Invest In Me

“Yeah, I am sure she is.” She took a sip of the champagne and the burning liquid soared through her throat, making her feel rather special.

“Did you make any friends here yet, Bella? Besides me, that is.” Thomas changed the topic.

“As a matter of fact, I have a roommate who is rather different from me. But she is so nice and friendly. A unique person, truly. However, I miss my best friend Amy. She’s been my friend since childhood and not having her here with me is a bit painful, you know,” Bella said.

“Oh, sorry to hear that. You will find out that New York is not that friendly. I don’t know if it is me or my position, but I scarcely find true friends. Except James.” Thomas chuckled. Bella did, too. For the first time in a long period, she was sincerely having a great laugh with someone.

They chatted for the rest of the night and shared each other their biggest secrets, regrets, and hopes. Bella was still amazed how Thomas was candid and personal with her, for she was never so close with a famous person before. Was it the games of destiny that had connected those two souls together or her mother’s spirit and energy? Bella couldn’t tell.

“… I moved here to study at the university in New York and I met James. He has been my best friend and confidante since then. And actually during our last year, before graduation that was, we formed an idea for a startup,” Thomas said.

“Wow, really? You were that young and weren’t even scared of what was to come with having your own business?” Bella asked.

“Not a bit. You see, it was just an idea back then. We were sitting in the park of the campus and thought after thought we made up something beautiful. It was meant to be just a startup and nothing else. You will be amazed at how easy is to create a startup, especially in huge cities like New York.”

“But you needed funds, right?” Bella smiled. She knew that this was the moment when her mother would pop into the picture.

“Yes, that was the most terrifying part, honestly. My father had some cash saved and I had some as well, but it wasn’t enough. It was then that I started to feel the pressure. What if it doesn’t work? What if I fail? All of that money would go to waste and would ruin everything. If that had happened, I wouldn’t have been able to face my father.”

“I understand,” Bella replied.

“But luckily an angel came to us in the form of your mother and we began with our successful story. And here we are, some ten years later… A lot has changed…” He sighed.

“Yeah… But what happened to James? Where is he?”

“Oh, he is living his life, for sure. He met a girl in London and settled down there. I told him to come with me, perhaps move with his wife. But he told me no. He didn’t want the partnership here. However, I am not the type to leave my friends behind, so I opened a division there and he is running it now.”

“That sounds awesome.” Bella was glad that there were still great people in the world who valued the priceless things. “You are a marvelous man.”

“I learn from the best,” he said and planted a kiss on her hand. His lips were hot and sweet on her skin.