I could have gotten defensive. Could have pointed out that I work my ass off, that commission sales can be unpredictable, that comparing your current boyfriend to your ex is a shitty thing to do regardless of the context.
Instead, I just said, "You are probably right."
Her face changed immediately, like she had expected a fight and didn't know what to do with calm agreement.
"I mean, if money's the most important factor, then yeah, you probably should have stayed with him."
"That is not... I didn't mean it like that."
"Fair enough," I said, and signaled for the check.
We didn't talk much on the drive home. She tried to backtrack. Said she was just frustrated about her inconsistent income, that she didn't mean to compare us.
I nodded along, told her I understood, and dropped her off at her place with a kiss on the cheek, like everything was normal.
But something had shifted permanently. Not just between us, but in me.
I had grown up watching my dad work two jobs to keep us afloat. Learned early that you don't complain about your situation. You either accept it, or you change it.
And sitting in my truck outside her apartment that night, I made a decision. If she thought I wasn't making enough money, fine. I'd fix that.
Started working overtime immediately. Picked up weekend trade shows I would normally skip. Instead of Netflix nights with Alera, I was cold calling prospects and following up on leads. Gym every morning at 5:00 a.m., because I read somewhere that discipline in one area breeds discipline in others.
Found a mentor at work. This guy, Stellan, who had been in device sales for years and was pulling down mid six figures. Asked him to show me everything. Prospecting strategies, negotiation tactics, which accounts to prioritize. Took him to lunch twice a week and treated it like graduate school.
"Most people in sales are lazy," he told me. "They make their quota and coast. You want to get rich, work like your life depends on it every single day."
So, that is what I did.
Alera noticed the change, but not in the way I expected. Instead of being impressed by my drive, she seemed annoyed that I was less available.
Started making comments about me being all work and no fun. How I'd become boring since I started taking everything so seriously.
"It is like dating a robot," she said after I canceled our third dinner plan to handle a client emergency. "When did you become so obsessed with work?"
"Just trying to improve my financial situation," I said. "Thought that is what you wanted."
She got defensive. Said I was twisting her words, that she just wanted me to be more ambitious. But when I suggested she come to the gym with me, or spend a Saturday learning about real estate investing instead of brunch, suddenly my ambition wasn't the right kind.