And placed the functioning demonstration movement inside a protective wooden case.
He also consulted an attorney through a small-business assistance program about how to document his original work before sharing it.
The attorney recommended keeping dated records and using an appropriate written agreement governing the evaluation.
Her father followed the advice as well as he could.
He wasn't naive.
He knew companies protected their interests.
But he also believed that skilled people could recognize genuine craftsmanship regardless of where it came from.
On the morning of the meeting, his daughter stood beside him in their apartment.
He wore a neatly pressed charcoal suit.
His shoes were polished.
A carefully folded pocket square rested in his jacket.
He looked nervous.
She had never seen him nervous about a watch.
“Daddy?”
He turned.
“Yes?”
She held out a small piece of paper.
He took it.
On the page was a drawing of a watch.
Inside the circular dial, she'd drawn an eight-pointed star.
He smiled.
“What's this?”
She looked proud.
“A good luck charm.”
He examined the star.
“Eight points?”
She nodded.
“Because I was eight when you showed me the first part.”
Her father looked toward her.
His expression softened.
Then he folded the paper carefully.
“I'll keep it with me.”
She smiled.
“Promise?”
He nodded.
“Promise.”
Before leaving, he kissed her forehead.
Her mother straightened his tie.
Then whispered something that made him laugh.
The girl didn't hear the words.
But she remembered the way her parents looked at each other.
Hopeful.
Nervous.
Together.
That afternoon, her father walked into Aster & Vale's New York development office carrying the prototype that represented seven years of work.
He expected difficult technical questions.
He expected criticism.
He even expected the company to decline the project.
What he didn't expect was the way the meeting began.