Page 6 of Rival to the Billionaire

Only a few months into my CIO job, and I'm doing my best to make sure my boss and close friend Derek Anderson and the board of directors do not replace me.

I need to remember that Ryder is a walking, talking risk. A risk that could easily end my tenure at Hare & Holeton.

Another wave of nausea overcomes my stomach as I think about his smug grin.

"Dammit,” I groan aloud. “What the hell am I going to do now”?

The Next-in-Tech conference is next week, next Tuesday. Which is only four days away. And I have no idea if this is going to work out or not.

Carmina grabs me, her almond-shaped eyes boring into mine. "Listen to me…you've got this, girl. Just think: What would Buffy do in a situation like this? How would Buffy handle this shit?"

"By applying more lip gloss? And throwing out a quip with a really bad pun?"

Carmina shakes her head and pulls my chin up. "Nope. By fighting back. By stopping the villain. By getting the job done. You're all fired up and determined to make your mark on this company. That's admirable. And it means you're doing what's right with integrity. So, give it a chance. Take that approach, and you're going to get exactly what you're looking for." She shakes my shoulders. "Now, go back out there into that ballroom and have a good time. Julian might have the emotional intelligence of an egg, but he's smart. And handsome. Has a sexy accent. And from our time hanging out in Latin clubs, I can tell: If he can swing his hips in bed the way he does on a dance floor, you are in for some fine D."

I straighten my shoulders, taking a step back.

I don't know about 'fine D's', but there's no way I'm going to spend all night stuck in a bathroom, no matter how luxurious the towels are here.

"I'm going to go mingle," I say, smoothing out my dress. "I'm going to go back out there and have fun with Julian for the rest of the night. I'm going to be charming. I'm going to keep up the pretense. I'm going to wine and dine. I'm going to smile and flirt, and I'm going to pretend to not give a flying, pointy, Buffy stake-like fuck about Ryder Anderson."

"Damn right. Fuck Ryder Anderson! And all y'all billionaire-looking tech bros!"

She gives the air a dramatic finger-wag, and I chuckle.

"That's my girl." Carmina takes my hand. She opens the bathroom door, and before I can leave the restroom, I look into the big, gilded bathroom mirror. "Yeah, fuck Ryder Anderson. Fuck him so hard," I say to my reflection.

The statement evokes images of chiseled jaws, dark hair, sparkling blue eyes. And, of course, that irritating, inviting smirk that I've known all too well my whole life.

I roll my eyes. Fuck.

I just hope that won't be easier said than done.

ChapterThree

RYDER

Only another half an hour before I can blow this event and head back to my penthouse.

I hadn't planned on coming to the Save The Seagulls event when I got back this evening. None of my brothers were. We were too busy bonding on our annual family trip.

But Derek, a typical second-eldest child, decided it would be a good idea. Just to make nice with some of our Seattle businesses and important people at the company's headquarters.

The charity event tonight's being put on by the 'Altruistic Foundation', a nonprofit organization that funded our application for the 'Next-in-Tech' technology conference.

Until this party is over, I'll make nice. And I'll shake some hands. And I'll make it look good, because that's what I do.

That's what people expect from the Andersons, from me.

Our family has a reputation to maintain, after all. A reputation I haven’t always lived up to.

My only regret is that the date I picked to accompany me tonight definitely won't help it. Deidre Moseley is a social media influencer with more followers than sense.

I'm well aware that she's only here because I told her she could film the whole thing for her own YouTube channel. She's working the room…

I'm working her. Or I will be, once my 'appearance' is done.

I'm being pragmatic. Business first. Pleasure later.

---