Nathan studied the photo. He knew that smile. It was the same one he’d worn when he’d first started his company. The pride. The joy. The excitement for the future. He knew that look.
“That’s George when he first started the company,” a young man told Nathan. He wore a polo with the ECT logo. “If you’ll follow me, the meeting room is this way.”
Nathan followed the man to a large room. A conference table dominated the space, but the windows overlooked the mountains. It was a nice place for a meeting. He found the coffee maker on the side of the room and poured himself a cup.
The door opened and an older man walked in. He wore a nice suit, but he looked ragged. He’d tried to hide his balding hair by sweeping longer bits over the top. His eyes were sunken and defeat hung on his shoulders.
“George Element,” the man said, holding out his hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
This was George Element? The man in the photo was young and vibrant. This man should be in his early sixties, but looked like he was nearly eighty. His eyes were yellow and his skin like old parchment. He’d put on weight since the picture, and it didn’t suit him.
Nathan wondered what had happened to George that had aged him so quickly.
“Thank you for meeting me here,” Nathan replied. “You have a lovely campus.”
George gave a small smile and he looked around, taking the place in. “That we do. Would you like a tour? I know you’re moving the company to California, but you might as well see what you bought.”
“Why not?” Nathan agreed. “We can talk as we walk.”
George opened the glass doors to the conference room and headed out. “You’re the one that came up with the Quad-Ram system, aren’t you?”
“I am. It was my first big success.”
“A real nice innovation,” George agreed. “You still creating stuff like that?”
“Unfortunately, no.” Nathan shook his head. “It’s all meetings and business. You know the CEO life.”
“That’s disappointing. It was a reason we sold to you and not someone else. Because you innovate like we do.” George shook his head slowly. He turned and faced Nathan, his eyes grim. “You’re young. Don’t let them do that to you.”
“What do you mean?” Nathan asked, confused.
“I love computers. I love putting them together and figuring out ways to make them faster. I love figuring out how to make software more effective. How to make both of them work together better than before. That’s why I made this company. That’s what this company is supposed to do.”
“That’s why Paradigm bought you,” Nathan said, not quite understanding what George was trying to say. “You're known for coming up with new tech.”
George nodded. “Do you know why I’m selling Elements Computer Technologies?”
“I’m afraid I don’t. I just know that we jumped at the chance to purchase it. You weren’t struggling in the marketplace, so I assume it was for personal reasons?”
George tipped his head as a yes. “This company was my pride and joy.” He reached out and touched the wall. “Until I lost why I started it. I got caught up in the money. I had to make more. I had to succeed more.”
“That’s not a bad thing,” Nathan told him. That was the reason Nathan was CEO. Paradigm was successful, but it was the drive for more money and more success that drove him. Money was everything.
“I have more money than I know what to do with,” George told him, focusing gray eyes on Nathan. “But it cost me. It cost me two marriages. It cost me seeing my kids grow up. I’ve never held my grandchildren. My own kids don’t recognize me. Sure, I have a nice house. I drive a great car. But I’m not happy.”
Nathan took a step back. For a moment, he could see himself in this man. The unhappiness. He hadn’t done something he’d loved in years. He loved the money, but the building and designing was what made him happy. It didn’t make him rich, though.
“I gave up my soul for money,” George told him. “When I realized what it was doing to me, it was too late. So, I’m selling my company. I want to be happy. Money doesn’t matter if no one loves you.”
Nathan wasn’t quite sure what to say to that. He simply nodded and followed the older man down a well lit hallway.
“I should be selling you on all the amazing things we’ve done,” George said after a moment. “But instead I’m rattling my chains of regret at you. Don’t mind me. I’m selling my life’s work. I’m proud of ECT. The company is the best around. It’s my decisions that I’m bitter about. I made my own decisions. I chose to be CEO. I chose to focus on the money. It’s why ECT is so successful today.”
Again, Nathan wasn’t quite sure what to say to that. This was one of the stranger meetings he’d had for a while. He was wondering if maybe having the meeting here rather than California really was a good idea.
He looked over at George and did a double take. For a moment, he saw himself in twenty years. He saw someone who had chased the allure of money and had only money to show for it. A lonely existence. A ghost of the future possibilities of his life, carrying golden chains.
He shook himself and the vision vanished. It was probably the altitude making him see things. He probably just needed to hydrate better. He tossed his coffee into a trashcan and looked around at where they were.