Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81488 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81488 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“Three million.”
“This money… the winnings… what did you do with it?”
“I took that money and started a new life. College, then graduate school for finance. Paid off debts, helped my family, paid back loans for others, helped a friend start a business, and bought some unnecessary shit, too.” He shrugged. “I won’t lie—some of it went to cars, boats, golf equipment, real estate, high-priced alcohol, and other shit, but Eric, I worked my ass off with the majority of it and helped others. I know what you’re thinking. I’m no saint. Hell, I have a reputation of bein’ some genius here at work, but amongst my close friends, I’m just a slick-mouthed, wealthy playboy who likes to play head games, with trust issues.” He tsked. “I know what people think of me, and I know that I’m gossiped about behind my back, too.
“People always gossip about people who don’t tell their business. I keep my private life to myself. On purpose. And this is one of the reasons why. The fewer people understood me, the better my secrets would be kept. Not just this, but everything that I don’t want others to know—from the time I cried about some girl who ghosted me in the eighth grade, all the way up to this. My grandfather stole a journal of mine that detailed my life, basically, Eric.” His boss barely blinked as he spoke to him, from the heart. “That money was to help me, myself and I, mainly. I had gotten excused from the Marines over some shit that wasn’t my fault, and I was too prideful to ask for help… and even if I did ask for help, nobody was equipped in my life to give it to me. Most of the people in my family were one check away from bein’ homeless, Eric. They couldn’t help me, and I wasn’t about to be no damn burden to my mama, or anyone else.
“Pride and consideration both made me do what I did, as strange as that sounds. I regret what I did, but I don’t regret trying to find a solution to my issue so I could afford an education and housing. I am still a greedy man, but not for money. I’m greedy for accountability and the truth. True accountability and honesty, and for love. I finally met a woman who can love me the way I need to be loved, and I refuse to allow her to be affected by this shit that I’ve stirred. Telling the truth was the only option, so she could be free. I’m greedy for success, Eric. Success that I earned fair and square. And now, I’m greedy enough to believe that you won’t hate me after this, but I know that’s not gonna happen. That’s just a magic trick in my head. A fantasy. I’m the black sheep of this company now. I accept that. The poor country boy with the drunk and drugged out father, who was finally given a chance to be great, but come to find out, he’s an impostor. I was wearing a mask. I’m sorry to bring this shame to you.”
He hung his head. Hot, angry tears brimmed in his eyes.
But Eric did something at that moment that he didn’t expect. He told him, “Roman, look at me.”
Roman slowly looked up, meeting his gaze.
He steepled his fingers and smiled. A genuine, wide smile, as if he’d been told the best news ever.
“I hired you, Roman, because of your grit, grind, resourcefulness, and hunger for the game. I hired you after your internship here. You were fresh out of college. I watched you work. And work hard. I was told about you… I observed how your colleagues responded to your energy, and your talents. The jealousy was thick. How could someone like you, that came from nothin’, work circles around them?! You were crushing your competition, one by one! And the crazy part? You did it with a killer smile. You remained down to earth, but I knew deep down, you understood that you were special. Different. I had not seen a drive like yours in anyone, in a long time.
“You have surpassed many others vocationally because of your willingness to go above and beyond for your clients, Roman. To ensure that they feel safe working with us, and that you provide service that they can’t get elsewhere. You’re consistent and steadfast. Particularly likable. A gentleman and a flirt down to your bones. You are a shark. You understand money and this business, down to the core. Notwithstanding that, you’re right. You earned it. You earned your corner office. The office that Stacey Lane vacated after her retirement, and everyone was chomping at the bit to receive.” He pointed towards his closed door.
“You have clients who rely on you and trust your advice almost over God’s word. What you did way back when, without me knowing the explicit details, is undoubtedly deplorable, and would have cost you working here and in any other financial institution worth their salt had the information been privy at the time of hiring, yet still, you’ve been with us for over a decade, man…” Eric sucked his teeth, closed his eyes, then shook his head. “You have proven yourself time and time again without fault. Through deaths in your family, illness and all, you’ve stepped up to the plate and delivered.