Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“Good morning.” He nodded. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Your timing is actually perfect.” Ellie smiled. “Each mentor gave an introduction, and we just finished up with the last person. So, if you’re ready, the floor is yours.”
I’d listened to everything the mentors had said so far, but suddenly I sat up a little taller, eagerly awaiting what this mysterious man might have to say.
He took a step forward. “Good morning and welcome. My name is Jagger Langston, and I founded Apex seven years ago. I started this mentorship program because I remember what it felt like to be overlooked, to be young and full of fire but have no idea what to do with it or where to aim.” He smirked. “Or in my case, to aim at the wrong place and get yourself into trouble.”
Everyone chuckled, and he continued. “My mentorship program was a little different than this one—mine was in the United States Marines—but the three principles you’ll learn here are the same.” He counted on his fingers. “One, you’ll be trusted with responsibility, even though you’ll think you’re not ready. That will teach you confidence and the power of your voice. Two, you’ll learn to value your team members. Right now, many of you are looking at the people sitting around the table as your competitors, but they’re not. They are your best resources. And three, you’ll learn strategic thinking. You’ll see how small decisions can impact the bigger picture and learn firsthand why it’s important to have a long-term goal and make sure that each initiative you engage in is a step toward achieving that goal.
“I started this program six years ago and acted as one of the mentors,” he added after a moment. “The following year, I was traveling a lot, so I took a step back. I’ve been meaning to participate again, but something always comes up. So when this fell into my lap two hours ago, I took it as a sign.” He looked over at me and held my eyes. “In a world full of distractions, sometimes we’re redirected and forced to focus on what we’re meant to see.”
Then Jagger looked away as if he hadn’t just rocked my world. He went on for probably another ten minutes, but I was stuck on his introduction. Did he think I was what he’s meant to see? Or was I reading into what he’d said, hearing something innocent the way I wanted to hear it? Either way, my whole body was still buzzing when he finished.
“Thank you, Jagger,” Ellie said. “If you don’t mind, would you also share your hobbies with everyone? I play a little game where the interns have to guess who they’ve been matched with. The winner gets a fun prize.”
He nodded. “Of course. I pretty much like anything outdoors. I’m an avid snowboarder, master scuba diver, and I love to travel.” His eyes moved back to me. “I guess you could say I’m adventurous—the kind that always takes the dare over the truth.”
DARE. My eyes widened, and I sucked in a sharp breath that was so audible, I had to cover it up with a fake cough.
Jagger smiled at the interns sitting on the other side of the table, but the look on his face was unmistakable. The mention of dare was definitely not a coincidence. And I’d forgotten about our similar hobbies. That’s what had gotten us matched up to begin with. My heart started to pound.
Ellie told us all to write down who we thought each intern’s mentor might be, and then she announced the pairs. I got three out of the first four right, and then it was down to just me and one other unassigned intern—who happened to have gone to the same college as Jagger. But Jack hadn’t been matched up yet either. So it could go either way. Anxiety pulsed through me as I waited for Ellie to announce the next pairing. I wasn’t sure whether I was nervous that Jagger might be my mentor or that he might not be.
“Ben,” Ellie said, “your mentor will be Jack Gallo.”
***
“Have a seat.” Jagger gestured to the guest chairs on the other side of his desk. “I need to speak to my assistant for a moment.”
He stepped out of his office, leaving me to look around. Tall windows showcased the New York City skyline. I bet it was amazing at night. There was a conference table to the left with eight chairs around it, and the right side of the room held a more intimate seating section with a couch and two matching upholstered chairs. Built-in bookshelves lined the wall behind the desk. I leaned forward for a closer examination of those.
Four of the six shelves were packed with books. I perused the titles with interest. What someone reads can tell you a lot about the person. Jagger’s were mostly nonfiction—bestsellers about Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, books about coding and the stock market, nothing uniquely personal. The shelves above held some awards and framed photos—one of him in a cap and gown, standing with a woman I thought might be his mother, one of him surrounded by people as he rang the bell at NASDAQ, and another of a woman with her arms around two little girls. But the one I spent the most time checking out was of him in military fatigues. He was smiling, his arms stretched out around a group of six men. He looked different, younger and with short, buzzed hair, but there was no mistaking those striking blue eyes and the sharp cut of his jawline. Next to it was a small framed photo of a little boy wearing only a diaper and a military combat helmet that was five sizes too big for his head. I picked it up to look for resemblance, wondering if it was him, but there was none.