by Lily Menon
A boy with red hair that almost exactly matched Ziggy’s raised his hand. “Excuse me?”
Annika tried not to groan in frustration. “Yes?”
“I can’t understand you.”
A laugh floated up from Hudson’s side of the room. She glared in his general direction and turned back to the boy, forcing a smile. “Okay. I’ll slow down a bit.” Taking a deep breath, she said a little slower, “As I was saying, OLLI is basically a way for people in relationships to communicate better with each other. So, for instance, if you look at the screen…” She forwarded through the slides as quickly as she could without looking like a complete lunatic or getting called out by another teenager.
Hudson was swilling coffee from a plastic cup, which he raised to her, a mischievous grin on his face, as if he were at a particularly entertaining party.
“… and we hope to have the entire app up and running within a few months. We’re confident we can make it.” Annika beamed at the audience.
A boy who was slumped in his chair as if ready for a nap called out, in a laconic drawl, “Yo, your laptop died.”
Annika turned to see a blank screen. Dammit. She turned back to the audience, a bright smile on her face, her hand clamped in a death grip around the mic. “Uh … yes. Yeah. I know. I’m … finished. Let’s head into Q&A!”
The teens in the audience looked less than impressed. She heard a snicker from Hudson’s end of the room.
Another boy, this one wearing a backward baseball cap and a football jersey, raised his hand. “Yeah, uh, do you have a boyfriend?” he asked, a lazy smile on his face. The group of boys sitting around him immediately burst out into laughter.
Annika’s eyes unwittingly darted to Hudson, who was watching the exchange with a slight frown on his face. “No, I don’t,” Annika said into the mic, even though she could see Rita Davenport giving her the you don’t have to answer that signal. “But,” she continued, “I have a first date I’m really excited about soon. So.” She smiled a victorious, see-I’m-not-even-thinking-about-our-almost-kiss smile in Hudson’s direction, only to see him straighten, a muscle in his jaw jumping as he set his coffee cup down.
Feeling slightly off-kilter, Annika turned to the audience again. A Latina girl in the front row raised her hand. “Your tech sounds really cool,” she said, in a high, sweet voice. “And, um, you said your developer is also a … girl?”
Annika grinned. “Yeah. I have a kick-ass developer, June Stewart. She’s right back there, actually.” She pointed toward the back of the room. June smiled and waved.
The girl looked back up at Annika, her brown eyes wide. “I want to do that one day.”
“You totally can,” Annika said seriously. “Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t, okay?”
The girl nodded.
Another hand shot up, this one belonging to a brown-haired girl with braces in the third row. “You said you won the Young Entrepreneur’s Grant last year, right? That’s really hard to do. I was reading that only one percent of the applicants get picked. So, like—why do you think you were chosen?”
Annika paced a little as she spoke. “Well, you know, I think it all started with the fact that I was—I am—really, really passionate about what I want to do in this world. I want to bring people together, and every day I go to work excited that our app will help us do that. Honestly, even if we hadn’t gotten that grant, I’d still consider us a success. You know why?” The girl shook her head, her gaze riveted on Annika. “Because success means doing good in the world. It means waking up every day knowing you made the world better in some way, big or small.”
The girl’s face broke out in a big smile. “Cool. I want to make an app that pairs service dogs with disabled people according to personality and lifestyle needs.”
Annika clutched the mic with both hands. “That is an awesome idea. What’s your name?”
“Taylor.”
“Taylor, if you ever have any questions about the tech world, feel free to email June or me, okay?” Taylor nodded enthusiastically, and Annika looked over at the Latina girl. “And what’s your name?”
“Angelica.”
“Angelica, you too. In fact, any of the girls in this audience—take a business card and take us up on it. Because we’re out there doing the work and we want you to do that, too.”
The space exploded in applause—the girls were the loudest, but so was June. And—ha! So was Rita Davenport. Yes. And … Annika did a double take. Hudson was clapping, too.
She walked off the stage and right over to him. “So you thought you’d sabotage me, did you?” she said, as Tom made his way onto the stage.
He looked down at her, a slow smile spreading on his face. “Not bad, Ms. Dev. You almost convinced them you’re successful.”
She tipped her head back and looked down her nose at him, an impossible feat, considering the height differential. It was the intent that mattered. “And you almost convinced them you’re human. Let’s hope you learned your lesson, Mr. Craft. I’m invincible. I’m unstoppable. And I will kick your ass at EPIC.”
Annoyance flashed across his face as he turned to the refreshments table and poured himself a new cup of coffee. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
Annika tossed her hair over her shoulder and went to join June. She could tell, even without looking, that he was watching her go. An onlooker might accuse her of swaying her hips slightly more than necessary, but they’d be wrong. Totally and utterly wrong.
chapter nine
After Tom and Gavin finished their presentations, Annika and June spent a few minutes speaking to small groups of the high schoolers, including the two girls who’d asked questions. Finally, Rita Davenport went onstage to thank all the entrepreneurs, marking the event over. The high schoolers said their goodbyes and began to pack up.
Rita walked up to the entrepreneurs, beaming. “Thank you all for doing such a splendid job!”
The four entrepreneurs expressed their own niceties, and shortly after, Tom and Gavin made their excuses and left. Rita stepped closer to Hudson and Annika. Her warm brown eyes sparkled. “I have to say, you two were definitely the biggest hit with the students. To see two incredibly successful—” Ha! Annika flashed Hudson a smug smile, but he remained impassive. “—young entrepreneurs doing what they love and speaking to them so candidly about it … you really have a knack for this. You should consider volunteering with us more often.”
“I would love to,” Annika said, and meant it. “This is really a great organization.”
“Agreed.” Hudson looked around at the kids, some of whom were still getting their bags together and walking out. “You’re planting seeds that’ll grow into mighty oaks soon enough.”
Rita looked impressed with his metaphor. Ugh, he was such an ass-kisser. “Well, I’ll be sure to let Lionel know just how fantastic a job you both did. And good luck at EPIC.”
“Thank you,” they said, and then, under his breath so Rita wouldn’t hear, Hudson added, “She’s going to need it.”
* * *
After they’d said their goodbyes, Annika and June walked to Zero Gravity, a trendy chrome-and-leather bar down the road from the library that was running a happy hour special on all their margaritas. Ziggy had wanted to take June out, naturally, but she’d told him she and Annika needed to debrief, for which Annika was thankful.
They grabbed a corner table in the dimly lit, mostly empty interior. Annika sighed. “That went well, don’t you think?”
“Definitely.” June smiled just as a waitress with a nose piercing came over to get their drinks order. Once they’d ordered their drinks—a cosmo for June and a mango margarita for Annika—June continued, “The kids were obviously into Make Up and what you do there. And I got a bunch of questions about being a developer at the end, so that was cool, too.”
“It’s just so nice to talk to students, especially the girls. I remember this one time in high school, they had a small business owner come speak to us for C
areer Day. She ran a printing shop, but still—I remember how amazing it was to hear a woman talking about being her own boss, about having the power to make all the decisions. That’s when I first began to think that maybe I could do that, too. Although—did you happen to catch any of Hudson’s answers?”
June shook her head. Annika groaned. “You’re lucky. He’s insufferable. I don’t know what kinds of mental contortions you have to do to frame your heartbreaking business as a good thing, but he’s doing all of them. He thinks the world’s a stage and he’s the main attraction that we’ve all been waiting twenty-five years to see.”
June nodded. “Ziggy thinks they’re doing good work, too. He says Hudson’s a visionary.”
Annika nearly choked on her own spit. “A visionary? Of what? Broken dreams and oceans of tears? Ugh. Poor Ziggy. He’s obviously been indoctrinated.” She shook her head. “Whatever. I’m just looking forward to relaxing and putting Hudson Craft out of my mind for the rest of the day.”
June made a face and looked past Annika. “Um … then you might not like what’s coming.”
Annika looked over her shoulder to see Hudson and the Break Up team heading their way. “Oh, great,” she muttered, just as they walked up.
Ziggy went to stand by June, but Blaire stayed behind Hudson, her face a steel mask. She’d never forgiven Annika for the Nerf gun move that very first day.
“Hello again, Hudson,” Annika said, making a monumental effort to be polite.
“Annika,” he said, inclining his head a bit.
“Oh my god,” June said suddenly, her voice low. She leaned forward, ducking her head.
Annika turned to her. “What?”
June’s hands were fists. “Hedge Fund Harry,” she whispered, jerking her head toward the door.
Annika turned to see a tall, slim man in an expensive-looking gray suit. His dark hair was combed straight back, and he wore a planet-sized watch on one wrist.
“Who’s Hedge Fund Harry?” Ziggy asked in a normal voice, following their gazes.
“Shh!” June said, but it was too late.
Hedge Fund Harry turned in their direction. Annika saw the spark of recognition as he took in June, and then he was sauntering over, an easy smile on his very square face. He had a dimple in his chin—June’s Achilles’ heel. “June!” he said, too heartily. “I’ve been texting you.”
Ziggy’s hand was resting on the table, and June took it. Annika raised her eyebrows, but didn’t say anything. “I’ve been busy,” June said.
Hedge Fund Harry looked from their hands to June to Ziggy, as if assessing this new development. “All right,” he said slowly, holding his hands up. “You’re taken. I don’t trespass on another man’s territory.”
June stiffened, and Ziggy said, “She’s not my terri—”
“You’re pretty, but I don’t date Asian chicks anymore.” Hedge Fund Harry was looking at Blaire. “Ever since my last girlfriend’s tiger mom destroyed our relationship. She was Korean.” He brayed a laugh.
“Somehow, I’m certain Asian women everywhere will survive this setback,” Blaire deadpanned, her face still an immovable mask.
Hedge Fund Harry’s eyes lit on Annika. “Well, hey there,” he said, flashing what he thought was a winsome smile, no doubt. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Indian American, which qualifies as Asian,” Annika said, taking a sip of water. Beside her, Hudson snorted.
“Indian is hardly Asian,” Hedge Fund Harry countered. “And anyway, I think we can make an exception this one time.…” His smarmy smile got bigger.
Hudson took half a step closer to him, putting himself between Annika and Hedge Fund Harry. “I think it’s very clear she’s not interested.” His lips were set in a firm line.
Hedge Fund Harry looked at him in annoyance, but realization dawned on his face a second later. “Hey.” He held out a hand. “You’re Hudson Craft. The Break Up guy.”
Hudson stared at his hand, pointedly not taking it. Then, turning to Ziggy, he said, “I guess I’ll—”
But Hedge Fund Harry wasn’t going to be thwarted so easily. “Bro, you have saved my ass so many times, I can’t even tell you. Ever since I downloaded your app, I feel like my life is mine again. I don’t have to deal with all those messy tears and all the shrieking when I’m breaking up with a chick anymore. You know how it is. Time is money.”
Hudson looked at him, his eyes cold. “That’s not the intent of Break Up. It’s supposed to be a way for a clean, easy break for both parties.” Hedge Fund Harry opened his mouth to say something, but Hudson cut him off smoothly. “Anyway, I’m taking a break from work at the moment. If you’ll excuse me.”
Hedge Fund Harry looked uncertain, as if he wasn’t used to people telling him to leave. “All right, bro. Take care.” Executing a one-handed, low-effort wave, he made his way to the bar, checking out every woman under fifty along the way.
They watched him leave in silence. June let out a noisy sigh. “Oh my god. Can you believe that guy?”
Hudson turned to Blaire. “Hey, are you okay? What he said about Asian women—”
Blaire waved him off. “Heard it all before. Dude wasn’t even original.” She met Annika’s eye. “Nice deflection, by the way.”
Annika tried not to show how surprised she was at the compliment. “Yeah. Thanks.” She glanced up at Hudson. “And, um, thanks for standing up for me.”
He was looking down at her, his expression inscrutable. “Anytime.” The weight behind his words made it seem like he really meant it.
Annika felt her cheeks heat. She kept her gaze on her glass, only glancing up once to find he was still staring at her. She looked around at the others, sure they must’ve noticed, too. But they were all talking to each other about something different, completely oblivious. She looked back at Hudson—he was still looking at her.
“Do I unsettle you, Ms. Dev?” he asked, a smile in his voice.
She forced herself to look up at him again, even though it felt impossibly difficult. “N-no.” Annika held her chin up. “Not at all.”
He stepped closer, close enough that the silky fabric of his pants brushed her bare leg. Close enough that her heart juddered, her breath catching in her throat. “Are you sure?”
Her mouth was dry. She couldn’t look away from him, couldn’t set her water down, couldn’t speak a word.
“I don’t think your date will have quite the same effect on you, do you?” he pressed, looking at her like she was the only one in the bar, the only one who mattered.
She began to shake her head to agree with him when the waitress came by with her and June’s drinks, breaking the spell. Annika let out a ragged breath in relief.
“We should go order, too,” Hudson said, after one long look at Annika. The Break Up team wandered off to get their own table—but only after Ziggy had planted a soft kiss on June’s lips. She watched him go, a hint of a smile on her face that Annika was sure she didn’t realize was there.
Annika sipped her margarita to quell all the disconcerting feelings—about the effect Hudson had on her, about how June was interacting with Ziggy—in the pit of her stomach. “Mm. This is good.”
“So is this,” June said, sipping her cosmo. “Oh, Alesandro said he could do this Friday at seven, at Neon. You’ll go, right? You’ll really make an effort?”
Annika’s gaze fluttered to Hudson’s table a few yards from hers, where he sat with his elbows on the sleek wood. “Uh, yes, I’ll go.” She forced her eyes back to June and sat up straighter. “And I’ll make an effort.” She’d be damned if she was going to let Hudson ruin her date.
June patted her hand, looking maternal. “Good. I think you’ll have fun.”
Annika allowed herself a noncommittal grunt. “Anyway, how’s the prototype shaping up?”
“Excellently.” June sipped her cocktail and smiled. “I’m feeding the algorithm lots of data so it’s coming along at a good clip.”
“Nice.” Annika traced
a drop of condensation down the side of her glass. “And the new feature we’ve been talking about—the future projection? I know you’re working really hard, but have you had a chance to look at the notes I sent over?”
“I have! I think it’s going to be so good. That was a flash of brilliance on your part, honestly.”
Annika waved her off. “I mean, it’s all about execution and that’s all you. But yeah, if we can project a realistic future for the couples who use Make Up based on data, I think the app will be so much more powerful. Not to mention it’ll make them so much more likely to try and fight for their relationship if they think it has a sustainable future.”
“It’ll make things real,” June agreed, playing with her napkin. “It’s ambitious, but I think we can pull it off. Your notes and ideas were detailed enough that I have a good stepping-off point.”
“Good.” Annika took a sip of her margarita and watched a guy at the bar try to get the bartender’s attention in vain.
“Oh shit, I almost forgot to tell you.” June set her drink down with a clatter. “Guess what?”
Annika raised her eyebrows. “Um … Alesandro’s on the FBI’s Most Wanted list? Lady Gaga wants to feature you in her next music video? Princess Leia invited you to high tea on Alderaan?”
June sighed. “Stop it. And high tea would be impossible, considering Alderaan was destroyed by the Death Star in the original 1977 film.” She took a breath. “Anyway, you know how Time is doing that big spread on Hudson?”
Annika took a morose sip of her margarita. “Yeah. I remember. We still need to figure out damage control for that mess, how to offset it and impress the EPIC investors in our own way.”
A sneaky smile spread across June’s face. She leaned forward, her hair falling in her face. “Weeeellll … we might not have to. I just happen to know Megan Trout, who’s a senior editor for Time, who also happens to be BFFs with Emily Dunbar-Khan, who’s doing the piece. Megan put me in touch with Emily, and I said, ‘You know what, Emily? There’s a great businesswoman who runs an app that does the exact opposite of Break Up. While Hudson Craft pries people apart, Annika Dev lives to bring them together. Wouldn’t it be fun to pit them against each other? Let readers decide who they want to side with—the heartbreaker or Dr. Make Up.’”