“I already have plans.” I didn’t, but I wouldn’t be opposed to having dinner with Noah again.
“With who?”
I gave him my best are-you-fucking-serious face.
He raised his hands. “None of my business, I get it.”
“Okay, folks, we’re all set. Thank you for your patience,” Noah announced from the stage.
The big screen behind him filled with a photo of his family. I recognized Noah and Lex, although I didn’t know which one Lex was. I hadn’t realized his brothers were twins.
“Not another millennial. These conferences are becoming really predictable and boring,” Pierce complained. He must have taken my silence as agreement with his opinion because he continued, “PR people never know how to wear a suit. Creative types with mumbo-jumbo ideas that will never work in thereal world. Try pitching this to a boardroom filled with aging businessmen. What do these kids have to teach us?”
“Manners for a start. If this session isn’t for you, the door is only a few feet away.”
“Don’t be like that, baby. You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t know what you mean, and you’ve lost the privilege of calling me baby. My name is Lior. Now, either leave or let me listen to the speaker.”
He harumphed but stayed mercifully silent throughout the session.
Noah was astonishing. He spoke with clarity about his parents’ restaurant and how they’d found a way to make sure it would carry over to another generation, even though none of the children wanted to follow in their footsteps.
He talked about change and moving forward. Accepting who you are, your strengths, and how you can make it work even when working with family means you can’t fire them or kill them.
That got the audience laughing.
Pierce mumbled a few times, but I didn’t pay attention because I felt that Noah was speaking directly to me as a person and a business owner. He was good.
The audience stood in applause at the end. I joined them, ignoring Pierce, who remained seated.
Noah thanked the audience, his eyes scanning it until he found me. His smile widened.
I walked up to the side of the stage to wait for him. I wasn’t the only one. Many of the people in the audience wanted to ask him questions.
He gave out his business card and told everyone politely that his inbox was open.
“Congratulations. You were amazing up there,” I said at my earliest opportunity.
He walked toward the door with me. “Was it good? God, I was so nervous I thought I was going to shit my pants. And when the server went down.” He gasped. “The crew here is amazing. I’d have crumpled under the pressure.”
“Are you serious?”
He looked at me. “Yeah, why?”
“Noah, you were fucking brilliant. You’re a natural speaker, charismatic, funny, and you know what you’re talking about.”
His cheeks flushed a little.
“I could murder a coffee. Want to join me?” he asked.
“Do I get to pick your brains about your presentation?”
He laughed. “Sure.”
“Then let’s go.”
After letting me ask all the questions, Noah, amazingly, still stuck with me for the rest of the day. I was pretty sure he’d get tired and would want to network with other people.
