Chapter 13
When I arrive at Adam Harris’s house, I only plan to stay for an hour.
Two at most. I’m here to shake hands with the investors I know will be attending, selling them on committing new funds to our development platform.
This is a work event, not a flirt-with-Dani event.
I hope she isn’t here. That would be ideal.
If she is … No, it doesn’t matter. You can’t.
As I step out of the black SUV, I spot Declan Kruk, Mr. Cryptoball himself, on the phone.
He’s pacing along the sidewalk. When Bitcoin was on a run a couple of years ago, he was the most famous tech founder in America.
But crypto is nowhere near what it once was.
His net worth and Cryptoball’s value are down by at least half.
I can only hope my first down year isn’t as bad as Declan’s—or that I never have a down year.
I started Real-ity around the same time he founded his company. We’re in an unofficial fraternity being CEOs of the fastest growing companies in Chicago, and we share Harris Ventures as a VC partner.
Declan’s name is synonymous with his company. The thought makes me think of Dani’s business pitch. People hear the word Cryptoball and immediately think of Declan. He’s a media whore as well as a die-hard about sober living. Two things that set us apart.
I nod, passing him and he holds up a finger, signaling he’s almost done. It sounds like he’s speaking Italian. “Gideon, it’s been too long,” he says after hanging up. We shake hands, and he looks at my arms. “Dude, you’re looking jacked.”
“No days off … You get it.” He nods, and I decide to ask him for advice. He’s so in bed with Adam. He would know how to manage him. “Any tips on getting Adam out of the weeds on my business?”
Declan chuckles. “Make money. Thank God I made Adam fucking rich before Bitcoin took a shit.” Declan looks thoughtful for a moment before he says, “Let him think he’s got the bigger dick.
” His phone starts ringing again. “I’m starting to take it personally that you aren’t coming to my tech founder dinners,” he says, before answering.
I gesture inside, hoping to catch up later, relieved that I don’t have to tell him how a sober party on a weeknight is the last thing I want to do.
Stepping up to Adam’s brick home, it’s awe-inspiring. Like others, I know too much about this house because it was in the news cycle during Adam’s very public divorce. I can’t believe he lives in this large place alone.
Inside, my eyes immediately land on Dani, who is gliding down the foyer stairs in a breathtaking emerald satin gown. Her hair is curled and perfectly styled. And that dress. It’s screaming to be slid off.
There goes my plan to focus on raising additional capital tonight. How could I be focused on anything but her? We lock eyes, and she greets me with that gorgeous smile of hers. It’s the kind of smile that lights up a room. Fuck. She is beautiful.
“Gideon,” she coos, full of warmth. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here.”
“I was thinking the same,” I say, my eyes trailing over her hourglass figure, perfectly highlighted by the dress. Keep it in your pants.
She puts her arms behind her back for a moment, and I notice she moved the diamond ring from her left ring finger to her right one. I nearly huff aloud. Wearing a diamond ring on your left hand—that only says one thing. She and Adam are anything but over. It shouldn’t matter to me, but it does.
“What’s the deal with the ring?”
She chuckles, then leans in, whispering, “Take a girl to dinner and find out.”
Her proximity … it’s captivating. This perfume. She wasn’t wearing it the other day. The scent is almost androgynous—not floral, more woody. Expensive.
“Champagne?” a server offers, Dani does not hesitate to grab a flute.
Breaking my gaze, I turn to the server. “What do you have for bourbon?”
“Everything,” she says, clearly excited to work a high-end party.
“What’s something I could get in trouble for drinking?” I ask playfully. “I’ll have that.”
Dani giggles. “Follow me; I’ll show you the good stuff.”