Under His Skin

CHAPTER ONE

Chapter 1

June26, 2015

Nick

When I walked into the meeting that morning I never expected to hear her name. Ten years ago, I founded a software company. Initially we began as a small start-up. It was just me, Petey and Joey in the beginning. I brought Petey and Joey on to help after I developed my first program. Petey has been my best friend since the fifth grade when I moved into the area. As a kid, I was really awkward and Petey was the first person to befriend me. We had a lot in common back then. Neither of us was very athletic. We both loved Star Trek and action figures. As we grew older that love of action figures translated into an obsession with gaming systems. Between computers, gaming systems and my love of math I found my passion for software development, -especially gaming software.

My company had grown quite a bit over the last ten years and my main focus then shifted to my CEO duties: I became the chief strategist, product marketer, lead salesperson, and lead product developer. Having started a company from the ground up, I knew how hard it could be and I liked to give back to the community that helped me become a success. About three years ago I started a fund called Progetto Aiuto, a nod to my Italian heritage. P.A. was a fund that was intended to help starting or struggling businesses. Local businesses looking for investors were encouraged to apply for grants through the P.A. fund. We usually toured the business, looked over the financials and followed their social media presence as a way to get a feel for the companies. Every three months the board that I created for Progetto Aiuto, which included Petey, who now went by, Peter or just Pete, and I held a meeting to discuss which business we would pick for that quarter.

It was Friday and I was geared up for the weekend. I usually let the board decide which business we chose, chiming in only when absolutely necessary. I was zoning out just a little bit thinking about my upcoming ski trip, when Jay, the director of P.A. started to name off some of the businesses that were under consideration this month.

“We have five businesses to consider this time around. Yesterday I met with a small business that’s looking to expand by opening a second location and selling merchandise online,” Jay said.

“What type of business is it?” Pete asked.

“It’s a clothing boutique: Bree Elle Boutique on Main Street. They need help tying together both locations on a network and keeping track of inventory, along with billing and payroll for the sales associates.”

“Sounds simple enough. When are you meeting with them again, and who’s the owner?” Pete asked.

“Well, we have some other businesses scheduled first. We have an appointment three weeks from Monday on July thirteenth at 9am. We’re set to meet with the owner before the store opens. Her name is Addison McDaniels.”

I shook out of my mental fog and looked up just as Pete looked at me.