A new computer was supplied for her and she continued on with her demonstration. Of course, the wind had been taken out of the sails of the security portion of her speech, so she opted to skip on to the ultra high definition features of her new monitors, and to demonstrate the music and photo editing software, the things that hit really bit with her target market.
And when she was done, she opted to dodge the press. She dashed off the stage, cursing and taking a water bottle from the cooler in the back, then jammed her sunglasses onto her face and took her black leather bag from her assistant.
“Car?” she asked.
“Out back. Press is being baited by a fake car out front.” Thad picked something off the shoulder of her black T-shirt. “Stray hair,” he said.
“Thanks.” For everything. She wanted to cling to her assistant and cry right then, but Thad would scold her for smudging her makeup, and she shouldn’t show that kind of weakness anyway. Because the weak were unceremoniously devoured, in life and in business, and she didn’t show vulnerability anymore for that very reason. She knew that all too well.
What she would do was go home to her mansion on the seaside, look out the window at the view and eat a gallon of ice cream. Oh, yes, calories, here she came. And then…oh and then she was going to plot her revenge against Ferro Freaking Calvaresi.
She pushed open the back door and got into the limo that was waiting, closing the door tightly behind her.
“Hi.”
Her head whipped to the side and her jaw went slack. There was Ferro and his mocking smile, in the very male flesh.
“What the—? What are you doing in my car?”
“It’s my car. These limos all look alike.”
“Well, what did you do with my car?”
“I sent your driver on. Told him you had a ride. And a meeting. With me.”
“Was that a meeting for me to punch you in the face for that stunt you just pulled?”
“Are we suddenly forgetting about what happened at my last product launch?”
Julia bit the inside of her cheek. “What?”
“All of the swag bags at the product reveal for Datasphere’s new smartphone had your OnePhone in it. And then you had that slogan projected on the wall…”
“OnePhone to rule them all.” She laughed. “It never gets old.”
“It’s old.”
“Disagree. But anyway, the fact is, your presentation wasn’t nearly as high profile as mine. A bunch of tech heads getting their specs fix. My presentations are events.”
“Only because you make a spectacle about every product you unveil.”
“It’s my signature, okay? People like it. It caters to my clientele. I’m a trend, Calvaresi. You should try it sometime.”
“A trend, huh? Why don’t you ask acid-washed jeans how that worked out?”
“I’m an evolving trend,” she bit out. “My products stay relevant.” She leaned back in the seat and the car started moving. “Where are we going?”
“My office.”
“I’m done working for the day,” she said.
“No, Julia, you aren’t. Not unless you want to miss out on the chance of a lifetime.”
“I just had the chance of a lifetime in there.” She looked down at her manicure. Her hands didn’t even look like hers anymore. No more chips and glitter. Her rough edges were being polished away nicely. Well, the rough edges of her looks. The social thing was a bit harder. She could cover the geek girl up with paint and cool clothes, but she was still there. She could just never show that poor, weak vulnerable girl to the world. Never again. “I get chances of a lifetime all the time.” She looked back up at him. “Chances most people never get. Why? Because I work hard. Because I’m a genius, yes. But the hard work, too. That means, if I pass up this chance of a lifetime, another one will happen before dinner.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it.”
“You seem so sure.”
Ferro leveled his dark gaze at her, a smile curving his lips. “You’ve been contacted by Barrows.”
“How did you know that?”
His smile widened. “I wasn’t sure until just now. But so have I. And so has Hamlin. We’ve all been tapped to design the new navigation system for their fleet of luxury cars.”
“Have we?” she asked, keeping her voice monotone. This offer had been about the biggest thing to hit since her One Phone had become the bestselling mobile device in the United States. A chance to have her devices in cars all over the world? A huge deal. Massive. And she was apparently dealing with stiff competition if she hoped to get it.
“We have. And if you want it, I can help you get it.”
“I don’t need your help.”
His expression didn’t falter. “You do. I’ve made you look incredibly vulnerable. A bit inexperienced and unprepared, even. You may need my help more than you realize.”
She gritted her teeth. It was the v word she hated most. “Catch.”
“What?”
“Catch, Calvaresi, what’s the catch?”
“You’ll be seeing a lot more of me,” he said, winning smile firmly in place. Ugh. He was so annoying. And hot. Which was even more annoying.
“Why? Because if you intend to pull more stuff like this, you can bet I won’t be happy about seeing more of you.”
“Most women are very happy to see more of me.”
“Most women don’t rival you for net worth and the position as head of the most profitable tech company in the world. Boom. Headshot.”
“Most women are also not such a spectacular pain in my ass. But I’m willing to let it go for the greater good.”
“Greater good?”
“I’ll be straight with you. I can’t land this account. Neither can you. I lack the…simplicity that your technology has.”
“You aren’t user friendly.”
“I haven’t dumbed anything down to create mass appeal unless necessary.”
“Snob.”
“Anyway,” he continued. “I lack the tech necessary to make the navigational devices simple and smooth for the average driver. You lack the sheer power I possess. You know my processors are superior to yours and they last longer. Hamlin, well, he can provide a mediocre
