Page 130 of Damaged Mogul
“Yeah, my ego was crushed. I was certain I wouldn’t survive, and if I did, I knew I wouldn’t recover. I had nothing to offer compared to a rich, star quarterback.”
“But you did. Her boyfriend ignored her. You listened and you created a video game for her.” Lily shakes her head. “Blair was severely misguided.”
“True, but revenge is so sweet.”
“How so?”
“Blair turned her nose up at a game that came to be loved by hundreds of millions of users.”
“Note to self, don’t piss off Gage.”
“Damn right.”
“Details. I want details.”
I’m happy to oblige. “Out of spite, I kept perfecting the codes. Eventually, I made the game public. I had invested so much time and sweat equity in it. Why not allow others toenjoy it? Given Blair’s reaction, I didn’t expect much. To my surprise, it became a hit, real fast. My half-sisters who were working in showbusiness at the time, connected me with the right people who helped me with trademarks and other legalese. I ended up forming a corporation at the tender age of eighteen, with my sisters and my mom as board members.”
“So gifted at such a young age.”
“I had the skills, but I owe the women in my life for believing in me. They were convinced I had something big on my hands. I decided to ride the wave. Lo and behold, a few years later, Mattel approached me, wanting to buy me out. We’re talking about a life-changing offer. I took the money and moved on. I was twenty years old, and I was rich. My sisters and Mom benefitted handsomely as well. With my pockets lined with money, I set my sight on a new challenge.”
“Your streaming music service?”
“No. DJing.”
“Why DJing?”
“I wanted to travel the world, but I didn’t want to rough it like a bohemian, and I didn’t want to use all the money I earned from the sale of RodeoDoll. I learned from one of the best DJs in Los Angeles. Little by little, I was getting booked. I made a name for myself and became one of the most in demand DJs in LA and Vegas. When the international bookings poured in, I packed my bags and I was off traveling the world.”
“Do DJs get paid well?”
“It was good money,” I say, “but the perks were the wow factor.”
“What kind of perks?”
“The most epic parties and the privilege of rubbing elbows with celebrities.”
“Sweet.”
“Although I was only spinning records in the club scene, Iwas viewed as a rock star. I even had a Swedish heiress commission me to DJ her wedding to a Finnish billionaire—two dynasties merging as one. Not only did she fly me on a private jet, but she paid me a fortune for the wedding night reception and two nights of post-wedding parties, on top of putting me up in the most luxurious Stockholm hotel. It was wild.”
“I feel a but coming.”
I wink. “But, I was constantly jetlagged. Since I never stopped coding, I combined my love for music and my computer skills together to establish myself as a leader in the music streaming business. The concept behind StreamCloud was a natural progression. I poured my heart and soul into the project—much like I had with RodeoDoll. In no time it became the world’s largest online community of artists, bands, DJs, and audio creators. In the process, it also became the number one platform to stream and listen to music online for free. It’s still ads-free. With StreamTunes overshadowing it and competitors entering the market, it’s no longer a leader in terms of platforms built for new artist discoverability, but it made its mark.”
“I didn’t know that belonged to you.”
“It does. That’s how I cut my teeth. StreamCloud acted as a springboard to StreamTunes.”
“That explains why you’re the brooding, grumpy type––I mean, so serious all the time––there are too many computer codes colliding in your head.”
I stifle a chuckle.
“Watch it, little girl.”
She laughs her head off.
Her exuberance is contagious––almost enough to thaw my frozen heart. Almost.
