I walked into the nearest coffeeshop I could find. It was just a two-minute walk from the hotel.

I ordered the double-espresso-shot American and sat down at an empty table by the bay windows. I didn’t have much time. I had a meeting to get to in an hour.

The business was well-established. I had surrounded myself with a core team of competent men and women who took care of the business for me. I’d spent years recruiting the right fit for the team and now I was in a position to take it a little easy. I had time to enjoy a coffee before a meeting.

The truth was, I needed the caffeine before this particular meeting. I needed the extra kick.

Seven years of hard work had produced these results — I was a self-made billionaire at the age of thirty. My business was the highest grossing construction company in the country. I had done it all by myself, without the help of any guardians in the industry.

In the seven years of trading, I had absorbed several other companies into mine, giving me the upper hand. I now monopolized the country’s west coast. There was no other brand that was as big as mine, more reliable or more profitable.

It took years of hard work, sleepless nights and picking the right employees. I believed in team work, and I made sure my employees were rewarded for it. In just a few years, Morin Constructions became the most attractive company to work for. My HR team received thousands of CVs on a regular basis, but we hired nobody, in any of the offices of the country—not without my personal approval.

That was what I was in Chicago for.

My head of recruit, Ralph Jones, had come into my office two weeks ago and informed me that there was a particular person he had his eye on for our team. According to Ralph, this person would be ideal for our expansion plans in South America. The only problem was that the woman in question worked for a non-profit organization. She had refused to entertain any of Ralph’s calls or requests for a meeting.

After hearing Ralph list out her CV’s finer points, I knew what he meant. She would be perfect. This woman was involved in charitable construction projects all over the world, focusing on countries in Africa and South America. She had loads of contacts, lots of bureaucratic experience, and would be invaluable to my team.

Once I’d settled in with my coffee now, I slipped my phone out. I opened up the professional profile of the woman in question. I’d looked her up the same day that Ralph had mentioned her to me.

I was now staring at a professionally taken photograph of Elsie Carr on my phone. The first time Ralph told me her name, which was two weeks ago, I’d done a double take.

“Did you say, Elsie Carr?” I clarified. Ralph had sensed the tension in my voice. I was aware that my team walked on eggshells around me. Morin Constructions may have been a prized company to work at, but those who worked closely with me were aware that I had a temper.

I wasn’t an easy boss to please.

“Yes, Sir, Elsie Carr.” Ralph double-checked the file in his hand. He didn’t want to get it wrong.

I couldn’t believe it, and I’d looked her up online instantly. I would have recognized her face anywhere.

Now, I was staring at her again on my phone. It seemed like the past ten years hadn’t changed her much. Her hair had grown longer. She now wore her straight chestnut hair to the middle of her shoulders. But she had the same heart-shaped face, the blue eyes and the thick lashes. In this photograph she was in a formal-looking blouse, with her arms crossed over her chest.

I couldn’t quite tell if there were any changes in her. That would have to wait till I met her in person.

For two weeks I toyed with the idea of whether to come to Chicago or not. I couldn’t decide if it was a bad idea. Would she even want to see me?

In the end, my desire to add her to my team overpowered my doubts. I couldn’t give up this opportunity. She would be perfect for my team, and what if she said yes? She might not refuse an old friend. What happened between us was a long time ago. Ten years to be precise. We were both just kids back then.

So, here I was in Chicago. The plan was to just walk into Elsie’s office and surprise her. Ralph and the rest of the recruitment time were hopeful that I would be able to sway her.

Today was the day. After ten years of no contact, today was the day I would speak to Elsie again.

I knew nothing else about her. Where she lived, if she was married or had a family. All I remembered was the girl who lived next door to me. The girl I’d grown up with and who was my first friend.

Now when I thought about her…I hadn’t thought about her in several years…I wondered, had she been the biggest support system of my childhood?

Would I be the person I was now if it wasn’t for her? Had Elsie helped me become the self-made billionaire everyone knew me as?

I emptied the hot coffee down my throat and stood up. I had her official address on my phone. All I had to do was call a cab and walk in to her office.

For the first time in several years, though, I was nervous.

I thought I had nerves of steel. I was well known for them. Nothing broke me. Nothing made me doubt myself. It’s what made me successful at this business.

Now, here I was, standing in the middle of a coffeeshop and too nervous to take another step.