She squints and flicks a skeptical glance down my body before continuing.
“My intellectual property will remain my own.Any code, program, system, etc., etc.that I create for your company will be filed through the proper channels by myself.I will claim full ownership and grant you exclusive permission to use if for a limited time of my choosing.”
A chorus of greetings sounds as the bride and groom step into the room.
“Any other conditions?”I ask.
“We will not hide our previous connections or the fact you offered me this job because my brother is your best friend,” she demands.
Ex-best friend, my brain insists.
Warning bells ring in my head at her sharp tone as she speaks her last condition.
Brennan Diamond, who has been a better friend than her brother even though we only reach out intermittently, calls for everyone’s attention and introduces the wedding planner.I met Brennan in college and saw his determination to make something of himself, so when he dropped out of school, I kept tabs on him and helped him as much as he’d let me when he was in a tight spot.Now his success rivals my own, but since we’re not in the same sectors, we’re not strictly competitors.
“Deal or no deal?”Penelope asks.
Her demands are preposterous.Ridiculous.Unhinged.
No other wildly successful business would allow an employee to claim intellectual ownership of what they build while working for the company; in fact, some would even say it’s corporate suicide, but I respond without an ounce of hesitation.
“Deal.”
She thrusts the folder at me.I take it from her outstretched hands.
“We can sign after you make the corrections,” she says.
“I’ll have them finished by tonight.Join me for—”
“No.This is the only time I’ll discuss business with you outside of normal working hours,” she says.
This isn’t the timid little girl I coaxed out of her shell through weeks of patience during my senior year; it’s a cutthroat, business-savvy professional who knows what she’s worth.I’d hate to go up against this woman in the boardroom, but I love the no-nonsense confidence emanating from her.
“Then let’s exchange contact information,” I say.
I pull my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans, unlock it, and slide it across the table to her.
She eyes my home screen for a moment before flicking a glance at my face as though skeptical I meant to give her unfettered access to my device before she lifts my phone into her tiny, delicate hand.
She can have it all.I have nothing to hide from her.
Why has it taken me this long to get her number?I could’ve just asked her brother—or even her parents when I went to visit them—but I always worried I’d be overstepping.Maybe part of me also knew I would definitely cross the line if I had direct access to her.
And now I do.
Giddy excitement jangles within me, but I tamper it with a calm, pleased smile as I take my phone from her.When our fingers brush, she jerks back and whacks her elbow on the edge of the table.I reach for her but pull away before I grab her arm.As she hisses and rubs her elbow, her watch reflects the overhead lighting.
Opposite the hand she wears her ring on, I notice how large the smart watch is on her dainty forearm for the first time.They sell much smaller models with the same functions, but if she stares at computer screens all day, I don’t blame her for wanting a bigger interface with larger script.
Brennan transfers control to the wedding planner.She thanks everyone and requests our patience throughout the next few weeks as they finalize everything for the wedding then announces she’ll guide us around the venue for a quick tour.
As Penelope stands, I slip the folder back into my bag and tuck my phone into my back pocket as I rise.She waves at the group of ladies gathering by the door and rushes to join them.I curb the urge to reach out for her and instead follow near the back of the crowd.
Her friends give me hard looks even after confirming I returned her ring to her.I accept their scrutiny with humility by keeping Penelope’s look of terror when I crawled under the table to help her yesterday at the forefront of my thoughts.She deserves all the friend and family support in the world.
As far as I can tell, none of the ladies mention the conversation we had after Penelope left yesterday, but I give them space when the planner pauses in the atrium to hand out pamphlets.I use the moment of downtime to send an email to my lawyer.Tagging it as both important and urgent ensures he’ll complete the contract adjustments within twelve hours.
We resume the tour and stop in the ballroom where the ceremony will tale place.
