I grinned. ‘But what if we weren’t?’ I felt a rush of adrenaline imagining the opportunities that lay ahead. ‘What if we’re pitching the future of dating for menandwomen? What if we ask the apps to partner with us on promoting safety features? Let’s make an app designed to create genuine, safe connections in the search for love.’
Katy seemed pleased at the new concept, smiling as I spoke.
‘And we still get people to write reviews? Like a Rate My Date type thing?’ Zola questioned, wrapping her head around my idea.
‘Yes, but instead of anyone being able to go on and write up anyone else, we give both parties forty-eight hours from meeting to complete a short questionnaire, which avoids scorned exes blasting someone’s reputation. We get them to write a short paragraph, perhaps based on a questionnaire and .?.?.’
Ethan puffed, as if I was going too slow for him. ‘We insert an AI tool which will generate an overall summary of the key elements people generally leave in their reviews of that person.’
Zola smirked. ‘Cool, so if one hundred women call him an ass and two call him a god, he’ll be described as an ass?’
‘Precisely. AI filters the probability of the keywords used by the daters’ questionnaire and creates an accurate overall review,’ Ethan concluded.
‘And I feel really strongly about pushing the safety aspect of the app,’ I said. ‘It’s also great PR. We can add features to the app about safety and advice for meeting strangers. Maybe make users take a tutorial of safe dating tips when a first date is being arranged?’
Britney cleared her throat. ‘I’m sorry, Ella, but this is such a U-turn from the app we thought we were creating. We’ve already planned the PR strategy around your initial women-only app. I don’t think we’ll have time to re-plan a whole PR campaign if we expect the app to launch by Thanksgiving.’
My heart dropped. I should have voiced my doubts earlier, but they’d somehow become all tangled up with Katy and Philip – too much background noise, and I’d kept quiet. Now, though, everything was sharp, crystal clear. This had to be the version we put into the world. I needed to stand behind something I believed in.
‘I understand that time is a factor, Britney,’ I began.
‘Not just a factor, Ella. It’s practically impossible to carry out all this work in a five-week time frame, I’m sorry!’ She placed her pen down and stared towards Jimmy for some form of understanding.
‘Oh, please.’ Katy laughed loudly.
Zola swung her head round, facing her, making her braids rattle off the chair.
‘That’s not true!’ Katy continued. ‘Zola, Ella, and I have managed PR for projects this size and completed them in less than a fortnight. You’re being so defeatist, Britney. You have a whole team of people.’
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. But my friend was right. I had no real idea whether the app’s technical side could be ready, but I did know the PR side inside out, and I knew it was doable, especially with the entire team of minions that negative cunt had.
‘Jimmy!’ Britney squeaked.
Jimmy remained quiet for a few moments, then turned his attention to Ethan, who was staring at his hands.
‘Ethan, could the app be ready for download with all of the new features we’ve discussed?’
Zola threw back her head, assuming another issue was about to arise. She knew he didn’t like working with her as it was.
‘It will be ready, Jimmy. I can start tonight, which will give us a head start in the morning. We’d have to pull some pretty hardcore late nights, but it is possible.’
I grinned widely, turning to Zola and Katy.
‘I can help with PR. Britney, remember that is my background,’ I added reassuringly, but authoritatively.
‘We can only try.’ She puffed and pouted, keeping her stare fixed on Jimmy.
‘OK, I think we’re done then. I’ll email everyone an up-to-date list of the features required. Please speak up if you think of anything else that will enhance our offer. I have a really great feeling about this,’ I added, looking round at everyone to include them in my smile. After all, I really did need them on side.
‘All right.’ Jimmy clapped his hands, and the boardroom – minus Britney – joined in applauding my speech. I felt myself blush, turning to Jimmy and grinning.
Finally, I felt like I could do this.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Katy
As the meeting ended, Zola and Katy made their way over to Ella, who seemed nervous. As they approached, she held up her hands.
