The sun was setting behind the hills of Beverly Hills, casting a golden glow over Vanessa's mansion. It had been a couple of weeks since Vanessa and I reconciled, and things had been... different, in a good way. There was an openness between us that hadn't been there before. She'd been more vulnerable, and I had tried to show her that I wasn't like the men who had hurt her in the past.
But as much as I loved Vanessa, and as much as being with her made me feel like I was in a whole new world, I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to do something for myself. I'd been back in LA for a while now, trying to figure out my next move, and it hit me: I wanted to start my own business again.
This time, though, I wanted to do it without Vanessa's help. I needed to prove to myself that I could build something on my own, without relying on her wealth or her connections. I had learned a lot from the restaurant failure, and I was ready to take another shot—on my terms.
We were sitting in her grand living room, a glass of wine in her hand, the fire crackling softly in the background. Vanessa was scrolling through something on her tablet, looking relaxed and radiant in a sleek, black dress. I had been pacing the room for the last few minutes, trying to figure out how to say what I needed to say.
"Vanessa," I said, finally breaking the silence.
She glanced up from her tablet, her dark eyes curious. "Yes, darling?"
I took a deep breath, feeling my nerves buzz. "I've been thinking... about starting my own business again."
Her expression softened, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "That's wonderful. I've been waiting for you to get back into it. You've always had such drive, Tristan."
I nodded, but then paused, the words getting caught in my throat. "Yeah, but... I want to do it myself this time. Without your help."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow, setting her tablet down on the table beside her. She leaned back, crossing her legs, her expression unreadable. "Without my help?" she repeated, her voice calm.
I nodded again, trying to keep my voice steady. "Yeah. I appreciate everything you've done for me, but I need to prove to myself that I can build something on my own. I don't want to rely on your money or your connections. I want to do this the hard way."
Vanessa stared at me for a moment, her eyes studying me carefully. For a brief second, I worried that she might take it the wrong way, that she might think I didn't want her support. But then she smiled—a soft, genuine smile that made my heart lighten.
"I understand," she said, her voice gentle. "You want to prove to yourself that you can do this without anyone else's help. That's admirable, Tristan."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Yeah. It's not that I don't want your support. It's just... I need to know that I can stand on my own two feet."
Vanessa stood up from the couch, walking over to me. She placed a hand on my chest, looking up into my eyes with a tenderness that made my heart skip a beat. "You don't have to explain. I get it. And I want you to know, I believe in you. You've got what it takes to succeed on your own."
I felt a surge of relief wash over me. "You really think so?"
She smiled, her fingers tracing small circles on my chest. "Absolutely. I've seen the way you work, Tristan. You've got drive, passion, and the willingness to learn from your mistakes. Those are the qualities that make someone successful."
I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Well, I've definitely made enough mistakes to learn from."
Vanessa chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "We all make mistakes. But it's what you do afterward that counts."
I looked down at her, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. Her encouragement meant more to me than I could put into words. "Thanks, Vanessa. I needed to hear that."
She leaned up and kissed me softly, her lips warm against mine. When she pulled back, there was a playful smile on her face. "Besides, I've always liked a man who takes risks."
I grinned, feeling my confidence return. "Well, you're looking at one."
We both laughed, and for a moment, the tension I'd been carrying melted away. Vanessa had always been supportive, but this was different. She wasn't just offering her help—she was encouraging me to take the reins, to be the man I wanted to be.
We sat back down on the couch, and I grabbed a notebook I'd been using to jot down ideas for the new business. Vanessa leaned against me, her head resting on my shoulder as I flipped through the pages.
"So," she said, glancing at the sketches and notes, "what's the plan? What are you thinking for this new venture of yours?"
I shrugged, still working out the details in my head. "I'm thinking about something tech-related. A platform that helps freelancers connect with clients more efficiently. The service industry is still kind of a mess when it comes to finding quality gigs, and I think I can streamline it."
Vanessa nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds promising. Have you thought about the funding?"
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "That's the tricky part. I don't have a lot of savings right now, so I'll need to bootstrap as much as I can. Maybe find a small investor if things start to pick up."
She looked at me, her expression serious. "You know I could—"
I held up a hand, cutting her off gently. "I know. But like I said, I want to do this without your help. I need to."
Vanessa smiled, giving me a small nod. "Alright. I'll respect that. But just know, if you ever need advice or guidance, I'm always here."
I smiled back, feeling grateful. "I know. And trust me, I'll take you up on that. Just no checks, okay?"
She laughed, swatting my arm playfully. "Fine. No checks."
We spent the rest of the evening talking about the business, bouncing ideas off each other. Vanessa had an incredible mind for strategy, and while I wasn't going to accept her financial help, I knew I'd be foolish not to listen to her insights. She had built her own empire, after all.
By the time the night drew to a close, I felt more confident than ever. I had a solid plan in place, and most importantly, I had someone in my corner who believed in me.
As we sat together in the dimly lit living room, Vanessa leaned in close, her voice soft. "You're going to make this work, Tristan. I know you are."
I kissed the top of her head, feeling a deep sense of peace settle over me. "I'm going to give it everything I've got."
And this time, I was going to do it on my own terms.
Q: Have you ever started your own business before?