Chapter 3.
"So you are JV Software. I have to say that I am very surprised. You look very young and even women."
"Sharp observation and even from that age. A guy that attentive immediately gets good starting points."
"Well, well, don't get all excited now. And you also have to accumulate points so that we can become partners. Shouldn't we go through our history a bit to know who we are?"
"Well, let's do it then. I'm Jane Dennison and that's Violet Henricks. That's what JV is about. We're both 26 and a bit new to the industry. We've graduated from the Community College as Associate of Applied Science. We know how to program and build web-based systems. We're having a bit of trouble getting projects. We managed to get one municipal project and it was completed, but it was a tough experience and, frankly, a loss for us. So we need a more experienced partner who could help us get new projects and even more important who has experience in making offers. So that they would not be absolutely shitty experiences like our first one. And then I'll say right from the start that we don't tolerate any sexist shit. You treat us as equal professionals or we'll walk right out of here and continue our search."
"Well, take it easy now. I've been with women all my life and I know how to behave. Because I'm much older, I can sometimes say something that I don't mean to be offensive, but you interpret it that way. Then you have to say it directly immediately and I promise to correct my behavior.
I'm Mark Googan, 42 years old and have been in the industry for almost twenty years. I work through my own company, Mark Googan IT-Services. I have experience in municipal projects and company projects. Yes, I can help in getting projects and I have experience in making offers."
"Yes, we googled you and called some of your clients from your reference list. They praise you very much and that's why we're sitting here. You're the fourth one we've interviewed. The other three seemed to be more interested in our panties than serious cooperation."
"Well, I'm not surprised. You're both incredibly beautiful and sexy women. I can well imagine that you have trouble being taken seriously in this industry. What made you imagine that this meeting would go any better."
"Well, you're married and you have children too. There were a couple of women on your reference list and they say you're okay."
"Yes, I'm married and have two children. A little younger than you. But I warn you that I'm currently separated from my wife, so the behavior can be in line with that, haha."
"Grose, this is exactly what we have to endure every day."
"Just kidding. But seriously, what bothers me is how do I know that you girls can do anything? I guess I can call you girls? That data science degree doesn't guarantee anything and you have nothing but that one project that went a little poorly. Could we have a look at that code from that previous project."
"Yes, we can do that. And yes we can be girls."
...
"Well, that looks really good. I wouldn't have built it just like that myself and you've clearly done much overlapping work. But the code does look quite proper. And that user interface is, frankly, beautiful. That's good work."
"We know how to code and we are hard working and we learn quickly when someone gives us advice. And just you know we're not getting married here. You can get rid of us as soon as you want."
"That's true. I can shed enough light on my background that I need distractions at the moment, so that I can keep my thoughts away from my wife. So this kind of an atypical cooperation pattern could very well suit me. On the other hand, I hate stress, so this should work without friction or I'll take a hike."
"Sounds confusing. What do you say Vi, do we give pops a chance?"
"Yeah, I kind of dig this dude. Maybe we can manage if he keeps his hands in check."
"Hah, no worries that way. I'm not much of a butt pincher. Do you have any plans for the next project, what have you been thinking about?"
"We have researched the entire municipality's tender site and there could be a few projects that are suitable for us. We just need to know how to put together an offer for them. That's not our best skill as we learned."
"OK, I'll open the laptop and you can show me"
"These were the three most promising. We thought we could offer them all, so there would be a better chance that one would come home."
"It doesn't work like that. You really don't seem to have a clue about the bidding process. Preparing a bid for municipal project is a damn big job. And an even bigger job is figuring out the amount of work. We have to choose only one of them. If I'm guessing, it will take a week from the three of us to get that offer ready."
"Oh, yeah! That's a bit of a surprise."
"Do you have an office where you work?"
"Hehhe, an office. In fact, we won't even have an apartment after this week, if we don't get next week's rent somewhere. Jane and I are frankly pretty screwed. Our previous project went way over our offer and all our money has been eaten. We wished you had a workspace and we would have crowded ourselves into some teeny tiny corner. We don't need a lot of space."
"I've always done the work at home or at the customer's site. I have a bit of a bold proposal that solves both problems: you can temporarily move to my place and we can work there."
"Whaaat, you have room for the two of us to work and bunk down? What would your wife say? Doesn't she live there? Is this some kind of plot to make her jealous? Are you trying to get us into your bed or something? We're not quite that easy. Now explanations or this meeting is over."
"My wife's name is Lana and no, she doesn't live with me. She lives in our shared home, where I left. This house I'm living in is my new purchase and strictly for my own use, and yes there is room for all of us. I just got it renovated. Frankly that's why I'm here. Now that the renovation is over, I desperately need something new to occupy me. Maybe someday I can tell you more about our marriage story, but for now it's enough for you to know that Lana is not a problem. Now the jealousy thing is a maybe, I have to think about that little more. I own the house and there is no rental costs."
"Is this some kind of plot where you demand sex in exchange for rent?"
"Yeah, I thought that from both once a day, hah hah."
"Don't dream, pops, at that rate you'd be begging us for a rent reduction by the end of the week."
"What will your relatives and Lana say about this highly irregular arrangement? Won't it arise aggravation if you have two young women living with you?"
"Listen, I don't give a damn anymore about what people or Lana say about me. I've had a difficult month behind me and my perspective on life has changed quite a bit. I'm only living in this moment now and I'm only interested in how I'll survive the next week without losing my mind. Two babes coding in their underwear in my living room would surely help to keep my mind off my marriage problems. So do we have a deal?"
"Hehhe, yeah, what makes you think we're going to work in underwear. You must have been watching a little too much porn, pops. But, what do you say Vi? I'm almost ready to try this. We don't have many options either."
"OK for me. And I don't see the problem with the uniform, since we're already used to it in our last project, hehhe."
"Hey really, that was just a joke. Let's go see the house right now. I'm quite proud of it. If it suits you, you can get your stuff and move in right away."
...
"Then we'll both have our own rooms. Can we use the gym? What about the kitchen? Is that Jacuzzi outside working?"
"Now let's start from that when you live here, we are all equal and everything is allowed. If I'm fed up with something, I promise to say so directly. I hope the same from you. Say directly and don't dwell on it. I don't need any drama from this living arrangement."
"What about the rent? There's just no money right now, but we can pay later."
"No."
"So what's a no?"
"Well, the rent. No rent. As I already said, I won't pay any rent from this either."
"Amazing, what about the food. Should we have some shifts or should we order in. It's just that we're a bit tight on money right now."
"I'm a pretty enthusiastic cook, so I cook every day anyway. I just cook a little more now. It comes for the same price, so no problem. The assistant cook's shifts are voluntary. Can you cook? I never got my children interested in it. It seems to me that young people rarely enjoy cooking these days."
"Well, there's nothing to brag about. Jane can make a mean chili, but no one can eat it without practicing. My skills end with an omelet."
"OK, sounds like a plan. Occasional omelet for breakfast, chili on the weekend and other days I cook and you eat."
"Hehhe, you're quite the case. I have to say that I'm slowly starting to warm to you. We'll see how long this lasts. Come on Vi, let's go unpack and then let's start the work."
"The greenish room for Violet and the brown one for you. Did I guess right?"
"Well, heck, how did you know that?"
"Make-up and clothes. Those colors suit you just perfectly."
"But those colors aren't really green and brown. What exactly are those?"
"They are very unique colors that I have chosen from the color chart. They can mix them with the RBG code at the store. Or even with the HTML color code."
"Oh yeah. They're great. I've never seen them anywhere. That exterior color of the house is also quite unique. It's also wonderful."
"It's Lana's eye color. It's my favorite color."
"Well, that's too cute now. You clearly still have work to do on that wife of yours."
"Huh, I guess so."
...
"That offer is starting to get ready. Did you get the last use case interviewed?"
"Yes, those workers over there were wondering why we're doing this even though we don't have the agreement. But who could oppose us now. I've already updated the workload calculation."
"Yes, I notice that this cooperation has its merits. It is usually much more difficult for me to get those interviews for one reason or another."
"Hey, don't say that, that feisty redhead, Helen, sent you greetings. She asked if I'll work for you and says that no one else does these advance interviews but you. You might very well have a chance with her."
"Thank you kindly, but I don't need any dating right now."
"I didn't understand at all that we have to define this project for that offer. It's been quite a task and what guarantees do we have that we'll even get it."
"There's the fact that now we know how much it will cost us to do it. Usually, companies put their bids at the top when they don't want to do this work that we just did. Our chances are better now that we dare to put a bid at the level, that it is profitable, but not too expensive."
"A couple of things should be decided before making the offer. First of all, what hourly price will we calculate that at."
"We'll be happy if we get paid 20 bucks an hour. You're probably used to something bigger."
"Whoah, guess what price I normally use in my offers?"
"Well maybe something like 60?"
"200"
"You're not serious! And you've gotten through them?"
"Damn right, I've been doing this for almost 20 years."
"Jeez Vi, we're going to get rich with this dude!"
"Since you're financially a bit stuck at the moment, let's play it safe and calculate that at an hourly rate of 150. That should come home when the homework is done. But you can never be sure about it. It's something like four months work in calendar. No messes with boyfriends or other drama can fit in. It means a full day, but no overtime. And no drama between us.
Then another thing. We cannot offer this in the name of two companies. It's too messy a pattern for them. I don't want partners in my company and I don't want to mess up your future affairs. I suggest we start a new company for this, what do you say?"
"I'm fine"
