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But then he snaps away; Orzo doesn’t wait for a response before stomping from the room. His thick, muddy footprints leaving behind the proof that I have rattled him.

But I have zero idea why, and I don’t have time to care.

I have a meeting to attend, and I already know it’s not going to end well.

4

This Carrot Isn’t For Cooking

Cinnamon

Cinnamon: Can you change the URL? I searched and it looks like .carrot is free but .com isn’t

Web designer: So it is that type of website. It will be an extra charge for discretion. Do you have a VPN set up for this?

Cinnamon: Vpn?

Web designer: I’ll add it on for another charge, otherwise the site will probably end up hacked

Cinnamon: Sure sounds good! Here’s the info I want included.

Confusion percolates through me at why my website would be hacked and why I would need a VPN.

Whatever that is.

But otherwise, this website designer seemed to know what they were doing. I had found them through a few searches online for the best one to start a website for my Knife for Hire business. The first few I found seemed wary, but this one had just asked a few questions and was good to go.

I guess needing it done ASAP was a turnoff.

Cinnamon: I’ll send you some pictures from my previous jobs, but can you make the price $50 per head and they will need to provide all supplies. Add on there I have flexibility and can work day or night. Can you put my email as the contact. And should I put my home address?

Web designer: no pictures!! No home address!! Use city.

Cinnamon: huh? Shouldn’t I show off my skills to be hired?

Web designer: Stop, please. Let me set up your VPN first. I’ll set you up a secure email as well. Can you send my payment via crypto?

Cinnamon: I trust you, just let me know when it’s done. Idk what crypto is, I have a credit card.

My fingers tap out the last message on the secure browser he insisted I use before clicking away to another page. Pulling it up, I continue to work on the logo for my new business.

My last ditch effort to stay out of my aunt’s pharmaceutical business. To follow my dream.

As I painstakingly use my minimal skills to make my design, my eyes flick up past my desk to the stove. About forty-five minutes have passed, but the logo still looks…bad.

Ding!

Flipping back to the secure browser, I find the web designer has sent over a lot of info all at once.

Web designer: Your website is ready to go. Before that I need you to download this app and set up the VPN, there will be antivirus software encoded as well, this was free of charge as I think you will need it. Opt in for the Kill switch, I have it programmed to secure the website if your VPN goes down for any reason. Once you have the VPN on you need to complete payment using this link. It will convert dollars to crypto. After the payment processes I will activate your website for you and provide your email login and password.

Is this what it’s like starting a website? This is such a pain.

Clicking on the first link for the VPN, I thrum my fingers as it downloads. Once it’s done, it seems to just open in the background.

What is even the point of that?

Next, I click on the link to make payment. I note it also ends in .carrot.