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“Because if we’re sleeping together we won’t be competing, and if we aren’t competing, will we be on our game?”
“I have a lot of words rolling around in my head right now and they’re all filthy,” she said, standing up and pacing up and down in front of her office window. “What are we going to do? It’s everywhere. It’s trending on Twitter. There’s a Facebook page, Calvaresi, a freaking Facebook page devoted to…what are they calling us?” She leaned in and skimmed the article again. “JulErro. For the love of Darth.”
“And for everyone rooting for this little enemies-to-lovers tale…”
“There are just as many rooting for us to go down in flames. This…this is a lot bigger than we anticipated, isn’t it?”
Ferro wished he could say he’d anticipated just this, but the simple fact was, social media was hard to anticipate. The press was one thing, the civilian-run news machine? Something else entirely. And the simple truth was, this had gone way outside the tech world, thanks to the internet, which was run by the masses. Who were entirely unpredictable.
“Yes,” he said. “It is.”
The feeling of claustrophobia he felt now, the feeling of being trapped, he didn’t like it. A trap of his own making. And it wasn’t the first one he’d ever been in. He knew all about this. About going so far down a road there was no way to turn back. That you just had to push through, keep going, because you’d gone too damn far.
“Fine,” she said, continuing to pace. “We continue on, and we make it the biggest spectacle ever. And when we blow it up, we make it huge. The biggest media explosion ever. And we’ll always be more interesting after this. Think about it, when you hijack another one of my presentations, just think how newsworthy it will be when we’re exes? Hypothetically. Don’t hijack one of my presentations again.”
Julia might be wearing armor, but she was a tough woman. Smart. Brilliant even. “Of course,” he said, “we’ll be expected to spend a lot of time together. A lot. The visibility is too high. We’re going to have to give them something to talk about, because if we don’t…if we get caught in this…”
“We’re in trouble.”
“Putting it mildly.”
“Okay…okay…what’s the plan then?”
“There’s a charity event tonight. I was planning on skipping it and writing a check, but I think we should make an appearance, don’t you? As a couple.”
Julia looked like she was going to say something, but she hesitated.
“Come on, Julia,” he said. “Don’t wimp out now.”
“I’m not wimping out!”
“Then why do you look like a deer caught in the headlights?”
“Because the other day we were sworn enemies and if I never had to see you in person it suited me just fine. Now…two outings with you in a row? I could live without that.”
“Maybe this is why tech, and business in general, is traditionally a man’s game,” he said, not meaning a word he was saying but knowing it would give Julia the kick she needed. “Maybe it’s because women are too ruled by emotion.”
He knew it wasn’t true. Because he’d been…he didn’t even know what to call it. Shaped, molded, by women who hadn’t cared what their actions meant to the emotions of a teenage boy. He’d spent years surrounded by women who saw people only as pawns. People of both genders were more than capable of acting based on selfish desire. Of using people to meet their ends.
But his words would push Julia. He knew it. Knew it was a hot button for her.
“Are you saying I can’t do this?” she asked.
“You’re the one who looks like she has a problem. I’m willing to make this work. Are you? Or are you just giving me lip service here?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m going to ignore the potential double entendre there.”
“If it suits you.”
“Fine. You have yourself a date for tonight. Ferro?”
“Yes?”
“Uh…what’s the charity?” He had a feeling that wasn’t the question she’d intended to ask.
