Another hand shot up, this one belonging to a brown-haired girl with braces in the third row. “You said you won the Young Entrepreneur’s Grant last year, right? That’s really hard to do. I was reading that only one percent of the applicants get picked. So, like—why do you think you were chosen?”

Annika paced a little as she spoke. “Well, you know, I think it all started with the fact that I was—I am—really, really passionate about what I want to do in this world. I want to bring people together, and every day I go to work excited that our app will help us do that. Honestly, even if we hadn’t gotten that grant, I’d still consider us a success. You know why?” The girl shook her head, her gaze riveted on Annika. “Because success means doing good in the world. It means waking up every day knowing you made the world better in some way, big or small.”

The girl’s face broke out in a big smile. “Cool. I want to make an app that pairs service dogs with disabled people according to personality and lifestyle needs.”

Annika clutched the mic with both hands. “That is an awesome idea. What’s your name?”

“Taylor.”

“Taylor, if you ever have any questions about the tech world, feel free to email June or me, okay?” Taylor nodded enthusiastically, and Annika looked over at the Latina girl. “And what’s your name?”

“Angelica.”

“Angelica, you too. In fact, any of the girls in this audience—take a business card and take us up on it. Because we’re out there doing the work and we want you to do that, too.”

The space exploded in applause—the girls were the loudest, but so was June. And—ha! So was Rita Davenport. Yes. And … Annika did a double take. Hudson was clapping, too.

She walked off the stage and right over to him. “So you thought you’d sabotage me, did you?” she said, as Tom made his way onto the stage.

He looked down at her, a slow smile spreading on his face. “Not bad, Ms. Dev. You almost convinced them you’re successful.”

She tipped her head back and looked down her nose at him, an impossible feat, considering the height differential. It was the intent that mattered. “And you almost convinced them you’re human. Let’s hope you learned your lesson, Mr. Craft. I’m invincible. I’m unstoppable. And I will kick your ass at EPIC.”

Annoyance flashed across his face as he turned to the refreshments table and poured himself a new cup of coffee. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

Annika tossed her hair over her shoulder and went to join June. She could tell, even without looking, that he was watching her go. An onlooker might accuse her of swaying her hips slightly more than necessary, but they’d be wrong. Totally and utterly wrong.