Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
She threw me a wry glance.
“I guess you didn’t want me to scream ‘Fuck Brogrammers’ at your employees, hmmm?”
I laughed because the brunette had read me right.
“Yeah,” I replied. “You’ll see what it’s like to work in a corporate environment. Sure, we’re relaxed,” I said gesturing to the open desk plan and casual clothes, “but this is still a company with lawyers ready to jump on your back at the least little infraction. As you can tell, I’m in hot water big time.”
Mia nodded, looking down for a moment before taking a deep breath.
“I’m really sorry, Theo,” she said, brown eyes meeting mine. “I know that these problems are because of me, and when I hacked in as Anonimo, I had no idea that this would happen.”
“You mean no idea that the board would get on my back for a bunch of orgy pictures?” I replied wryly.
She took another deep breath before nodding.
“I guess I always figured that this was your company, and you were the boss. Nothing happens unless you want it to, so I didn’t realize,” she said a little miserably. “The board and all these corporate ramifications never entered my calculations.”
I nodded, understanding.
“Yeah, being a CEO is a lot more complicated than it looks. From the outside, it seems like I call all the shots as a dictator, but with a company as big as Pictogram, it’s not true. We have a board that acts as a counterweight so that no one gets away with murder. Plus, we have an army of lawyers and compliance people, making sure that this and that regulation are followed. It’s just the way business works, sweetheart. You’re a student and frankly, most hackers have no idea the consequences of their actions.”
Mia nodded solemnly.
“I’m sorry Theo,” she repeated in a low voice, cheeks flushed. “I had no idea.”
And her apology touched me. Because brogrammer culture is real, an intense, high-energy environment, no one ever apologizes. Instead, people gloss over errors, trying to blame it on other factors. So Mia’s heartfelt apology really made a difference. This was a girl who was genuine and real, bringing a sense of responsibility and ownership to the process.
“It’s fine,” I said roughly. “I can handle it. I’ve been in the hot seat for a long time now, so trust me, this too will pass.”
She looked at me then, her caramel eyes shining. “Thank you, Mr. White,” she said, her voice clear and true. “I think this is going to work out just fine.”
And with that, we gazed at one another, our environment collapsing until it was just us once again, everyone else disappearing into the mist. Because this girl was a dream come true – a natural beauty, casually clad in sneakers and jeans, with a plump form like Venus rising from the waves. But also smart, with the brains to challenge any brogrammer here.
And best of all, Mia was humble. She knew when she was out of her comfort zone, and wasn’t afraid to admit it. That took guts in this culture, where everyone’s always trying to one up each other.
I took her small hand, uncaring that other people could see.
“We’re going to make this work,” I said, my words rough and genuine. “You and me, sweetheart.”
And the smile that crossed her lips made my heart thump.
“Absolutely, Mr. White. We can make it happen,” she murmured with a smile.
And shit, but my world stopped then. Because within a few weeks, this brunette had transformed my outlook on life. After a couple false starts, it was clear that she was the real thing with a generous heart, and spirit. Because Mia Smith, aka Anonimo, aka the latest Picto-famous It Girl, had somehow hacked her way into my heart.
7
Mia
I’d started my first day at Pictogram wary of seeing Theo again. After all, what if he pretended that nothing had happened? What if I was just another notch on his bedpost?
But that wasn’t the case at all because the moment our eyes met, the sparks were there. It hadn’t been a dream. It hadn’t been the fantasy of a Cinderella who’d lost her glass slipper. The electricity between me and the CEO was real, and we ended up going at it on his desk. During my first day. With people outside the office.
Oh god. How did I become this wanton? Just weeks ago, I was a shy virgin spending days and nights in the computer lab, pasty and pale from never getting outside. And yet now, Theo and I were locked in some type of feedback loop that made me shiver both emotionally and physically. I wanted more, more, more of him, so much that even now, my brain and body throbbed.
Theo White. How did he do it? The billionaire was magnetic, charming, and impossible to deny. I guessed that was how he got to where he was, by being all those things and more.