Page 34 of The Dis-Graced
“It appears the conversation with her brother upset her.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure, but it appears she does not want to go out on a date.”
“Do me a favor?”
“Yes?”
“Figure out what that’s all about?”
“She is in her room, a place I am not allowed. When she comes out again, I will ask her why—”
“No, not like that. Don’t even let her know I’m asking you to do this. Instead, why don’t you propose another game.”
“Another game of Two Truths, One Lie?”
“No, in a couple days, ask her to play Truth or Dare and try to figure out what’s got her so upset.”
“I will try my best.”
Chapter 9
Drake
The last place I want to be on a Saturday is sitting at my desk across from Elliot, but with Grace now occupying my penthouse, and my wayward thinking dick, it really is the only place for me.
“By the time Roderick’s finally done with the IM-18, it’s going to be dated tech,” Elliot says in a terse tone. “Honestly, Drake, I don’t know why you keep him.”
“I keep him because he works hard. I keep him because he’s thorough. I keep him because he’s been with Dallanger Tech for over forty years.”
“Then offer him a reasonable retirement package! I mean, how much money is he gonna sink into that…that…God, what does it do again?”
“To be honest, I know the IM-18 won’t be next-gen tech.”
“Then why bother?”
“Because, next-gen tech is generally sold at a premium to the top five percent of society the first year—if we’re lucky. By the time the second year rolls around, we expand it to fifteen-percent—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know all that. What does it have to do with the IM-18?”
“The IM-18 isn’t designed to be a first-to-the-market device. It’s a home, integration system meant for the lower to middle class. We won’t sell it at a premium, but it will sell prolifically.”
“We shouldn’t be selling our tech for peanuts.”
“We won’t be. The good thing about the IM-18 is that it will bring Dallanger Tech to many more homes, and it will sync with several other devices designed to be released in the upcoming years. Roderick’s been key in designing the software, taking his time because it’s important to get this right. If we succeed, we’ll have a broader reach than we’ve ever had.”
“You mean, if he succeeds, we’ll be the tech industry’s equivalent of Walmart.”
“Elliot, quit being an elitist asshole.”
“I’m sorry, it’s just that we’re sitting on the biggest find of the century, and you’ve put a halt on any progress but are quick to roll out with shit that’s been done before.”
“You have to know that ALAN is a risk. We have to be careful.”
“If he’s such a risk, what are you doing with him?”
I arc a brow. “Pardon?”
