HATE LOVE

And oh shit, but this woman had me wrapped around her little finger. Because like a servant, I pulled out my cell and began fiddling with a ride-sharing app, dialing up a limo for service. Who had I become? Usually, there are people at my every beck and call, catering to my whims. But with Mia, everything was different. I was begging her to come work for Pictogram. Begging her to stay in bed, chatting about nothing. Begging her to share more of that luscious body while moaning sweetly beneath me. And because the CEO always gets what he wants, Mia was going to be mine …and that was that.

Chapter 5

Mia

Although Theo’s job offer was inviting, I had misgivings about working for the very company that had mistreated me and the rest of its users. Would it be like working for the enemy?

But when Theo sent over the offer details, I felt completely blown away. The salary for consulting was more money than I’d ever imagined making in my life. It was more than I thought was possible for someone who didn’t even have a computer science degree yet.

Essentially, I was a high school grad getting paid the big bucks. And the kicker? The position also came with a car, a brand new Tesla.

When Theo said he would take care of my transportation, my assumption was maybe I’d get a BART card or hook up with a carpool. It never crossed my mind I’d get my own vehicle as part of the position.

But even with the money and the new car, I took my time giving Theo an answer. Things were okay since I was on scholarship, but extra money to help my mom with the mortgage would be nice.

Full of indecision, I’d written Theo back saying I still needed more time to decide.

His response?

Dozens of red and pink roses, Pictogram’s brand colors, delivered to my dorm suite.

I came home to Jill sitting on the couch surrounded by the roses. “Look at these! Absolutely gorgeous!”

she gushed.

There were flowers taking up every square inch of our dorm suite, blossoms on every available surface. “Who sent these?”

Jilly shrugged, holding out a card to me. “I wanted to open it, but I didn’t because I’m a respectful dorm mate. Now quick!” she squealed. “I want to see!”

Setting my backpack down, I took the card from her and noticed that it was already open. She giggled, “Okay, okay, so I opened it. It was too much to resist, and you know how bad I am with self-control!” She grinned. “Besides, a certain Theo sent the flowers. Ohhh! Read the card, Mia, you’ll see.”

I sat down next to her, rolling my eyes. I loved Jill, but seriously, opening my mail? Where were our boundaries?

“Okay, give me a chance,” I laughed. With shaking hands, I pulled the card out and read it. Immediately, I felt my cheeks warm.

Pictogram needs you. I need you. –Theo

Jill squealed jumping up and down, peering over my shoulder. The couch cushions bounced making me bounce up and down with her. “He said he needs you! Needs you!”

I stood up. All that bouncing was making me nauseous.

My overly excited friend kept squealing. “This is Theo Wainwright, right? The one we’ve been sparring with? Oh my god, he’s so hot, and he said he needs you, Mia. It’s so romantic.”

“It’s not romantic,” I protested. “He needs me to fix his security problems at Pictogram. He needs my brain, not me.”

Jill threw a couch pillow at me. “Who cares! Oh my god, how does he know you, anyways Mia?” She eyed me curiously. “I mean, sure there’s that whole Pictogram thing with your picture and all, but how did it get to this point, where he’s sending you flowers?”

Rolling my eyes, I threw the pillow back at her. “Did your mom send us any Danish treats?” I tried to change the subject.

She pointed to the cabinet above the microwave. “Yup. I just opened a package of aebleskiver. But seriously, Mia, spill it. How did this happen?”

And knowing that I wasn’t going to be able to get away from my best friend, I took a bite of the mouth-watering puff.

“Well,” I began slowly, “remember how I showed up to class one day with no shoes and basically dressed in my pajamas?”

Jill frowned.

“Well yeah, but everyone does that around here,” she says. “This university is filled with nerds, and even in PJs, you were better dressed than most people.