I settle into the conversation,tension melting away.
Me: Someone bought Ghost as a puppy thinking wolf hybrids make good pets. When he got too big and wild, they dumped him in the mountains. He was half starved when I found him.
Unknown:That's awful. How did you gain his trust?
Me: Patience and a lot of raw meat. Ghost doesn't trust easily, but once you prove you won't abandon him, he's loyal for life.
Unknown:Sounds like he found the right person.
Somethingin that message makes me pause. She doesn’t know about my tech empire or bank account, but somehow, she understands that I know what it's like to be abandoned.
Me: What about you? Any rescue animals?
Unknown:I had a rescue cat named Trouble, but she passed last year. I keep thinking about getting another pet, but my schedule is demanding.
Me: What kind of marketing do you do?
Unknown:Beauty industry. Social media campaigns, influencer partnerships, brand management. It's not exactly saving wildlife, but it pays the bills.
I can hearher dismissing her own work, like it doesn't measure up to what she believes I do.
Me: Don't sell yourself short. Every job has value.
Unknown:Even alphabetizing sock drawers?
Me: Okay, maybe not EVERY job.
Unknown:So, what's your actual job title? Professional wildlife wrangler? Mountain hermit?
The question hits a nerve.I can't tell her I'm a tech billionaire without changing everything between us. But I can't keep lying either.
Me: I do freelance wildlife management consulting. Remote areas, problem animals, situations requiring someone comfortable working alone.
It's not exactly a lie.I do track and document wildlife behavior, even if it's more hobby than profession now.
Unknown:That sounds perfect for someone who prefers animals to people.
Me: Most of the time, animals are more honest than humans.
Unknown:Most of the time?
Me: Animals don't pretend to be something they're not. They don't have ulterior motives. A wolf wants food and territory and pack safety. Simple.
Unknown:And people are complicated.
Me: People want things they won't ask for directly. They say one thing and mean another. They disappear when things get difficult.
I hit send beforeI can stop myself, then immediately regret the bitter honesty.
Unknown:Sounds like you've been hurt by people who didn't deserve your trust.
Her response is gentle,understanding, without trying to fix me.
Me: Something like that. What about you? Besides Derek the Calculator, what's your dating history like?
Unknown:A series of men who looked good on paper but turned out boring in person. I'm starting to think genuine connection is a myth.
Me: Maybe you're looking in the wrong places.
