Ivan parked outside of his apartment and laughed even harder.

He said, “You’re not alone with that love/hate relationship with the rich, trust me. I gotta go through that shit every day at my accounting offices. These rich clients will have you breaking your ass to do everything they want, just like you said, right now, while you gotta wait your ass off for them to pay you for it. But you wait it out for them anyway, because you know it’s bigger money. And that’s exactly where their power is, just having it.”

Lucina said, “I know. But in the meantime, we continue to make noise and make money so that the rich know that we are here. Okay, Ivan? So I will call you tomorrow with my new party ideas, and you call me tomorrow with yours.”

Ivan hung up with her and climbed out of his car. It was late October 2003, a solid five months since he had started his new promotions brand in June. And he had made great progress. But patience was indeed a virtue. He still lived at the same apartment, with the same car, the same clothes, and the same day job. However, his income potential had significantly increased.

“Just keep doing what you’re doing over time, big guy. It’s all about growth and stability. That’s all it is,” he mumbled to himself as he climbed to the second level of his complex.

Julio ran out to catch him before he reached his door.

“Hey, Ivan, I talked to my cousin for you, man.”

Ivan stopped and was all ears. “Oh, yeah. What he say?”

Before Julio answered, he noticed his neighbor’s new haircut.

“Oh, shit, you did it. You cut it all down.”

“Yeah, man, it was impulsive,” Ivan responded with a grin, using Lucina’s words.

Julio nodded and said, “It looks good on you.” He sized Ivan up in his light brown sports jacket and usual business clothes. Ivan was standing there waiting for his information, looking leaner and more important. Julio told him, “You look like a kick-ass businessman now. Like, my time is my money, you know, so don’t waste it.”

Ivan laughed. “So, the hair makes that much of a difference to you?”