“You’re so fucking lucky.”

Mac stares at me like I’m literally made of gold.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” I say, trying to downplay it, although inside I’m buzzing with excitement.

“Not a big deal? You’re going to be working on a personal project with, like, the hottest billionaire in the world.”

“He’s not that hot.”

Mac punches my arm. “You shut your mouth.”

I grin at her and we sit down together on a bench. Mac lives with me in a tiny apartment off campus, just a few minutes away by bike. It’s early in the morning, ten to eight, and we’re camped just down the block from the address Jason emailed last night. Mac has an early class so she very politely told me that she’d be coming along, or else.

Mac’s as enamored with Jason as I am, and I can’t blame her. The guy is gorgeous and rich and brilliant. She just wants to catch a glimpse of him, although I’m afraid she’s going to do something stupid. She’s tall, pretty, with straight blonde hair and dark brown eyes. She runs track and writes poetry.

We’re practically polar opposites. She’s been my best friend since freshman year.

“Look, okay, it’s not like he’s going to come to work shirtless, you know?”

“Oh, god, don’t even say that.” Mac flutters her eyelashes. “Heaven forbid.”

“He’s my professor, okay?”

“Even better. Seriously, Clara, don’t pretend like you’re not lusting after him.”

I sigh and sip my coffee. “Okay, fine, whatever. I want him to take me back to his apartment and ravish me.”

Mac rolls her eyes. “You mean you want to suck his dick until he falls in love with you.”

“Oh, god,” I groan.

“Seriously, I’d swallow for that guy every single time.”

“Mac.”

“He could put it anywhere. I’m not even joking. I’d give up my butt for that guy.”

I groan. “Too much, Mac.”

She shrugs and gives me an innocent smile. “Just saying, you’d do the same.”

I glance away from her. She’s absolutely right, but I’m not about to say that out loud.

Frankly, I’d let that man do very, very dirty things to me. Whatever he wanted, whatever dirty fantasy he’s into, I’d play along. Anything just to get a taste of him. I’ve never felt like I wanted to throw myself at a guy like this, with pure animal sexuality, but here I am, lusting for a guy twice my age.

A very rich, very handsome guy.

Coop and Parker are heading down the street, angling for the building we’re supposed to meet in. I look back at Mac. “There are two of the others,” I say, nodding in their direction.

She frowns. “They look like typical nerds.”

“We’re all typical nerds.”

She raises an eyebrow at me. “You’re too hot to be a nerd.”

“Not true.”

She sighs. “Seriously, Clara. When will you figure it out? You’re fucking hot.”

“Thanks, Mac.” She’s always saying that, always trying to make me feel better.

I’m not some great beauty. I’m not going to get thousands of followers on Instagram or something like that. Mac, on the other hand, could post a bikini pic and get literally thousands of likes.

I’m fine with that. I couldn’t care less. I have my own thing.

“Look, just play it cool in there, okay?” she says.

“You’re the one talking about giving up your butt.”

“I’m just saying, you can get a little…”

“A little what?”

“Clingy. Pathetic.”

I glare at her. “That’s not true.”

She sighs. “Okay, fine. That’s me. You’re Clara the Ice Queen.”

I nudge her with my shoulder. I spot Howard and Alan hurrying after Coop and Parker. The four guys disappear inside.

“I think I should get going,” I say. “Stop talking about my professor like that, okay?”

“Fine, just as soon as you seduce him. Use that magic vagina of yours, okay? Make him remember what it was like to be young.”

“I doubt he needs me for that.”

“Do it anyway.”

I stand up, shaking my head. “You’re revolting.”

“You’re gorgeous. Go get some!”

I wave at her, grinning to myself. She waves back as I head down the block.

The building is like any other on campus, built in the same style. I think this is usually a business hall, but I’m not sure. I’ve never been in here before.

I head inside and walk down the hall. I take a few turns and stop outside of the door with number 101 painted on it.

I take a deep breath and step inside.

The four guys are all sitting around in the middle of a medium-sized room. There are six computers set up in a cluster in the middle. The guys are lingering around them.

“There she is,” Coop says. “Clara’s here.”

Howard looks in my direction. “Oh, great. Barbie’s here.”

I frown a little. “Barbie has blonde hair.”

“Whatever,” he says, waving at me dismissively. “How’d you get in here, anyway? Did you cheat?”

I clench my jaw. Howard Moon is such an asshole. Of all the guys in the CS major, he’s by far the worst. The others hide their douchebag sexism, at least a little bit, but not Howard. He lets it hang loose.

“Fuck off, Howard,” I say to him. The other guys laugh.

He glares at them. “I’m just saying, Clara. We all know you’re not exactly the best student.”

“Maybe Jason is into redheads,” Alan offers.

I glare at him. “Don’t be a dick too.”

He looks away from me. Howard chuckles. “You’re just mad.”

“Mad about you being a random asshole? Yeah, I am mad about that.”

“Nah, you’re just mad you’re a diversity statistic. The only girl available, might as well bring her on.”

I glare at Howard, but I don’t respond. Even though Jason told me point blank that isn’t the case, the thought still lingers.

I can’t help it. I’m almost always the only girl in my classes, and so the idea of me being some kind of diversity hire or something like that always comes up. Even if it’s not stated outright, the idea is always there, floating around me.

But damn it, screw them. Howard’s wrong about me. He doesn’t even know me. I’m a good student, always have been. I get straight As in all my classes. The worst grade I’ve ever gotten since coming to Monray was a B-, and that’s only because I was too sick to go to half my classes one semester.

I’m about to snap back at Howard, call him a pathetic wiener or something, when the door opens behind me. I have to hurry inside as Jason comes in behind me, carrying a big bag.

He looks around at the group. I’m standing off to the side, away from the guys. They’re huddled together.

Jason takes it in. He puts his bag down.

“Ready to work?” he asks us.

I take a breath and let it out.

“Yes, sir,” Howard says. “Let me say, we’re all very excited.”

Jason glances at him then looks at me. “Clara, go take a seat at terminal one, please.”

“Okay.” I do as he says. Alan has to get up and let me take a seat.

“Howard, you’re two. Coop, three. Parker, four. Alan, five.” He clears his throat. “I’ll be six. Please stick with your terminal and don’t swap. It’ll help me check your work.”

We get into our assigned seats. Howard shoots me a glare across the cluster, but I just ignore him.

I’m too busy looking at Jason. At his toned body, his handsome face.

I feel nervous. I feel excited.

I’m about to work with one of the most respected tech billionaires in the country. So what if these ignorant college boys think I’m just some stupid girl?

They don’t matter. All I care about is what Jason thinks, and he thinks I belong here.

That’s going to be enough for me.