L THE TYCOON

Sadly Married

LISA

"Ladies and gentlemen, World's Top Tycoon of the Year award goes to...
none other than...
Lisa Manoban!
Wow! Just 5 years in a row!"

The speaker spoke my name and here I am again, dragging myself up to the stage as I forcefully smile for the media and the audience.
Another award.
Just delivered a long speech. No, not long. It's just a short "Thank you.". Then walked fast down the stage. That's it.

Should I be happy? I should.
But it's just so hard to be happy.

I am Lisa Manoban. Sometimes, I wish I can turn back time in a snap.
How I wish I can make my own decisions in life and be happy. Just be happy.

I am sad. I am hopeless. I have a toxic relationship with my wife. I am not in love with her. I can't. I just can't. I can't force myself to love her.
I know I can get a divorce anytime but- but she needs me.
But I can't take this anymore. I am not happy. I am losing myself. I am desperate to be really really happy.

I am a well-known business tycoon in the chain of restaurant industry. A well-known chef before that.
I didn't finish my studies due to unexpected happening as result of my favorite decision in life— love. It was the happiest time of my life even if it was the most painful, too. A sad story. They say, we always don't get what we really want. So, here I am to where I am destined to be.
Being the boss of my own company that runs famous fastfood and restaurant chains in Europe. And not only that, it reached the US and we're starting to bloom branches in some parts of Asia little by little.

Every time I am asked why my business grew so fast when I started at the age of 20, I always tell them it's passion. I love cooking since I was 10. I worked as a cook when I was 18. Then became a chef of my first ever branch in Milan. My heart was broken so I did my best to divert my attention to my craft and started branching out in Germany and Spain. I got my first ever award as the best Chef in Europe on my initial business break on its prime year. I can't remember how it happened. Let's just say, every food I make comes from the heart. Thanks to my famous recipe, the Q stroganoff. It all comes from love actually. Love.

I am born and raised in Italy by my parents. My mom is Thai and my dad is Swiss. They just chose to live here for their restaurant business after they got married. So yeah, it runs in the blood. But never in my wildest dream to be associated with my parents' business. My dad is a famous chef also. He has a lot of restaurants. But I have been working on my own. You will know why I am not taking over his business later.

So about my restaurant, it started with a single defective truck booth that roams around Milan. My best friend V is the one who drives it and I cook and serve for the customers wherever we land. In short, we are a travelling booth truck. So that's how it started until I got to build my own fusion restaurant that stays in place.
Q.
I named it Q.
Simple as it is.
Remarkable by its name and customers keep coming back because of the taste.

Here I am now, walking out towards the door while V  runs after me. He is my company's Vice President. Why not? He's the only person who never left my side when I was at my lowest and when everyone did turn their back away from me.

"Hey, wait up! You're too fast!"
He's screaming and couldn't catch me.

"See you tomorrow, man! I want to be alone. Present to me all Q's design in every city we're putting a branch at. Especially the ones in some parts of Asia. Bye!"
I told him as I enter my car. Threw the trophy at the backseat, fastened my seatbelt and switched on the engine.