“Titan operates on a strict code of ethics. You don’t need to worry about her.”
“I’m sure you’re right. But I sleep better at night knowing I have equal say. I believe a partnership will allow me to grow as an entrepreneur and explore different areas of business. I also believe it will allow me to grow as a person, to give me the kind of legacy that people will remember long after I’m gone. Titan is a respectable woman with a brilliant mind. I want to be viewed in the same way.”
“So this is about fame?”
She considered my question long before she answered. “No. It’s about respect.”
Titan cared about her image immensely. It took her a long time to earn the respect of the world, to be treated equally. It was a heavy burden on her shoulders, and sometimes the weight was too heavy. But she never let it defeat her. It made her stand stronger, made her prouder. Even though she could give up everything and hide away as a very wealthy woman, she loved it too much. She loved being a role model, a symbol for women everywhere.
Ms. Alexander was exactly the same.
It really wasn’t about money.
“Titan isn’t interested in a partnership. I’ve already said that.”
“Yes.” She kept her shoulders back and her chest forward, and her firm tits were difficult not to stare at. Even if I didn’t look at them, everything about her was innately sexy. Her slender shoulders led to small arms. She had a hint of a bicep, and her forearms were defined. The diamond earrings in her lobes reflected the light coming in from the windows. Her face was her most beautiful feature. With almond-shaped eyes, a small nose, and a few freckles on her cheeks, she was absolutely lovely. Her full lips were the most distracting. They were so plump and thick. God, they would feel wonderful against my mouth.
Thorn, stop.
I tried to stop thinking about her looks and focus on the conversation. “I’ve known Titan for a long time, and I know her better than almost anyone.” Diesel had replaced me. “She’s not going to change her mind. I suggest you reconsider. I’m not saying this to get what I want. But I think you’re losing a great opportunity here.”
“I’m sure you’re being sincere,” she said casually. “But again, I’m simply not interested in that route.”
Now that there was nothing more to say, I held her gaze. I could do it for hours, just stare at her sparkling green eyes and her fair cheeks. Her dark hair made her skin appear even lighter, even though it had a nice rosy color to it. Her mouth was just as hypnotizing as her eyes. As if someone had constructed her to portray the overwhelming beauty of a painting, she was stunning. The more I looked at her, the more I couldn’t deny it. “I saw you went to MIT. That’s impressive.” I was a very busy man, so I wasn’t much of a conversationalist. I didn’t care to learn more about my potential business partners. All I wanted to know was what they had to offer. But the comment came out of my mouth all on its own.
“And I also dropped out of MIT.”
For some reason, that impressed me even more. She got into one of the most esteemed colleges in the world, but even that wasn’t good enough for her. “How long were you there?”
“One semester.”
“What made you leave?”
“My ideas. My studies were too time-consuming and distracting. All I wanted to do was work on a solar cell model, so I decided to take a permanent hiatus to focus on my passions. A lot of people said it was a stupid idea, and I enjoyed proving them wrong.”
Just by the limited conversation between us, I could tell this woman’s intelligence exceeded mine—by a landslide. I had strength in business, but she had strength in a discipline I couldn’t even pretend to understand. Not only was she a remarkable scientist, but she managed to create a product that made a lot of money. Titan was right when she warned me not to underestimate this woman.
“You went to Yale, right?”
My eyebrows rose when I realized she’d read up on me. “Yes.”
“That’s a great school.”
“It’s no MIT.”
“School is supposed to prepare you for the real world, but honestly, the only thing that can prepare you for the real world is yourself.”
I didn’t ask her for an elaboration because I knew she was speaking from her personal life. When I researched her, I found a lot of detailed specifics about her work but not much about her. Her technology took all the fame, but very few people knew she was the one behind it.
I found myself wanting to stay and continue this conversation, but I knew it was both pointless and inappropriate. I would have to disappoint Titan and say the deal wasn’t going to happen. And I would have to walk away from this woman and forget about her. A part of me wanted to ask her to get a drink with me, but I knew it would be a conflict of interest. Besides, she didn’t strike me as the kind of woman who’d be interested in casual sex. I wasn’t even sure if she was attracted to me. It was difficult to read that hard mask of hers. She was professional to the point of making Titan seem amateur. “Thank you for your time. I wish you the best for Alexander Applications.” I rose to my feet.
Her eyes immediately glanced down, looking right at my crotch. She held the look for a few heartbeats before she met my gaze again.
I glanced
