Lucy’s father may not have been around much, but she knew what she could rely on him for: anything that could be accomplished with a wire transfer or the gifting of a stock option. It was how Lucy did everything from trading volleys with a former Wimbledon semifinalist at tennis camp to being the first to sport a limited-production sneaker from Nike.

But Ryan created Pulse all on his own.

And Lucy was an adult now.

And so Lucy extracted her lavender-scented hand sanitizer wipes from the side pocket of her bag and began disinfecting the pee-proof mattress.

*   *   *

A double rap on the door made Lucy jump. Her head collided with the underside of the bunk above her.

“Dammit!” she said, whirling around, sanitizer wipe in hand.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

A brown-skinned woman stood in the doorway. She wore a coral scarf over a crisp white linen shirt and wide-legged trousers, which made her already long legs appear even longer. Her dark hair pulled back at the nape of her neck accentuated her sharp cheekbones.

Nishi Kapoor. It was Nishi Kapoor.

Lucy stuffed the used wipe under the belt at the back of her sundress and smoothed her hair while simultaneously feeling for a welt.

“You seemed pretty focused there,” Nishi said. “Is something wrong with the room?”

“How much time do you have?” Lucy gave a little laugh.

“Sorry, but it’s pretty standard as college dorms go.”

“Right, sure. I know. Just figured I’d spruce it up.” Lucy fought the flush she felt creeping up her neck. “For my roommates.”

“How thoughtful.” Nishi stepped forward and extended her hand. “Nishi Kapoor.”

“Lucy Katz.”

“Welcome to the program, Lucy. And accept my apologies if I’m a bit starstruck.”

Lucy exhaled a sigh of relief. “I know, I mean, Ryan Thompson’s going to be here.”

Nishi shook her head. “Oh no, I meant you. Daughter of Abigail Katz, if I’m not mistaken?”

“My mom? You know my mom?”

“What woman in tech doesn’t?” Nishi said. “I’m excited to see what you have in store for us, Lucy. Our attendees never fail to astound me.”

“It’s amazing that you have time to mentor.”

“Not so much ‘have’ as make. Three years running. My first year, the internships were at my company.”

All facts jotted down in Lucy’s notebook. “That was the daily planner app bought by Google for—”

“Enough to fund my second company. And my third.”

“And steal this beautiful lady right out from under me.” A man with tanned white skin, a swimmer’s build, and a perfectly manicured five o’clock shadow poked his head in the doorway. He winked as he strode into the room, giving Nishi a peck on her cheek. “Good seeing you, NK.”

Lucy froze.

Ryan Thompson.

In her dorm room.

Her dark, dingy dorm room that now smelled like lavender-coated desperation.