Chapters (45)
- Cover
- Dedication
- Pulse
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY–ONE
- TWENTY–TWO
- TWENTY–THREE
- TWENTY–FOUR
- TWENTY–FIVE
- TWENTY–SIX
- TWENTY–SEVEN
- TWENTY–EIGHT
- TWENTY–NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY–ONE
- THIRTY–TWO
- THIRTY–THREE
- THIRTY–FOUR
- THIRTY–FIVE
- THIRTY–SIX
- THIRTY–SEVEN
- THIRTY–EIGHT
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- RESOURCES
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- What’s next onyour reading list?
Lucy and Maddie watched until it got . . . creepy.
Then, Lucy clapped her hands together and pointed to the Ada Lovelace quotation on the back of the door. “Okay, team, contrary to the vibe in the room right now, can we use our powers of imagination to dive into the sciences and get back to Operation Flatline?”
THIRTY–TWO
VULTURE CAPITALIST • Investor who takes advantage of struggling entrepreneurs by buying their companies for less than what they’re worth and selling them for a profit
ValleyStart: And so we are here. Beside those we hold dear. With Demo Day about to begin, the only question left is . . . who will win?
Maddie stood next to the fountain in front of their dorm while Delia’s parents embraced her. They’d flown overnight to be there in time. Inheriting the curls from her dad and the blonde from her mom, Delia was the perfect blend of her parents, same as Maddie was. Though without her parents there, no one would know.
Delia introduced Claire and Jeffrey Meyer to Maddie.
“Nice to meet—” Maddie’s greeting was interrupted by Claire’s arms, which encircled her with a flourish and filled the air with the scent of lilac. Maddie stiffened, but Claire only squeezed tighter.
When they parted, one hand remained on each of Maddie’s shoulders. “Why, you are simply astonishing! Delia gave us a sneak peek of your logo, and with that alone you sealed this, my dear.”
Jeffrey bobbed his head. “No matter what those judges say, you three should be taking your bows.”
The smile Maddie gave Delia’s parents was bittersweet. She never really expected her parents to come; she didn’t need them to. They’d only exchange toxic glares and snipe at each other, and Maddie would be trying to cover as usual. The day would be about them, not about her.
Claire and Jeffrey Meyer hugged their daughter again.
And a hot prick in Maddie’s eyes betrayed her. Because, sure, she didn’t need her parents. But want was an entirely different thing.
Delia brushed against Maddie’s shoulder, nudging her gently as they started to walk to breakfast. Lucy, though she wouldn’t admit it, was a bundle of nerves and had gone for a run instead of eating.
None of them had slept.
The presentation for Girl Empowered had ruled the night—both rehearsing it and adding to it. Because it now included the results of Operation Flatline. They’d call Ryan out in person in front of the entire Demo Day crowd. This time, they’d be heard.