I pull my mom into a hug. “You’re right. But please promise you will quit trying to set me up with powerful women.”
Mom pulls away to look at me, smirking. “I’m not going to need to,” she says smugly.
I pretend like I don’t know what she means. “Because of the four million?”
Her smile widens. “Sure, Caleb.”
CHAPTER 15
MALIA
I’ve offered up zero brilliance for Senator Card. In fact, she’s probably wondering how I even got the top job at Vire. I’m so distracted by what Caleb might be thinking, I can barely pay attention to her words.
I take a deep breath and pull up some polite, professional words. “Senator Card,” I break in to something she was saying about how tech isn’t going away and we need to define its roles in governing early or redefine some things that are already set. She looks surprised at the interruption but stops talking. “I’ll be honest. I’m having a hard time focusing in this environment. It’s not the best place for a discussion like this.” I temper my expression with a little bit of apology, but I let the rebuke stand, even when her surprise deepens and she clenches her jaw. She shouldn’t have ambushed me at the wedding, and for as much as she’s touting wanting strong female voices in decisions like this, she’s treating this like I’m the one who should be honored she’s asked.
“Oh,” she says and gives a light laugh. “I guess I’ve gotten used to multitasking.”
I shrug. “I find I’m more efficient when I’m not dividing my attention.” I stand and open my clutch, pulling a card from it and handing it over. “Have your staff set up a call with me next week. I’ll let my assistant know to save some time for it.” I reach out to shake her hand after I’ve given her the card, and she takes it, still looking bewildered.
“Okay.” She tucks the card into the pocket of the shimmery blazer she’s wearing with her matching flowing wide-leg pants. The outfit is pale pink, in keeping with the wedding colors, and is a fabulous ensemble, to be honest. She keeps her professional power vibe with a romantic, soft touch. “It was lovely to meet you, Malia,” she says with a polished smile.
“And you as well.” I stride away. I need to go find Caleb. It’s time to put on my own metaphorical power suit to remind him that what I do doesn’t matter. I have a part in the blame for this by purposefully being vague about my job because of his issues with his mom, but I’m not letting go of a great relationship because of it. If Lucy inWhile You Were Sleepingcan tell the truth when it threatens to ruin her relationship with the one she loves, I can do it with much smaller stakes.
I pause before I make my way outside to collect myself. I also text my sister.
Malia
Caleb found out I’m CEO of Vire and I think he’s freaking out.
Skye
How did he find out?
Malia
A senator here at the wedding asked to talk with me about a data privacy law, and she mentioned it was because I was CEO of a big tech firm.
My phone rings immediately.
“Malia,” Skye cries. “A state senator?”
I frown and roll my eyes. I want to go find Caleb, not have yet another conversation with my sister about my job. “A U.S. senator. Gina Card, from Texas.”
“You.” Skye’s voice is incredulous.
“Skye.” I use the same tone as she does. “I am the CEO of Vire Gaming, which is a subsidiary of Northline Holdings, a billion-dollar technology corporation, like second-tier Google.”
There’s stunned silence on the other end of the line.
“Skye!” I repeat. “How do you not know this? Have you ever bothered to search about Vire when you were doubting whether I had a good enough job?”
“I thought it was like a startup or something, like that one you worked for after college.” Her voice is strangled.
I bark a laugh. I had to share an apartment with, like, six other women because my salary was so laughable.
“When I searched it, it said it was a gaming studio, Malia,” she protests, defending herself. “That sounded small. And Northline Holdings sounds like a shady investment group, to be honest. Holy—” She cuts herself off, and I swallow a laugh. This is actually quite satisfying. “Sis, are you like the female Steve Jobs?”
“Not quite,” I say. “A few steps down. But still a pretty big deal.”
