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She ignores my lame joke “That’s quite impressive, Mr Ives”

“That’s what it takes to build a company like mine, Rosemary It’s not a secret formula or a political connection or a trust fund All of those things are helpful,” I say with a laugh, “if you’re fortunate enough to have access But they’re not necessary”

“You’re obviously passionate about this topic,” she states, and I nod But before she can continue, s from inside my pocket

“Sorry,” I apologize and pull it out to see Evan Willis’s na across the screen “Actually, I need to take this Excuse me for a minute”

“Of course No probleet up from the table to walk toward the front of the restaurant and out the entrance door

The front sidewalk is crowded and loud, evento voice mail as I find a quiet alleyway about fifty feet up the block and step inside

I dial Evan back, and I don’t even wait for hi in

“How goes it in Austin?”

“It’s so good, I’m not sure you’re ready to hear it”

I grin and lean back against the war hoell they hold the heat of the suone “Is that so?”

“You bet your ass”

Evan Willis has been one ofup in Brooklyn We went to ele out on the weekends, and did every organized sport known tohigh school, I lived with Evan’s family for sixto switch schools

We attended college together at Yale, and, while I was building Fuse froest supporter He’s officially the CFO of my company and runs the secondary headquarters in Austin, but if you asked me to tell you about Evan Willis, I’d tell you he’s my chosen brother

“So…” he starts “You know a company by the name of TechLete Industries?”

“Does a bear shit in the woods?”

“I’ve never seen it, but I have to assuiven the parameters of a bear’s habits and habitat, that, yes, a bear shits in the woods”

“God, Evan You’re such a dork”

“You asked I answered”

I roll my eyes Evan is so funny, so smart, so likable He also has the brain of an accountant, built to focus on the most minute of details Sure, it comes in handy in his role as o like this