«Tommy’s just back from Aspen,» Victoria announced. «He’s been networking with some fascinating venture capitalists.»
Translation: he’d been skiing on Daddy’s dime and annoying successful people at the Lodge Bar. The seating arrangement told me everything I needed to know. Harold at the head, Victoria at the opposite end, Thomas and Jessica flanking their mother, Mark next to Jessica, and me.
Well, they’d added a chair at the corner. Not quite at the table, not quite excluded. The purgatory seat.
«Can I offer you something to drink?» Harold asked. «We have an excellent Montrachet breathing.»
Before I could answer, Mark jumped in. «Dad usually just drinks beer.»
«Beer?» Victoria said it like she’d never heard the word before. «How refreshing. I don’t think we have any. Perhaps the staff could check the garage?»
«Water’s fine,» I said, enjoying the way they all relaxed slightly. Crisis averted. The poor person wouldn’t be tainting their wine glasses.
The first course arrived, some kind of deconstructed salad that looked like a gardener had sneezed on a plate. Victoria explained it was from their personal chef who’d trained in Paris. I nodded appreciatively while internally calculating that the three leaves of lettuce and a decorative sauce squiggle cost more than most families’ weekly grocery bills.
«So David,» Harold began, cutting his single cherry tomato with surgical precision, «Mark tells us you’re in consulting.»
«That’s right.»
«How interesting.» His tone suggested it was anything but. «Small clients, I assume? Local businesses?»
«Various sizes,» I said, keeping it vague.
Thomas snorted. «Must be tough in this economy. All the real money’s in tech disruption now. I’m actually working on a revolutionary app that’s going to change how people think about thinking.»
I almost choked on my water. «How people think about thinking?»
«It’s complex. You probably wouldn’t understand the technical aspects.»
The kid who’d failed freshman coding was going to explain technical aspects to me. This was better than cable.
«Thomas has such vision,» Victoria beamed. «He’s been developing this concept for three years now.»
Three years of developing a concept. I’d built and sold two companies in that timeframe.
Before diving deeper into this comedy show, I want to take a quick moment to say if you’re enjoying this story, please consider subscribing to the channel and hitting that like button. It genuinely helps me continue sharing these stories with you, and your support means the world to me.
Harold steered the conversation back to his favorite topic: himself. «I was just telling Thomas he should speak to my connections at the club. Real players. Not like these wannabe entrepreneurs crowding the field now. No offense, David.»
«None taken.» I smiled at the man whose company, I happened to know, had been hemorrhaging money for two years.
«The problem with people today,» Harold continued, warming to his theme, «is they don’t understand the value of pedigree. They think anyone can just start a business, make money, call themselves successful… but breeding matters. Background matters.»
«Absolutely,» Victoria agreed. «It’s why we were so surprised when Jessica brought Mark home. No offense, dear,» she added to my son, who was shrinking in his chair. «You’ve done admirably well considering your circumstances.»
«His circumstances?» I asked innocently.
«Well, you know.» Victoria waved her hand vaguely. «Growing up without advantages. It must have been so difficult for you, David. Raising a child alone on such a modest income.»
«Dad did great,» Mark said quietly, but there was shame in his voice. Shame of me.
«Of course he did,» Harold said condescendingly. «And look, if you ever need financial advice, David, I’d be happy to help. I know a guy who’s running this investment opportunity. Guaranteed returns, very exclusive. Usually there’s a $50,000 minimum buy-in, but I could probably get you in for ten.»
«That’s very generous,» I said, recognizing the MLM pitch immediately.
«We believe in helping family,» Victoria added. «Even extended family. Oh, and I have several bags of Harold’s old clothes in the garage. Perfectly good condition. You’re about the same size.»
She looked at my polo shirt like it was radioactive. «They might be a nice upgrade for special occasions.»
The main course arrived, lamb so small I could have covered it with a business card. The Harringtons got one wine, I noticed. My glass was filled from a different bottle. The cheap stuff for the cheap guest.
«You know, David,» Thomas said, already on his third glass of the good wine, «if you ever want to make real money, you should get into apps. It’s all about disruption now. Although…» He looked me up and down. «You might be a bit old to understand the digital landscape.»
«Thomas revolutionized social media at Harvard,» Victoria said proudly.
«You mean he got suspended for creating that ‘Rate Your Classmates’ app?» Jessica muttered, earning a sharp look from her mother.
«That was a misunderstanding,» Thomas said quickly. «The administration didn’t understand my vision.»
«Speaking of vision,» Harold interrupted, «Mark, you really should consider coming to work for me. Real opportunity there. Get you out of that little marketing shop and into actual business.»
«Mark loves his job,» I said. Harold looked at me like I’d spoken out of turn.
«I’m sure he does. But loving something and building a future are different things. Right, Mark?»
My son looked between us, torn. «I mean… the opportunity sounds interesting.»
«Of course it does,» Victoria said. «Harold could teach him so much about success. Real success.»
«As opposed to?» I asked.
«Well,» she laughed, a tinkling sound like breaking glass. «No offense, but there are levels to these things. There’s getting by, and then there’s actually thriving. I’m sure you’ve done your best with what you had to work with.»
The condescension was so thick you could spread it on toast. But what hurt wasn’t their dismissal of me. It was Mark’s silence. My son, who I’d raised to stand up for people, to have integrity, sat there letting them treat his father like a charity case.
«More wine?» Harold asked the table, pointedly not looking at me. «This is from our personal collection. 20 years old. You can really taste the difference when you know quality.»
He poured for everyone except me, leaving my different bottle sitting conspicuously apart. Message received: You don’t belong here, and we’re not wasting the good stuff on you.
Thomas’s phone buzzed. «Oh, that’s my advisor. He’s helping me pivot my concept to blockchain. That’s where the real innovation is happening. Hey Mark, is your dad even online? Does he have email?»
They all looked at me expectantly, waiting for the caveman to admit he didn’t understand their modern world.
«Email,» I repeated slowly, savoring the moment. «I manage.»
Before Thomas could respond with another condescending comment, my phone vibrated on the table. I usually kept it on silent during dinners, but tonight I’d made an exception. The caller ID showed Sarah Chen, my executive assistant. Perfect timing.
«Excuse me, I need to take this,» I said, standing. «Work emergency.»
«At this hour?» Victoria sniffed. «How inconvenient. Though I suppose when you’re hourly, you take what you can get.»
I stepped into the hallway, making sure to stay within earshot. «Sarah, what’s the situation?»
Sarah, who I’d briefed earlier, played her part perfectly. Her voice carried just enough to be overheard. «Mr. Mitchell, I apologize for calling during your dinner, but Microsoft wants to move the contract signing to Monday. They’re approving the full $7.3 million. Also, the Department of Defense finally cleared your security review for the Pentagon project.»
«Tell Microsoft I can do Monday at 10,» I said clearly. «And send the DOD confirmation to my secure server.»
«Yes, sir. Oh, and Forbes called again about that interview. Should I keep declining?»
«For now. I prefer to stay under the radar.»
I hung up and walked back to find them all staring. Harold’s fork was frozen halfway to his mouth.
«Everything all right?» Mark asked, confused. «Did you say Microsoft?»
«Just a client issue,» I said, sitting back down in my corner chair. «Where were we? Ah, yes, Thomas was explaining the blockchain.»
Thomas blinked rapidly. «Did you say… $7 million?»
«.3,» I corrected. «But let’s hear more about your app. ‘How people think about thinking’ sounds fascinating.»
The table fell silent. Harold set down his fork with a small clink. Victoria’s perfect smile wavered slightly.
«I must have misheard,» Harold said slowly. «It sounded like you were discussing a rather large contract.»
«Oh, it’s not that large. Midsize for us, really.» I turned back to Thomas. «So, blockchain integration? Are you building on Ethereum or creating your own protocol?»