard road to success, but we’ve built a great team and we’re going from strength to strength.’

She saw the glitter in his eyes, heard the enthusiasm in his voice and felt a thrill of pride at what he’d achieved. What he was still achieving.

‘How did you get into that? You mentioned working in a restaurant in Athens, not in medical research.’

He laughed. ‘I’m a businessman, not an inventor or tech expert. My forte is identifying opportunities, bringing the right resources together and making it happen.’

Portia suspected that ‘making it happen’ was nowhere near as easy as he made it sound. It sounded complex and challenging, especially for a start-up company.

When he saw her waiting for more information he went on. ‘I had a lot of jobs. Working on building sites. In the restaurant. Cleaning. You name it. I usually had at least three jobs. One was as a cleaner at a university. Late one night I got talking to a researcher about joints.’

‘Joints?’

‘He’d designed a new artificial joint that he hoped would last longer than the ones in use at the time. We got talking about recuperating from injuries and I chipped in with questions based on what I’d seen with horses. Not that I knew anything about artificial joints, but I was interested.’

Of course he was. He’d always had an inquiring mind.

Portia remembered him with the animals on the estate. She’d once thought that in other circumstances he might have become a vet. He had an affinity with horses and his care was second to none. It was the one area in which her father could never fault him.

‘His field was fascinating and he was happy to talk about his work.’ Lex paused. ‘Later, when I met my father and we got to know each other, he offered me a place in his firm. My two older half-brothers worked there but I thought it would be better for me to do something different.’

‘Because you felt you didn’t fit in? Didn’t they make you welcome?’ The words escaped before Portia thought about them. ‘Sorry. That’s none of my business.’

Yet she was curious. The more she learnt, the more she wanted to know.

‘I don’t mind talking about it.’ He paused as if gathering his thoughts. ‘They all made me welcome. My father, half-brothers and half-sister. They wanted me to join the shipping business my great-grandfather started. But I felt...’ He lifted one shoulder as if uncomfortable. ‘I wanted to make my own mark. Build my own success. I suppose that sounds ungrateful but—’

‘It doesn’t.’ Portia remembered Lex’s pride and determination. And his hard work. Maybe too, he’d felt he had to prove himself, not least to the wealthy family he’d discovered. Had his siblings thought him a freeloader at first? That would have spurred him on to succeed independently. ‘Your father must be proud of you for standing on your own two feet.’

He nodded. ‘You’re right. For all his protests I think he was pleased. He offered me the money to start my own enterprise.That’show I began. I didn’t do it alone. I had help.Wehad help. The company wouldn’t have got anywhere without that initial funding. But I paid back the start-up funds with interest.’

‘Let me guess? You started with your friend’s artificial joint?’

‘I wish. The university took a deal with a large company. No, we started small and learnt a lot along the way and we’ve been more successful than I’d dared hope. We work with top-class teams around the world with exciting new technologies.’

Lex’s enthusiasm was catching. He loved what he did and she was glad for him.

She hoped she’d find similar fulfilment when she had a chance to pursue her dreams. Her smile faded as she considered the complications ahead. She’d finally got to the point of being able to undertake the study she’d wanted for so long but she couldn’t imagine studying with a baby. Maybe in a few more years.

‘Is something wrong, Portia?’

‘Nothing at all. So you’re close to your family?’

How strange it must have felt to acquire siblings and a parent so late in life. She almost envied him the experience. Her mother had died years ago yet Portia still missed her.

‘Yes,’ he said after a moment’s consideration. ‘It took a while. That was my fault. I suppose I wondered if they felt obliged to be nice to me. But they’re a patient lot and we get on well.’

---