HATE LOVE

I was impressed and a little intrigued. None of the articles featuring Theo shirtless said anything about his artistic talents. More like they were focused on his pecs, abs, and of course, the billionaire’s playboy ways.

But finally, we were at the destination. Amanda stopped before a gray metal workstation, part of a long table in an open room. Engineers sat all together in one open space. The cement floors and exposed fluorescent lighting gave off an industrial feel, but I liked it. The open space made me instantly feel like I was part of Pictogram.

And after putting my backpack down on the floor, Amanda chirped, “You have a meeting with Mr. Wainwright now.”

“Really? The CEO?”

Amanda nodded importantly.

“He asked. It’s not standard company procedure, but you are the Pictogram girl,” she said importantly. “Come on, I’ll show you the way. He’s right up there.”

And with that I turned to crane my head upwards, peering at the third floor only to see Theo standing near the windows on the phone. The billionaire was magnetic, even from afar, that masculine physique athletic even in a light gray suit. His smile flashed, bright white and charming. It’d been weeks since I’d seen him since the night he took my virginity, and yet from one look, my body temp rose. Oh god, it was him again, and my insides went loose, desperate to see the man.

“I can walk you up there,” Amanda said with a knowing smile. “He’s hot, right? Most tech billionaires are tiny midgets with hunchbacks, but Mr. Wainwright’s something else.”

I nodded, cheeks flushing bright red. Oh god, she didn’t know, did she? Hopefully, Theo didn’t tell anyone. But I swallowed and put another smile on.

“Sure, let’s go,” I said. “Off to meet the emperor.”

And with that, Amanda and I took a high speed lift to the third floor, although it was hardly necessary. A beautiful redhead sat primly at a desk, typing at something or other.

“Penny, this is Mia Smith,” chirped Amanda, beaming as always. “Here to see Mr. Wainwright.”

Penny looked up from her laptop, squinting jade green eyes at me.

“This is Mia Smith?” her voice drawled, coated in poisonous honey.

Amanda maintained her smile. “Yup. Mia the Great.”

I cringed internally. Obviously, the redhead hated me on sight and Amanda’s fawning adoration wasn’t doing me any favors. But there was nothing to be done, so I greeted the woman with a friendly smile.

“Hello,” was my polite voice. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Penny didn’t even respond, at least not directly.

“I’m Theo’s personal assistant – slash – secretary – slash – best employee – slash – right hand woman,” she said, directing her words at Amanda, although t

he information was meant for me. “Everything having to do with Mr. Wainwright goes through me.”

At that, those emerald green eyes swung my way, pinning me in place.

I swallowed.

“Um, yes, I understand,” I said. “Yes, of course.”

“Good,” she said perfunctorily. “Mr. Wainwright has been waiting for you. Please go right in.”

But before I could move, Amanda held out her hand again.

“It was nice meeting you,” she said sincerely. “Lunch soon, right?”

And grasping the younger woman’s hand, I gave her a genuine smile.

“For sure,” I said. “Anytime.”

And with that, the blonde skipped off, my promise making her day. It felt nice to do good, even though her adoration was misplaced. Again, the photo of me had caused major turmoil, at least from my point of view.

But other folks didn’t know that. To them, I was the sassy, curvy female out to make a point about women in tech. And with the #meToo movement underway, my timing had been just perfect.