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“Thank you. I appreciate you saying that. But I want to challenge myself. Startmybusiness. See what I can create.”
“You’re not going into competition against me, are you?”
His jaw clenched, and behind those unfathomable hazel eyes, she could already see the computer processing. That was the hard part about working with Blake. The man was simply brilliant. He’d finished high school at sixteen andMicron Gaminghad started a bidding war to hire him. Eager to partner with the kid, who’d developed a popular series of gamified study apps, as a class project.
Cameron rolled her eyes; didn’t he know her at all? “No, of course not. I would never work for your competition. No matter how many ridiculous offers they make me.”
Blake’s head shot up, and his eyes bucked wide. “Who? Tell me now. I will bury them. You never mentioned—”
“Because I’d never tell, just as I’d never work against you.”
“Then workwithme.” He grabbed her hand out of her lap. Forcing her to release the ink pen, she’d been clenching like a sword—a shield. “What do you need? What can I do to get you to stay?”
Cameron shook her head, but he cut off her objection before she could start.
“You want to start a business. You have the whole R&D team at your disposal. Bring it into the Scott Electronics family. You’ll need publicity. We have the best PR department in the country. Same for accounting and legal. Whatever you need, we have it here.”
“I need to create my thing. Be my boss. I’d love to take you up on your generous offer, but I have to do this my way. Just like you did.”
“So, there’s nothing I can do?”
“Not in two weeks.”
“And I’m supposed to leave today for that damn mountain retreat thing you made me do. It’s for a week. Maybe I can cancel it. Otherwise, I’ll only have a week to work on you when I get back.”
“To work with Archie and get him used to your system. Such as it is.”
“I am not working with Archie.”
She bit the inside of her lip to stop herself from grinning at his stubborn insistence.
“Yes, you will.”
“And I don’t want to go to this thing. It’s crazy.”
“You’re going. You leave in the morning. I had your bags packed and waiting. And it’s not crazy.” She sighed and scooted her chair back. Standing up to smooth her skirt, stretch her legs, and get some breathing room. Turning away to hide the tremble in her hands.
“You agreed because it’s a great fundraiser for Tolleston College. It’s also great publicity for Scott Electronics. You need more outreach in underserved communities. Especially after your last fiasco and the backlash.”
“Hey, I didn’t know putting beads in my hair was culturally insensitive. We’d just gotten back from that conference in Jamaica, and everybody did it.”
“I told you, you looked ridiculous.”
“It was a vacation, okay, a working vacation.” He grumbled at her. “You were the only one who didn’t look ridiculous.”
“Regardless. This is a significant step in repairing your image. Taking part in the auction allows you to do more than just donate. By agreeing to spend this week with the highest bidder, you’re putting yourself on the line. Raising the stakes and showing genuine commitment.” Cameron folded her arms across her chest. “Besides, Tolleston College is a great HBCU, along with being my alma mater. Nicole Blakely, the new dean of students, is one of my oldest friends. She told me they really need the help. You’re not backing out.”
“Okay, fine. You don’t have to sell it to me. I already entered the bachelor auction, and someone has already won a week of my time—awhole freaking week, Cameron. All I’m asking you to contact the organizers and push it back.”
“No. Absolutely not. You entered, and the bidder won fair and square. That’s what makes Cosmos World such a great game. Everybody has an equal chance to win, and the winning is always fair.”
“You’re really going to make me go through with this? Especially now?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll still be working on getting you back. You know I don’t give up so easily.”
“I know, but it’s for a good cause,andyou might even have a good time.”
