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He did so without question, and watched as she tapped away at the screen furiously. “That’s just the Beta version. Most of the pieces are mock-ups. We’re still getting our networks in place. But spend some time navigating it and you’ll see where this can go.”
He looked down at the screen, then back at Carrie. “Fine. I’ll do so, later.”
He watched as she lifted a single piece of torn lettuce into her mouth.
“So?” She asked, putting her fork down and crossing her legs beneath the table. “You’ll invest?”
He let out a small laugh. “I’m seriously considering it.”
“What do you need, Gael? What will get you over the line?” Her eyes widened as she realised how he might construe her statement. “Oh! I don’t mean that.” She bit down on her lip. “I mean in terms of information. What else do you need to know?”
He smiled at her sardonically. “Let’s talk after dinner.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “I meant it, Gael. I’m not interested in some kind of sexual quid pro quo.”
“I’m very pleased to hear it,” he said seriously. “It removes the need I was feeling to rip Noris Newman’s head off.”
Her laugh was tremulous. “That was the first time I’d met Noris. Probably the last, thanks to you.”
“Disappointed?”
“No.”
“Something’s been bothering me,” he said pushing aside his empty gnocchi dish.
Carrie silently placed her own in front of him, her eyes sparking with challenge. She didn’t notice the anger that fizzed over Gael’s own expression.
“Yes?” She asked, her tone overloaded with saccharine sweetness.
“On Friday night, did you know who I was?”
She thought about lying, but decided swiftly that it was beneath her. “The second I saw you.”
He expelled an angry sigh. “What was your plan?”
“My plan?”
“And don’t lie to me. I can tell you’re someone who has a plan in everything she does.”
He was right, but coming from Gael, it felt like an insult. She sipped her martini, regarding him thoughtfully. Her blue eyes didn’t drop from his face. She swallowed, and said the words she’d been thinking for years. “I was embarrassed that night. The night I … I kissed you. I misunderstood what you wanted. I get it. But I honestly thought you felt it too. That you wanted me. And I’ll never forget what you said to me.”
She finally dropped her gaze, the intensity in his stare too much to handle.
“And never forgive me for it?” He guessed shrewdly.
“Of course I’ve forgiven you. I was a kid. I made a stupid mistake. It hardly mattered.” It was a bald-face lie.
“I see,” he said. “Well, Carrie, seeing as it’s all in the past, I presume you won’t have any problems with my proposition.”
“Proposition?”
“I have serious concerns about the figures you’ve put together. The amount you’re asking for isn’t realistic.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks flamed. “I appreciate it might seem a lot, but it’s the bare minimum required to launch the app on all platforms and organise a basic marketing strategy.”
“Yes, by my calculations you’ll need three times that to get the additional services up and running.”
Carrie nodded. “I’ll find the money, Gael. I’m very committed to this.”
