Tami Tamietti arrived like a cold front from the lake—
sharp tongue, clean shoes, and an expression that said she'd already judged the room and found it lacking.
Luke noticed two things immediately.
First: she wasn't cruel.
Second: she was prepared to be.
That made her dangerous in a different way.
The Introduction
They met at a hospital charity mixer—one of those awkward half-philanthropy, half-networking events where donors pretended not to scan name tags.
Tami stood beside Brad, posture perfect, voice crisp.
"So," she said, eyes flicking over Luke's jacket, then his hands, "you're from the South Side."
Statement. Not question.
Luke smiled politely.
"Born and raised," he replied. "Still alive. Statistically impressive."
Brad choked on his drink.
Tami didn't laugh—but the corner of her mouth twitched.
Gold Coast Gravity
It didn't take long for the Tamietti gravity to show itself.
Dinner invitations that felt like interviews.
Side glances when Luke mentioned family.
Carefully neutral phrases like "different background" and "unique upbringing."
Tami's parents were old-money Chicago.
Doctors, donors, boards.
South Side was something you drove past, not through.
Luke didn't push back.
He redirected.
Negotiation, Not Confrontation
At a private dinner overlooking the lake, Tami's father finally said it aloud.
"You've done well," he said. "But… roots matter."
Luke set his fork down gently.
"Agreed," he said. "That's why I never cut mine."
Silence.
Then Luke continued—calm, measured.
"The South Side taught me risk management. Scarcity economics. Human behavior under pressure."
He met the man's eyes.
"That education built my company."
Tami's mother tilted her head. "Your company?"
Luke nodded.
"Second Nature Games. Privately held."
A pause.
"For now."
IPO Talk
The word changed the air.
"How soon?" her father asked, careful to sound casual.
"Eighteen to twenty-four months," Luke replied. "Post-multiplayer expansion. Conservative valuation north of eight figures."
Brad stared.
Tami looked at Luke—not impressed, not suspicious.
Curious.
"You didn't lead with that," she said later, by the window.
Luke shrugged. "I don't like being liked for the wrong reasons."
She studied him for a long moment.
"You're not trying to escape where you're from," she said slowly.
"You're building something on top of it."
Luke nodded.
"That's the only kind of growth that lasts."
A Shift
The judgment didn't vanish.
But it softened.
Questions replaced assumptions.
Interest replaced dismissal.
By the end of the night, Tami's father shook Luke's hand properly.
"Let us know when you ring the bell," he said.
Luke smiled. "You'll hear it."
After
As they walked out into the city lights, Tami exhaled.
"Most guys from your background either overcompensate or get defensive," she said.
"You didn't."
Luke glanced at her. "Didn't need to."
She laughed this time.
"Good," she said. "Because I don't date projects."
Luke met her gaze.
"Neither do I."
System Note:
Negotiation Skill — Effective Use Confirmed
Social Tier Conflict: Successfully Managed
Narrative Branch:Tami Tamietti — Stable Integration Path Opened
The Gold Coast didn't swallow the South Side.
It learned to respect it.