“What are we working on over here?” Xavier asked as he picked up a green crayon from the table. Parker told him we were drawing a dragon that destroys trucks and Xavier nodded solemnly as if that were the most important project in the room.
He leaned toward me and spoke loudly enough for the surrounding tables to hear every single word he said. “The draft you sent for the Tokyo keynote was brilliant, especially the section about innovation being born from silence,” he remarked.
Jeffrey looked like he was about to faint as he asked how it was possible that I had written that famous speech. Xavier laughed and told him that people at his level do not write their own material because they hire the absolute best talent available.
“Your sister is the best in the business,” Xavier added while I watched the color drain from my brother’s face. Jeffrey asked if I really worked for him and I explained that I worked for many high-profile leaders who valued my perspective.
“My schedule is booked through next year, but I always make time for Xavier because he respects the craft,” I said. Xavier nodded in agreement and told everyone within earshot that my work was worth every penny he paid.
A few executives tried to approach the table to pitch their ideas to him, but he told them he was busy coloring and they would have to email him later. They backed away in embarrassment while Jeffrey stood there looking like a broken statue.
“Shouldn’t you go back to your bride now?” Xavier asked him in a voice that was soft but incredibly sharp. Jeffrey muttered a response and hurried away while the rest of the guests watched him with newfound pity.
The rest of the evening was a complete reversal of power as the waiters began bringing the finest champagne and desserts to Table Nineteen. People who had ignored me for years suddenly found reasons to walk past our corner and offer me their business cards.
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