Read Online Steal: A Bad Boy Romance by D.G. Whiskey - Free Book Online

expensive,” I acknowledged. “We feel the added cost is worth it for most
organizations, but like I said, we haven’t focused on charities before.”
    “To
be honest, I can’t see us switching, Kat. More expensive, more of a hassle, and
it’s not like we’re getting hacked all the time. Plus that’s what we have
insurance for, and I doubt we could just drop the insurance if we switched,
even if your system is more secure than what we’re currently using.”
    I
frowned. Everything Beth said made total sense, and it was a variation of the
same thing I’d gotten used to hearing every day. There were already so many
encryption methods out there, and the vast majority were “good enough.” So what
if ARCANE was more secure—if it cost so much more, not many people would
want to pay for little additional benefit.
    “Thanks
for the insight, Beth. That does help a lot, gives me some things to think
over. We might have to change our tactics to achieve any market
penetration.”
    “Anything
I could do to help, Kat. We need to get together for a girls’ night soon.
Although with this little one growing inside my belly, it might have to be more
popcorn and movie than drinks and dancing like we used to.”
    I
smiled, even though Beth couldn't see it. “That sounds lovely, Beth. I’ll
get in touch and set something up! I can’t wait to meet your little munchkin when he or she shows up.”
    “Talk
to you later.”
    “Bye.”
    Crap.
    The
conversation hadn’t gone the way I’d hoped. Instead, it had been a rude wake-up
call from the echo chamber of the ARCANE office. Inside these walls, it was so
clear that ARCANE encryption was the future and it was only a matter of time
before the world saw the light. It was jarring to speak to a member of the
public who had no connection to the company and couldn’t see a use for it.
    Are we doomed?
    If
I couldn’t persuade a good friend to even consider bringing her organization
over to our services, what hopes did I have of reaching dozens of new clients
to keep my job?
    I
slumped onto the desk and rested my head on my forearms. There had to be
something I could do. The main problem was lack of awareness—nobody has
heard of ARCANE or why it’s better than every other service or method out
there. The secondary problem was the value proposition—whether ARCANE was
better enough to justify the switch and extra cost.
    Ugh.
    As
the head of marketing, the lack of awareness was under my purview. I had
to figure out a way to put ARCANE on the map.
    My
phone beeped from its place on the desk right beside my head. I lifted my head
to check the message—it was from James.
    My
heart sped up and tingles raced down my spine to gather between my legs. Just
the sight of his name was enough to rev my body's engines.
    Hey Kat, have you eaten yet?
Grabbing lunch in the city near you, want to meet up?
    My
stomach grumbled. That wasn’t the only part of me that felt needy at the
thought of meeting up with James.
    Lunch is fine. You won’t be able
to have sex with him over lunch. It’ll be a nice, safe way to talk with him
more.
    Sure! There’s a vegan Mexican
place nearby that I’ve been dying to try. Does that work for you?
    I
couldn’t focus on work until he responded. Every time I turned to my computer,
my eyes unfocused and thought of the other night. That turned into day dreams
about James bending me over the table in the restaurant for everyone to see.
    I
shivered, and it wasn’t from cold.
    That works. Want to do noon?
    Only
an hour away. Somehow I’d have to cool off by then or else I’d risk not being
able to even make civilized conversation with the man.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    CHAPTER 10
    ~ J AMES ~

 
    Just like that. You will scream for me once I’m all the way inside of
you.
    It
was almost time to leave for lunch with Kat, but I couldn’t help but fantasize
about what it would be like when I finally fucked her. I’d waited years