‘Number one,’ Jacob mused. ‘Go to at least one new country a year.’
‘Not going to happen.’
‘Number two … climb a mountain.’
‘Absolutely not!’
‘Number three—’
‘Stop!’ Olivia scribbled out the markings he’d made in the sand. ‘This is stupid. I’m not a kid – I don’t need some fantasy list about becoming an actress or eating chocolate cake every day. You asked for my plan, and I gave it to you.’
‘Fair enough.’ Jacob sat up, clearly unbothered by Olivia’s little tantrum. ‘Can I ask a serious question about the plan?’
‘If you have to.’
‘Why do you have to wait so long to set up your own business? Why don’t you do it now?’
‘I don’t have enough experience yet. I’ll need funding and a client base, and right now I’m too young to do it alone.’
‘Hmm, those seem like excuses. Not real reasons.’
Olivia tried hard to keep her voice measured.
‘No offence, but I think I know my industry a little better than you do.’
‘I don’t doubt that you do, but sometimes those on the outside have a better perspective than those on the inside.’
‘How very profound of you.’
‘I’m just offering my opinion.’ He flicked a grain of sand in Olivia’s direction. ‘Do you have a name for your business?’
‘No.’
‘Come on! You’re telling me you haven’t already pictured the name, the little slogan that will go at the bottom of all your emails and company stationery?’
‘I haven’t.’ Olivia saw the mock-up she’d drawn on a Post-it at home, the different fonts she’d played with and the logos she’d sketched. ‘I have other, more important things to do than play pretend. When the time is right and I need the name, then I’ll think of it.’
‘How about …’ He scrunched up his face in thought. ‘Wait, what do you do again?’
‘I’m a business consultant.’
‘OK, I’ll ask the question again.’ He laughed. ‘What do you actuallydo?’
‘I help companies become more efficient and improve their output. Ideally by motivating the existing workforce and inspiring people to do better.’
And not firing people as though they mean nothing.
‘OK, I’ve got it,’ he announced proudly. ‘Jackson Green Consulting. Putting people first …always.’
‘No.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because—’
‘OK, how about Jackson Green Consulting,’ he cut her off. ‘Making people our priority.’
‘It wasn’t the tag line I had a problem with. It was the fact your name was featuring in my company.’
