“Shut up,” I say. “God, you’re so annoying.”
“And yet, you choose to be in my company.”
“I choose peace and that means getting you to stop being a dick. So . . . tell me something about you.”
“What?” he asks, a question on his brow.
“Tell me something, anything. We’re getting to know each other right now. Call it a company get-to-know-you. Oh, hey, okay . . . how about two truths and a lie. You know, that ice breaker game.”
“Does it look like I’m the type of guy who plays that sort of game?”
“Humor me . . . please,” I beg.
His eyes scan me and I can see him waffling between saying something snarky and giving in to my pleading. If he says no, I’m just going to continue begging him. I want to make things at least okay between us, for the sake of our working relationship.
I wait a few more breaths and then finally . . .
He heaves out a heavy, “Fine,” and then scratches the side of his jaw. “Two truths and a lie . . . okay. How about this? I once went scuba diving with whales. I think I have the greatest job in the world. And winter is my favorite season.”
“Well, that’s easy. Scuba diving with whales seems like a rich-person activity, so that’s true. You clearly love your job, so . . . winter isn’t your favorite season, which makes sense since you’re a born-and-raised California boy.”
“Errrrr, wrong,” he says, making a buzzing sound.
“Really? You never went scuba diving with whales?”
“No, I swam with whales. In Mo’orea, an island of French Polynesia to be exact. It’s a sanctuary for humpback whales. One of the best vacations of my life.”
I growl out in frustration. “JP, if you’re not going to take this seriously—”
“Who says I’m not taking it seriously?”
I attempt to get off his lap, but his hands clamp down on my thighs, holding me in place.
“I told two truths and a lie.”
In utter disbelief, I say, “So, you’re telling me you hate your job?”
“Yes. I am,” he answers matter-of-factly.
“Wait . . . are you being serious? You hate it?”
“Yes. I hate my job.”
“But . . . you make it seem like you enjoy it. I’m confused. You have your own company with your brothers, you get to work with them day in and day out, you have your own schedule, and you get to stay in places like this.” I gesture around the room. “What can you possibly hate about all of that?”
He shakes his head and says, “Yeah, didn’t think you’d understand.” He goes to move me, but this time, I’m the one who stays put.
“Hold on.” I press my fingers to his chest. “You’re being honest, you hate it?”
“How many times do I have to say it?”
“I’m sorry,” I reply. “I’m just confused. You’ve been very convincing that you enjoy what you do. Why do you hate it?”
“Let me ask you this—what do you like about your job?”
“Well, besides the obvious of having my own business and the complexities of experiencing the growth and downfalls, I love it because I feel like I’m helping make this world a better place to live. There are studies that go into detail about the therapeutic process of organizing spaces and how it can act as a calming technique for people who have to live and work in that space. And on top of that, I’m spreading the word about sustainability, which alone makes this job all worth it.”
“You feel like you’re making a difference.”
I nod.
“That’s where I fall flat. I don’t think I’m doing anything in this damn life of mine that’s worth something. Sure, I have money, more money than any of us or any lineage to follow could spend in a lifetime, and it just keeps coming in, multiplying. There’s no stopping it because there’s no stopping my brothers. They want to take over the world and I’m only really along for the ride.”
“But you’re not money-greedy humans. You donate a lot of money to organizations throughout LA. You’re leaders in real estate when it comes to best business practices—minus Huxley’s ‘fake fiancée’ thing with Lottie—but you’re honest men, trustworthy. You’re not hurting anyone.”
“Yeah, but we’re not helping anyone. We’re only helping ourselves.”
“That’s not true,” I say. “Lottie specifically asked Huxley why he kept working when they first started seeing each other. He said he had all the money he could possibly need, but he continued because if he didn’t work, if he didn’t expand, then the people who relied on him couldn’t afford a life for their families. He keeps working so his employees can keep working.”