Roy spoke to Hattie anyway.
“You don't need defend me.”
“He was wrong.”
“People are wrong for free.”
“You cannot fight all of them.”
“I didn't fight.”
“You compared him to appliance.”
“He started.”
Roy sighed.
“Hattie.”
She crossed arms.
Then asked:
“Do you like Adrienne?”
Roy nearly drove off road.
They were in van.
“What?”
“You heard.”
“No.”
“That's not answer.”
“She's my client.”
“Not anymore.”
Technically true.
The audit contract had ended.
Adrienne had offered Roy a permanent role.
Vice President of Technical Integrity.
Salary more than Roy had ever made.
Bonus.
Benefits.
Car allowance.
Stock.
Roy said no.
Adrienne thought he was negotiating.
He was not.
“Why?”
she demanded.
“Because vice presidents spend time in meetings.”
“You already spend time in meetings.”
“I hate them.”
“I can reduce.”
“No.”
“More money?”
“No.”
“Better title?”
“Worse.”
She stared.
“What do you want?”
Roy had answered:
“A shop.”
Adrienne blinked.
“What?”
“Independent.”
“Not yours.”
“Not Warren’s.”
“Mine.”
“I audit.”
“Troubleshoot.”
“Train.”
“Clients hire because they want second opinion.”
“You can contract with it.”
“Other companies can too.”
Adrienne stared.
“You want me to help finance a company I don't control.”
“No.”
“I want you to be first customer.”
That made her smile.
Roy formed Machado Technical Integrity LLC.
Hattie hated name.
“Boring.”
“Accurate.”
“Needs animal.”
“No.”
“Machado Falcon.”
“No.”
“Machado Wolf.”
“Absolutely not.”
She designed logo anyway.
Roy removed wolf.
Kept simple line.
The business began with Roy.
Then Danny.
That surprised people.
Danny came to him six months after remediation.
“I want out of Sable.”
“Why?”
“They promoted me.”
“That is terrible.”
Danny laughed.
“I don't want management.”