Page 26 of Curvy Love

@TheZMan: Even if you don’t think you need help, we should chat occasionally. To beta test the software.

@PsychedelicAlmond: I’ll check in if I need you.

With that, I start my timer back up for another thirty-minute chunk and dive back into my code, confident that I don’t need anyone’s help.

chapterten

Ezra

It’s been two weeks since I was connected with a coder who goes by the name of PsychedelicAlmond. I message her every other day just to check in, but she still stubbornly refuses to engage much more than basic pleasantries. I admit it pisses me off.

I’m considered a Goddamn titan in the industry. There are people who would kill to be mentored by me. Probably not literally—okay, hopefully not literally—but my advice is sought after. So much so that my VP of R&D actually laughed at me when I offered to be part of the beta testing.

He thought I was joking. I wasn’t. The truth is, I miss the days of having my hands on every product we release and thought I might be fun to try. I did not expect that my mentee wouldn't want my help.

This woman is damn lucky to have been paired with me. I realize she doesn’t actually know who I am, but everyone at the company is top notch. ZeeSuite has gotten where it is by paying top dollar for the smartest people in the industry. Any number of my employees could be offering a budding computer science student some valuable information.

So, yeah, I’m annoyed that she’s not overjoyed to be working with me. And yes, I know she’s a she. In addition to her remark that first day about marching to the beat of her own drum, each user has a two-line profile that includes preferred pronouns. In case you’re wondering, her profile description is a quote from Madonna. “I’m tough. I’m ambitious and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.”

Frankly, it takes guts to lead with a quote like that. Maybe that’s why I’ve stuck with this. She intrigues me. Probably more than she should. And so I keep coming back, checking in every few days.

She seems to be slowly softening up to me. Today when I log on and message her, she answers almost immediately. And as always, our conversation becomes one of the favorite parts of my day.

@TheZMan: Hey, we got news at the office today and I was curious if your professor had shared the information with the class yet?

@PsychedelicAlmond: Ohhhhh… are you offering to give me an insider scoop?

@TheZMan: I don’t know how to answer that.

@PsychedelicAlmond: It’s okay, I won’t get you in trouble with your boss. I’m assuming you’re referring to the grant?

@TheZMan: Yes. What are your thoughts?

@PsychedelicAlmond: Fifty-thousand dollars to fund your start up and a year of legal consulting from the ZeeSuite lawyers? It’s an amazing opportunity.

@TheZMan: And?

@PsychedelicAlmond: I would not want to be the one to pick the winner. I’ve got some incredibly talented classmates who have stellar projects they’re working on.

@TheZMan: That’s very diplomatic of you.

@PsychedelicAlmond: Just being honest.

@PsychedelicAlmond: Are you high enough on your totem pole to have any hand in selecting the winner?

@TheZMan: Are you asking if I can give you an upper hand? *Winky emoji*

@PsychedelicAlmond: Actually the opposite. I wouldn’t want to continue this relationship or whatever we want to call it if that were the case.

@TheZMan: So you wouldn’t want me to nudge the selection committee in your direction?

@PsychedelicAlmond: Absolutely not! I don’t want handouts. I don’t want help.

@TheZMan: Yeah, yeah. I get it. You’re a badass who doesn’t need anyone’s help.

@PsychedelicAlmond: Damn right, I am!

@TheZMan: I suppose if I told you I think you’re adorable it would undermine your reputation as a badass boss.

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