Page 54 of Rival to the Billionaire

He's not in the room.

I don't see him down in the lounge or at the breakfast table, either. It's like he's disappeared into thin air.

On this Wednesday, the second day of the Next-in-Tech conference at the Fountain Springs, the hotel is full of keynote speakers as scheduled (though I hear a couple were pulled from the line-up by conference organizers), workshops, and industry representatives. Today's agenda also features some of our company's own authors and other tech experts speaking about their technology keeping us ahead of the game in the digital world and ending it with a Q& A session.

Ryder is missing from the agenda today, however. His big presentation on his beloved project, the Ultimate Reading app, isn't until tomorrow. But that doesn't stop everyone from talking about it.

Every innovative company here has a celebrity these days.

Ryder is ours.

And I, of course, become the company and application's mouthpiece by proxy, fielding questions about everything from the way it's made, to who created it, to who is involved in its launch.

I surprise myself with how much I know about the app, and I end up rather enjoying the conversations I'm having with all the eager industry professionals and their eager questions.

During a break in the schedule, I slip away, wandering down the long corridor that leads to the hotel's winding gardens. It's an escape from the conference, a quiet place where I can panic about Ryder's absence.

I text him again, but he doesn't respond.

A notification ping hits my cell screen as I type "WHERE ARE YOU??" into the little text box meant for Ryder.

I check the notification and notice that it's an email.

It's from Julian Sabado, and my heart sinks, the memory of us arranging a meeting for today hitting me full throttle.

Letting go of a long breath, I read Julian's message to me.

--Jenny--

Are we still on for our meeting today? I've already spoken with Hare & Holeton CEO Derek Anderson about my lead developer, and he thinks it's a good idea for the two of them to meet.

He hasn't confirmed whether or not he's going to replace Ryder explicitly, but I think it's a good idea to get prepared in the meantime.

—Julian

I stare at the message, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Up until yesterday morning, I was certain this would be a dream come true for me.

Now…

With what I saw from Ryder yesterday, I don't know what the hell I'm doing. And I no longer know what I believe.

Last night's review session of the Ultimate Reading app's features was a crossroads moment for me. Is the app expensive to launch? Yes.

Is it innovative? Absolutely.

Can Ryder and his team do it? All signs point to yes. They have a proven track record of success, and they have the right idea to get there.

Is it a risk when Hare & Holeton is soon launching its IPO? Of course it is. But is it a risk worth taking?

Well, that's exactly what I intend to find out…if I can find and talk to Ryder at all.

In the meantime, I'm due to meet with Julian and his lead developer, Jared.

I check if my phone has any other messages, but there are none. Carmina and I haven't spoken either. Not since last night during our drink session when I told her about the kiss with Ryder and made a promise to her and to myself not to do it again.

I had a momentary lapse of confusion, a momentary lapse of insanity.

I'm sure of it.

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