Page 11 (1/2)

She packed a pair of capris, a sundress, and then figured they’d go somewhere nice to eat She pursed her lips and stared into the closet

Well, darabbed the black dress and packed that, too Just in case

She did herdownstairs and laid it by the front door

She gathered up her planner and her phone and charger and put those in her tote bag just as the doorbell rang She opened it and Nathan stood there, wearing his signature boyish grin

"Ready?" he asked

"Yes" She nodded and picked up her bag He took it froot this"

She followed him out to his SUV, surprised to see they were alone

"Where’s Jairlfriend?"

"Wendy had a clienttoin the back of the SUV Mia clier seat and buckled up Since they waited until after six to leave, they shouldthe city Or that was their hope when they planned this out

They did hit soe, it wasn’t too bad Mia still couldn’t believe she lived here It was so beautiful and as she looked out over the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay, she took a deep breath and re her drea about over there?" Nathan asked

She turned her attention toward Nathan "I was thinking about how lucky I a up MHC The past several ed down in all the stress of the start-up and I’ve forgotten how much this all means to me and how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to do it"

He nodded "Yeah, we’re both lucky"

"No, you’re talented I’ed lanes and moved into the carpool lane "Bullshit You think you’d be able to do what you’re doing if you didn’t have the smarts and the talent? Come on, Mia Give yourself some credit You worked hard for this No one hit the books in school more than you did You were always focused and driven It’s one of the things I ad her face warm fro for co and things to fall into place for me to be able to start up this company For you, that athletic ability was either there or not You’ve had it your entire life And look what you’ve done with it You want to talk about drive and ambition? That’s you You knehat you wanted to do and youabout the sa We both have talent It just manifests itself in different ways I could never do what you do"

"Oh, coone into the draft after your junior year Instead, you stayed and got your degrees And they aren’t fluff degrees, either They are in finance and math"

"That’s only so I could pick up the smart chicks Like you"

She rolled her eyes "Was not and I know it Though it was fortunate that you and I met in Differential Calculus I saved your ass in that class"

"That you did And then I saved yours in Geometrical Statistics"

She wrinkled her nose "I hated that class"

He laughed "I reain? How did your day go today?"

"It was fine I worked out and met with some PR people"

Her ears perked up "PR people?"

"Yeah So to be the starting quarterback They had soet me more exposure, coue"

"It was I don’t think I’ll use the concrete to offer"

"Do you have other people to talk to? Other coed "I don’t know I haven’t thought hed She didn’t want to do this, but she wasthat line between friendship and business "You should let MHC do a presentation for you"

He gave her a quick glance before turning his attention back on the road "You e ood and now that you’re going to be the starting quarterback, you need a coht, froies to your financial future I know you have a great agent and he’s worked with our team with some of our other clients and prospective clients He could sit in on the presentation"