Forever Never

Chapter Fifteen | Self-made

Leroy

Before meeting Fabrizia today I did so much research on her, mostly because I couldn't find any other way to calm the jitters that kept me up with an itching body all night. Of all the dozens of articles, videos, interviews I've plowed through not once did the word 'self-made' pop up which peaked my curiosity.

Fabrizia's driver had picked me up in front of my apartment and was now pulling up at a tall modern building with the title Central on the front and a sign that said 'corporate headquarters' as well. I stepped out of the car and followed her lead. Stepping inside the building felt like I travelled a hundred years into the future. She greeted the guy sitting in the reception booth before moving along towards the elevator.

It stopped at the top floor and opened wide into a broad and spacious hall with four offices on either side of the and a small lobby area at the beginning of the hall that I assumed was used as a waiting area. Through the glass door of each of the offices I met the gazes of three people in there working behind a computer.

The fourth room was empty which Fabrizia stopped at and turned to me. "This will be your office. You'll need it once I hire you full time," she said and I stared through the glass door.

She turned in front of her again and opened the wooden door to the fifth room at the end of the hall and entered. A slim silver sign mounted on the front of the door had her name on it.

She sat down in her chair. "So did you actually have sole proprietorship of the company?" I asked and looked around in the office like a kid at Disneyland.

"Yup," she said with a playful smile on her lips. "Biggest risk I ever took. Once it took off though I decided to turn it into an LLC."

In my research I found that she also bought out the rest of the shareholders and became the sole owner once Central became massive. She noted in an interview how important it was for her to have full control of her business so she could fulfill the vision she had for it without having to appease anyone.

"Did you know you were gonna be this successful?"

She shook her head. "Nope. Believe me I've had many, many failures in my career. But I had the best mentor."

I thought about asking her about the 'self-made' part. It seemed like a sure fire way to get fired before I'd even been hired. And I gave up a lot of hours at work, now just working shifts, to have this not go well not even five minutes in. But then again Fabrizia didn't strike me as the type to get pressed like that.

"I noticed a lack of use of the word self-made in the research I found. Any reason for that?" I asked, internally shitting myself in anticipation for my fate.

She gave me another one of those looks I couldn't decipher and only added to my anxiety. Should've kept my damn mouth shut and. "Well because it would be a lie," she said finally. She didn't seem pissed and I was relieved.

"What do you mean?"

"Firstly because there is no such thing as a self-made billionaire or millionaire or whatever aire. I'm honest enough to acknowledge that. But also just in general there is no such thing as self-made. You can't get anywhere far in life completely on your own, without help," she explained.

I couldn't argue with that. "Yeah I guess you're right." I nodded.

"Those people that helped you get there. Your day ones, your community, mentors, loved ones and all that. They make it worthwhile, right? Because what is the point of reaching all that success if you ain't got nobody to celebrate and share it with?"

I knew who I wanted to celebrate and share with. Axe was at the top of that list, even though she wasn't really talking to me right now after our argument the other day. Once every year she had this phase of ignoring me after a little disagreement before we eventually went back to besties so I wasn't worried.