“A-a-nd, there she is,” Lucy called, waving her phone. “Looks like we found my friend.”

THIRTEEN

FAST TRACK TO UNICORN STATUS • Startups or individuals seen as so smart and on point that they’re on their way to instant success; high rate of false positives

THIS WAS LUCY’S WEEK.

Sure, she could handle some amount of code. She knew enough to be entry level (okay, more than) at most organizations. But this was her domain.

“Can anyone tell me three elements of a business plan?” Nishi asked.

Please.

Lucy’s hand shot up. “Executive summary, business description, products and services, marketing strategy, management team, funding requirements, financial forecast.”

Beside her, Lucy sensed Delia fidgeting. She caught her eye, and Delia mouthed, “market analysis.” Lucy couldn’t believe she forgot. She tipped her head to defer to Delia, but instead of giving the answer, Delia shrank lower in her seat.

Lucy shrugged and announced it herself.

“Spot on. Even if it was more than three,” Nishi said.

“Aw, leave the little lamb alone, Ms. K,” Gavin called from the back of the room. “Can’t expect a pretty face and a head for numbers.”

From beside Delia, Eric spun around. “In some cases, neither.”

Gavin snorted. “See what happens, boys? A chick on your team makes you soft. Oh, well, not everywhere, right, Shaw?”

Emma sucked in a breath.

“You entitled piece of—” Fists balled, Eric shoved back his chair. Delia set her hand on his forearm, and he turned to her, sat back down, and clamped his mouth shut.

Well, would you look at that.

Nishi locked eyes with Gavin. “I won’t tolerate this in my room, and neither will this program, Mr. Cox. You’re not in high school anymore, and we don’t operate on a warning system. If today’s guest lecture didn’t make this an excellent teaching moment, you’d be out the door already.” His lips parted, and Nishi added, “And yes, I know who your father is. I turned down his funding offer for the second company I founded. I’m on my third, so that was probably an okay decision, wouldn’t you say, Mr. Cox?”

Gavin crossed his arms against his chest.

“Now, benefits of crowdfunding versus those dear VCs like Mr. Cox Senior?”

Lucy’s hand shot up.

“Anyone other than Lucy?”

No one spoke, and Lucy sat up straighter in her chair.

This was her week.

*   *   *

Lucy paused outside the entrance to the auditorium to check her Pulse.

♥♥♥♥

Thudding. No movement. Even after all those likes on the club pic. And there was Emma.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Crushing It. Level 10. Up from her 7 at the club.

How is that possible?

She logged in to the Stanford portal. Nothing.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

The ding of an arriving text sent her into her messages.