HANNAH (Silicon Valley Billionaires 3)

“We can let her into our system and plant specs and production details about a new product we’re about to launch. She can steal it, tell everyone she’s about to launch some hot new technology, and then…”

“I’m still not completely following you.” Lauren frowned.

“And then she’ll realize that even though it’s sparkly and you created it, it doesn’t work. And she can fail in public.”

For the first time today, I smiled.

“But we still have to deal with Fiona and Protocol Therapeutics.” I turned my attention to Dave and Leo. “Last week, before she tried to hack us again, Li Na tried to insert code into Paragon’s system, right?”

Dave nodded. “Yeah. It was a very sophisticated type of virus that would target certain types of files, manipulating them. We killed it before it got through, but Leo and I replicated it and played with it. The code can subtly deconstruct files, disturbing production. It can be a mess to unravel.”

I snapped my fingers, then pointed to Dave. “That is what I’m talking about. We need to boomerang that code and disrupt Li Na’s system.”

Dave stroked his patchy beard, looking confused. “Huh?”

“So that even if Fiona sells to Li Na, the antibody therapy is compromised. But not until after she gets it and gets ready to launch. Because we need to humiliate her in public. Because that is what that bitch fears most, and I am going to serve it up to her in a one-two punch!”

I turned around, beaming at everyone, thrumming with adrenaline.

Gabe and Lauren looked at each other. Wes cocked his head, examining me.

“You don’t get it, do you?” I asked, deflating.

Lauren opened her mouth and then closed it. Gabe scratched his head.

“I think we need to process,” Wes said. “That’s all.”

I stood and grabbed my tote. “Fine—process. I’m meeting Fiona. I’ll see you all at home. Dave, Leo? Can you keep working on that code for me? These guys will come around.”

I glared at each of them individually before I left. They better.

* * *

“Ellis is staying in the room during class?” I asked as I assembled my mat and towel next to Fiona’s. Brian had at least agreed to wait i

n the lobby, even if he was stalking around and scowling.

Fiona sighed. “He doesn’t talk much, and he also doesn’t take no for an answer.” She brushed the bangs from her face and inspected Ellis, who stood at rigid attention at the wall of the studio. “He’s kind of intimidating, don’t you think?”

“He has a heart of gold underneath the glower. He’s just very serious.”

I studied Ellis. He wore a long-sleeve shirt, jeans, and heavy boots. The temperature in the room would soon rise above one hundred degrees, and there would be lots of bodies in the studio, sweating profusely. “He might die if he keeps all those clothes on.”

“When I mentioned it, he said he was fine.”

“Let me talk to him.”

I got up and approached Wes’s brother. “Hey.”

His blue eyes, so much like Wes’s, flicked to mine. “Hey.”

“You’re going to get too hot with those jeans on,” I told him.

A ghost of a smile lit up his face. “So I’ve been told.”

“Do you have to stay in here, against the wall? It’s kind of weird.”

He looked at Fiona. “I am not letting her out of my sight for a second, but thank you.”