“Mr. Odericco, I know what I did was misguided, but I would like the opportunity to explain my actions personally.”
“Self-awareness does not supersede foolishness.” He looks up from his phone, placing it face down on the table. “Besides, Mr. Cole has already told me everything.”
My heart stops for a few beats as the latch clicks and a solemn-looking Spencer walks through the door, closing it behind him. My eyebrows raise off the top of my head as I watch my brother sheepishly take a seat next to Dominic Odericco.
My mouth falls open. “What are you doing here?” We haven’t spoken since our fight, but I saw his name among the list of calls and messages barraging my phone before it went kaput this morning.
“Thanks for joining us.” Dominic gives Spencer a genuine soft smile. My confusion rises. Why are they still so chummy? Spencer lied to him too.
“You didn’t have to bring him in too; this was all me,” I insist.
“I didn’t invite him. I found him camped out in front of the building yesterday morning, claiming your entire plan was his idea and if anyone was going to be punished, it should be him.
“But while we were talking, you posted your video. And it quickly became obvious he was lying to cover for you.”
Spencer shrugs. “I thought it was worth a shot.”
My eyes fill with tears, stinging the edges of my eyelids as I blink them back. He stares at me, all warmth. An apology and a forgiveness all at once. Our bond goes beyond anything else. Even though we might piss each other off, we’re still siblings. As annoying as Spencer can be, as much as our family favorshim, he’ll always be my brother. And I’m so glad he is here. I want to run and hug him, to squeeze his hand under the table, to tell him we’re okay and we always will be. That I love him so much for what he tried to do for me.
“I appreciate that you have decided to step down as CEO. But as much as you two have fucked up, I still think Wyst has merit, and now... the whole world is looking at it.” Dominic holds his hands up. “The last thing I want out of this situation is a loud public mess. TechRumble is something I’m very proud of, something that draws forth the newest innovations in technology. If this farcical series of events affects my one passion project, then there’s going to be hell to pay.”
I internally wince; seeing a glimpse of his wrath is terrifying. I glance at Spencer, who seems even more entranced by Dominic’s shift in demeanor.
“But I still want to help fund Wyst. Odericco Investments’ portfolio needs a bit of diversification. I’ve been attempting to spearhead this for several years now, but I haven’t found a start-up that has the right...” He purses his lips. “Reputation.”
I sit back. “Right... And by reputation, you mean what exactly?” Jesus, who am I right now? Three months ago, I would have burst into tears from just an invitation to the Odericco office. And now all of a sudden, I’ve become big balled enough to question his interest? “Because I don’t want Wyst to be upheld as some shining example of FemTech just so you can use us as a stepping stone to a more diverse portfolio.” I cross my arms for emphasis; even if I have stepped down as CEO, I’m still the sole owner and founder of the company.
Dominic takes a sip of his coffee, still boiling hot. “Can’t it be both?”
I don’t respond as he continues, “I assume you’re now looking for alternative employment? I have a new role I think you might be interested in.”
We stare at each other, and a shiver runs down my spine. This is the icy, determined robot stare everyone talks about; this is the legacy he has already written.
“I’ll think about it,” I say, taking a breath. “But only if you also pledge to implement blind applications. TechRumble should be putting its money where its mouth is.”
Spencer covers his smile with a hand, squinting at me with gleaming eyes.
Dominic’s mouth almost twitches into a smile before he decides against such a frivolous indulgence. He leans back, enjoying the delicious, stressed silence as he takes another slow sip of his coffee. “Done.”
Chapter 32
Business Account (WYST) BALANCE: -£5,202.77
Personal Account BALANCE: -£2,055.57
Spencer and I step out of the Odericco Investments building with a renewed sense of bewilderment and vigor. Nine-to-fivers are pacing frantically to pick up a sandwich before heading back to their desks. They weave around us, barely leaving an inch of space. It’s started to rain, but neither one of us has an umbrella. My body has just begun returning to normal after being in fight-or-flight mode for the past three hours. Dominic and I spent the last hour in his office discussing what a FemTech board would look like, how we would build it out, and who else we would bring in. All while Spencer entertained himself on a sofa in the corner, making the most of the break room’s complimentary snack cupboard.
I slipped into the role quickly and efficiently in the meeting, which almost feels like a sign that I should take this position. I’ve blown up my only other option. This is the best-case scenario. It’s marred by being backed into a corner, but in reality... how long would I have been able to play out the lie we built? How long would Spencer have to turn up and fake-run quarterly reportmeetings with Odericco Investments? How complicated would it have been to create a narrative in which Spencer steps down from his role of CEO as a TechRumble third-place finalist and puts his assistant in charge? Would I have had to change my legal name to Violet to stay on top of the lie? In a way, Malcolm’s blackmail made me finally face the reality of the situation I had created out of panic, depression, and desperation.
A black cab speeding past pulls me back onto the pavement with Spencer. He’s been staring at me as I’ve been zoning out, trying to analyze and process everything that has just happened this morning, not even the past few days. For now, I lock all that up to focus on the major decision. For the first time today, I study Spencer. He looks uncomfortable, more dressed up than usual, but his shirt and trousers are rumpled like he’s thrown them on, whipping them from the chair known as the Clothes Horse in his flat at the very last minute.
Finally, he asks, “What are you going to do?”
What Iwantto do is sleep for one hundred days, being tucked up under full fluffy duvets in nice pajamas and kept alive by other people—namely, a certain amazing chef I know, who will feed me homemade meals and go down on me on request. Instead of saying that, I throw my bag over my shoulder, gripping the brown folder of documents I was going to throw at Odericco Investments lawyers when they were eventually brought forth by Dominic in the meeting. “I’m going to get a drink, and you’re coming with me.”
He nods, probably out of fear of doing anything else after going behind my back to Dominic. I’m wired, my brain running a thousand miles a minute with ideas. Possibilities. But I need to absorb what happened before I talk to anyone else.That’s one benefit of having a twin; they just get you because it would be impossiblenotto get you. It would be weirder if they couldn’t predict your next words or how a single twitch is a window to your emotional state.
Ten minutes later, the smell of alcohol-soaked carpets, roasted nuts, and beer fills our nostrils as we sit down in a dark corner booth in the nearest pub, the Duke’s Folly. Despite it only being midday, the room is almost full, circles of workers and people in business casual littering the floor; cheers and bursts of laughter, murmuring groups, and the occasional smashing glass soundtrack our entrance as Spencer runs to the only empty booth.
