Finally Christopher spoke again with quiet precision while saying, “Get on a plane and be here tomorrow.”
I answered immediately, “I am not asking for special treatment and I will not take a flight paid by Ironridge because that would compromise the deal.”
He responded without hesitation, “Then pay for the ticket yourself and come because I want the person who built the plan explaining it.”
I booked the flight that night using my own credit card because pride mattered less than the work I had invested in the project.
The Chicago wind was brutal when I stepped out of the airport and the city lights looked like scattered sparks across Lake Michigan while I rode a taxi toward the hotel.
A text arrived from Christopher that simply said, “Come downstairs.”
We met in the quiet corner of the hotel bar and for a moment neither of us spoke because family conversations sometimes require patience before honesty.
Christopher finally said, “I am not rescuing you but I refuse to sign five million dollars with people who ignore competence.”
I answered softly, “I do not want favoritism either because this contract should stand on the strength of the work.”