The Secret Island

Martin was looking at the white wall and the decorations inside his 'interview room' for today. He smiled at what he saw. How could he not like the room when it was he who designed it on a piece of paper and handed it to her that day on the island? The idea materialized into reality because of Celine.

He thought of his life as he waited for Celine to finish her online meeting. He didn't know what his life would become without her. She had always been caring and prioritized his issues as if they were her own. He really didn't know what he would become without her. Even though this aspect of his life he thought would never overlap with her, his career, she still offered to help him with it.

He gave her an answer yesterday. And today, Martin intended to do the same.

He had every intention of denying her generous offer.

Yes... yesterday, he denied her offer. But Celine being as stubborn as she was, asked him to at least go through an interview, to really talk through the details and let her properly lay out the job description and expectations of his role. Also, his girlfriend kissed him goodnight and said that one of the benefits of us working together was that we could spend more time together. What an unprofessional and uncompelling case to persuade him to work here. He smiled at the memory. He bet no business owner nor executives ever use that tactic to hire talent. He shook his head and couldn't stop smiling when he thought of the way she annunciated each word.

"Just in case you will change your mind...." He remembered Celine whispering sexily in his ear. He gulped. And shook his head once more to rid the thought.

No... no... I will not change my mind. I will stand tall on my own. I will not be dependent on her like that. I can do it. Of course, I can do it. I must! He thought to himself.

Martin was overjoyed by the offer from the woman he loved. And the prospect of working with her seemed exciting, but he didn't want to depend too much on her. She had already sacrificed too much for him, and Martin found that unhealthy if he kept the trend. He wanted to be independent and showed her that he could thrive on his own, even though he was struggling at the moment.

Another fear he had, if we were to work together, was that we might have conflicts on ideas clashes. Colleagues can argue and go home to their significant others, and lovers can fight and take a break and go to work, but how about lovers who work together? He believed that if we fight, we really fight, and it won't end.

He also didn't want to risk reshaping the business she had been building in a direction that she might disagree with. Besides, any relationship with money involved is always scary. He just didn't want to risk us.

He wanted to stay with her every day, but he also knew that the matter of the head and the heart should be separated, especially now...

A sound of a door opening interrupted his thought.

Celine walked out of her office. Today, she dressed more impeccably than any other day. He couldn't stop staring at that red lipstick.

But then he remembered that she didn't wear this color of lipstick this morning. So, she applied more lipstick before meeting him? Just for this meeting?

She seemed discontent. What happened? Why was she upset? What was she upset about? Then he remembered his answer yesterday. She probably didn't like the carefully worded rejection, he said.

"Have you changed your mind?" She said curtly. Those beautiful eyes stared at him, and Martin gulped. He had been in a stressful situation before, and somehow when the one who gave him stress was, in fact, his girlfriend, he got even more stressed out.

Still, he didn't understand why she was still mad about something he had said and his intention behind it. He wanted to do all that for her. "Why are you so upset? Is it because of me?"

"No! Not you. I am mad thinking about a client I went to see earlier today. He was so mean about the deal. Gosh, if he wasn't the client, I would probably punch him in the face for saying all those words to me!" She walked to her deck and sat down with force. Her facial expression didn't change. She was still definitely very upset. He wanted to cheer her up but didn't know how.

"Yeah. Whatever. To hell with that. Never mind me. Let's talk about us instead. So, have you thought it over? Have you rethought your decision? I won't give up on this. You know about my offer. I thought about this over and over again before I proposed it to you. Now the business expanded so much that I really need someone I trust. And you are that person. You are someone I trust. You are also a very talented man, Martin. Although you rarely accept compliments. You are well versed in business and my inspiration for doing all this. I couldn't think of anyone more suitable than you to help me grow my empire."

She paused just to sip some water. She looked at him through the glass brim and then continued.

"I have nothing flowery to say. I just need your help, your talent, and your vision. Help me, Martin. Grow this business together. Help me with my dream and make it a reality." He could tell she was still in a bad mood from perhaps a recent argument with a client. But she delivered her offer so deliberately and so genuinely that he didn't know what to reply.

"It might be just my own wishful thinking, but I want your help for the business expansion." She quickly added and looked deep into his eyes. Celine was so determined, like he had never seen her before. But even so, he hesitated. His rejection was not born out of his unconfident in his ability. There was something more.

"But...Celine... I have never worked in fashion. Even my wardrobe choices are questionable...." She cut him off.

"Oh, please! Martin, your fashion choice is fine!"

He shook his head and continued.

"I have no experience in the industry. I have worked in finance all my life and never for an up-and-coming company, but corporate finance. The logic behind everything is totally different." He wanted her to understand that he was not the right man for this job. He wanted to reduce the risks of him messing up her dream.

"But surely, some principles can apply. Didn't Jeff Bezos work for a hedge fund company before starting Amazon from his garage? Isn't that also something seemingly totally different?"

Celine pointed. And she had a damn good point.

"Well, that is Jeff Bezos you are talking about, almost the richest man on earth. I couldn't be someone who operates well without prior experience. My work experience is totally different from what you have expected from me. The business is in a totally different industry than what I am used to. From what I think, the skillset for your business I need to have is supply chain management, dealing with designers, manufacturers, textile artisans...." "You are not wrong on the last part...."

She sipped her water once more and listened to him explain.

"You need someone who is an expert in accounting, fashion, business expansion overseas, local and international business law, pricing, and pretty much everything that get a business off the ground, like a startup." "Sure... I thought about it." She didn't say anything to correct him, but knowing her, Martin knew that Celine was thinking about the right words to tell him. She was not someone who gave up easily anyway. Without giving it a long pause, he continued.

"...the works I used to do deal largely with real estate, merger and acquisition, and business deals related to that. The content of the work is totally different. I only have in-depth knowledge of those disciplines. I am not an expert in other things in business."

"Ahhuh..." Celine put down the water glass and put her hands together on the desk. That was definitely a power pose.

"So... I hope you understand my point. I really think that...."

"Martin, please stop right there."

"...." Celine said those words softly, but that was enough to give him a long pause.

"You said it yourself. The needed skill and knowledge are in accounting, business law, strategy, pricing, and more basic business knowledge. All those things you could do, couldn't you? I know you learned all that since business school." She challenged him. And he knew she was right. Other than the in-depth knowledge about the fashion industry, he could do pretty much everything listed.

"You are right, but...."

"There is no but for this, Martin. Just tell me, what is the real reason behind your rejection?"