Scott looks out at the crowd, and I can feel the tension building in the room. He’s just waiting, standing at the podium, commanding attention by simply being there. It’s like he’s waiting for a specific moment or some kind of sign, but I have no idea what it is, and neither does anyone else, it seems. But every eye is on Scott, unable to tear themselves away from his presence.

With a sudden bong! that reverberates through the entire room, the display behind Scott flashes to life.

“Mankind is sustained by the dreamers. Those who, in the midst of mediocrity and comfort, choose a path riddled with scorn and disbelief,” Scott intones, his voice ringing out over the audience.

The screen behind him flashes through images of great inventors . . . Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Tim Berners-Lee, and Steve Jobs.

“These greats each had a vision, one they could foresee that no one else believed possible. But you know what?” Scott asks, allowing for a dramatic pause. “The naysayers were wrong. Just because they couldn’t conceive of such a thing, didn’t make it impossible.” Scott nods once, and the screen changes to images of the lightbulb, a tesla coil, flying machines, and a plethora of computer-related images.

“What we are presented with today is an opportunity . . . a chance to be a believer, not a small-minded naysayer.” Scott smirks, giving a pointed, albeit respectful, look to his father.

“When you hear the term ‘artificial intelligence’, what do you think of?” The screen flashes a picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator and the crowd laughs. Scott grins along with them, sharing in on the joke. “I know, great movie, but ultimately, fiction. But in the real world, we already have AI. How many of you talk to Siri or Alexa every day? Or have you gotten some rather eerily accurate suggested items on Amazon or Pandora? These are all algorithm-based forms of AI, right here in our daily lives, happening now. There are others you might not know . . .” Scott talks about a bunch of companies I don’t know anything about, but I see several nods in the audience, so the tech folks are still following along with him, thank goodness.

“What I’m asking is that you suspend your inherent need to say no just because it might be impossible to you or me.” The audience is mostly quiet, but I hear murmurs of agreement. I glance at Robert Danger just in time to see him roll his eyes, obviously annoyed with the dramatics, but Scott has the audience eating out of his hand, me included.

“Then let me introduce you to someone. Xena, can you say hello to the people?” I see people lean forward, excited to see who Scott is bringing out.

Instead, a new voice comes over the speakers, obviously artificial but still managing to sound like a friendly female voice. “Hello to the people?” It’s a parroting of Scott’s words and questioning tone.

Scott grins. “Xena, no offense, but you sound like a robot.” His joke earns a laugh from the crowd.

“My apologies, Mr. Danger. Hello, my name is Xena. I’m a Gen-one artificial intelligence developed by AlphaSystems. My primary function is to analyze existing networks and webs, design efficiencies, and recommend growth opportunities. My most recent task was to monitor traffic flows within the city limits of Bane. I have a recommendation for changing light patterns at 27 intersections to decrease the average commute time by twelve minutes for the average driver. Also, a stop sign is needed.”

There’s a moment of hushed amazement, and then murmurs break out all over the room as people talk to the others at their tables. Scott smiles, waiting a moment before clearing his throat to continue. “Now, I’ll admit that I’m not a tech genius. But Kenny Mackleroy of AlphaSystems is, so I’ll let him explain.” The screen flashes to a video of a grey-haired man who talks excitedly about the possibilities. Admittedly, Mackleroy comes across as a bit of a mad scientist, but the video tour of his facility and the things he has actually created and what they can do is quite compelling.

The video ends, and Scott continues. “As I said, I’m not a tech guy, but I am a business man. I see what other companies are investing in, what their growth projections are.” Scott looks at Chase and Olivia. “And while that’s fine, safe, and even smart, we have the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of something Earth-changing here. To bring this to Bane as an extension of Danger Enterprises.

“This partnership brings with it a five-million-dollar trust at the local university for STEM student scholarships from a grant already in place, thousands of jobs for residents, and tens of thousands of new people in Bane over the next decade. This is the future . . . of Danger Enterprises, of Bane, of our world. If you find the courage to be open to the possibilities. Do not be a naysayer simply because it is beyond your capabilities. Let the dreamers dream and take the rest of us along for the ride.”

It’s powerful, it’s bombastic, and it casts him as some sort of leader of more than a company but of an entire city . . . and I’m on my feet along with everyone else as Scott leaves the stage, the light following him as he approaches me.

“You were wonderful!” I exclaim as Scott approaches, his cocky grin softening into the smile I’ve come to see more often.

“Was I?” he asks, stepping closer. “I kept looking for you, but the light was too bright.”

“Well, I could see just fine. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

Scott nods and pulls me tight, kissing me even with the spotlight still on us. I’m taken aback, thrilled. A full-blown kiss, right here in front of everyone, during one of the most important moments of his life. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks of me or of our relationship. He cares about me, and he’ll let the whole damn world know it. It makes me feel heady and important.

After we settle back in, there are still ten minutes before dishes are cleared and the dinner course is over. But Scott doesn’t even get a chance to eat because people keep coming over to shake his hand and congratulate him for a job well done. Noticeably absent from the appreciation is Scott’s entire family. Although I hadn’t expected his dad or brother to say anything, I’d hoped that maybe his mom or sister would see reason and at least tell him ‘good job’.

Olivia presented her plan after Scott, and while it was presented well, it didn’t have the same ‘oomph’ behind it. I almost feel bad for her because I would’ve hated going after Scott. Nothing would’ve stood up against what he laid out.

Once all the presentations are made, the lights change, and Scott reaches over, taking my hand. “Shall we dance?”

I nod, taking his hand and heading out to the dance floor. A band has taken the stage where the presentations were given, and a singer takes the microphone.

The saxophone and guitar start up, and Scott takes me in his arms. “I don’t know this one.”

Scott smiles, turning with me. “Expose. Just listen. I heard this a lot growing up. My mom liked this group.”

Seasons change . . . people change . . .

I’ve heard this part, and as the singer adds her sultry voice to the sensuous instrumentals, I lean my head on Scott’s chest. It feels good, but at the same time, I feel sad. The lyrics hit me deep. People change, and too often, we’re sacrificing tomorrow to hang onto today’s pleasures.

“It’s so horrible.”

“What is?” Scott asks, looking down at me.

“The way your family is,” I reply sadly. “It’s like you hate each other. Especially you and Chase.”

Scott nods, glancing over to where Chase is dancing with his date. “I don’t hate him. But it’s all we’ve ever known.”

“That’s horrible,” I murmur absently. “It’s hard to fathom how it could get this way. I don’t have a lot of family, but what I do have, we’re very close.”

Scott hums, but my mind goes back to what he said on stage. “They’re all your naysayers and you’re the dreamer.”

He smirks. “Not sure about the dreamer part, but they definitely underestimate me.”

“You are a dreamer, maybe not in a wild way like those inventors. You’re more of a bespoke suit type, filled with power and ambition, but you see possibilities where others don’t or are unwilling to. You see a possibility in me . . . broken, moody, aimless. You make me dream too.”

Scott stops dancing, looking down at me. “What do you dream? Tell me, Madison, and I’ll fucking make it happen. Anything.”

“I dream about you, wish that this fantasy were real, but I’m so scared I’m going to wake up and it’ll have all been pretend, my heart hoping for things I’m not destined to have.” My voice is soft, sad.

Scott cups my face. “You deserve everything. You’re not broken or aimless. You got knocked down, licked your wounds, and got right back up to fight another day. When I found you, you were standing tall on your own two feet, telling me to fuck off by kicking me out and not calling. And it was glorious and tempting, but I’m here now and you don’t have to be scared. You and me, Madison. I am your heart’s destiny and you’re fucking mine. Mine.”

I feel his cock stiffen against my hip as he rumbles deep in his chest. Grabbing me by the arm, he leads me from the room.

“Where are we going?” I ask, surprised at his turn, going from sweetly poetic words I’ll always cherish to growly sexy in a single word.

My heart is pounding, and we don’t even make it to the elevator before he’s kissing me and pulling me into a darkened service corridor. We stumble a little, but Scott finds and pushes me into a small alcove where we’re not visible from down the hallway.

“Scott what are you do—” I start to ask before he cuts me off with a passionate kiss.

“I have to have you. Now,” he growls. “I need you to feel that you are mine . . . inside and out, heart and fucking soul, Madison. That this is our destiny.”

My protests are lost in the rain of kisses on my neck, my desire warring with my sense of decorum. “We can’t do this here.”

“We can. We are,” he grunts out, his eyes frantic. “I promise I’ll be gentle tonight, but right now . . . I can’t.” He presses on my hips, guiding me.

I moan, nodding as I turn around the way he wants and start to hike up my dress. Scott’s hands help me, a whimper slipping from my lips as the cool air touches my ass. Scott kisses the back of my neck, pulling me tight against his body, and I can feel his cock straining inside his tuxedo pants. This is so bad, so dirty, but I want it . . . I want him as much as I want to breathe.

“Hold right there,” Scott rasps, and I hear the sound of a zipper being pulled, a shiver going down my spine as I anticipate feeling him slide his perfect cock inside me.

“Please, Scott. Make me yours.”

Suddenly, there’s a harsh laugh and a golf clap. “Ooh, yes, Scott, take me,” a laughing falsetto says in a porn imitation, and I gasp, spinning around as Scott takes a stumbling step back. Chase stands there with an amused expression on his face. “You really do know how to pick them.”

Scott growls, adjusting my dress so my ass isn’t showing before zipping himself back up. “Chase, get the fuck out of here.”

“Why should I?” Chase asks, his attention on Scott. “I see she isn’t a bartender after all. Just a whore who sees a paycheck in your last name.”

I flinch, my eyes blurring with tears as Chase’s words pierce me to the heart.

Chase looks at me, an ugly smirk on his pretty face. “How much is Scott paying you?”

Before I can say anything, Scott’s fist lashes out, catching Chase by surprise and sending him stumbling into the wall. “Fucker!”

“Scott, no!” I cry, but Chase pushes away from the wall, punching Scott back, and the fight is on. There are no rules, no real intent here other than to vent years of rage built up by their competitiveness. There’s a flurry of fists . . . to Scott’s gut, to Chase’s nose, some so fast I don’t even see where they land.

“Stop it, you two!” I yell as their feet get tangled up with each other and they fall to the floor, turning it into a grappling match. I should be able to do something, considering I’ve broken up plenty of barroom brawls, but these guys are huge and going at it full-throttle, not drunk and sloppy, so I’m reduced to hollering and standing out of range of their fists and feet. “Stop!”

“What the fuck are you two doing?” A voice says, coming out of nowhere.

The sharp hiss pierces through the red haze of fury the two are feeling, and I look to see Olivia hurrying down the hallway, her gown swishing on the carpet.

The brothers roll off each other. Scott has a busted lip and Chase’s nose is bleeding, but it could have been worse. So much worse.

Scott wipes at his lips with the back of his hand and gets up, while Chase is sneering at him, looking pleased even though he’s battered and still on the ground.

“Gotcha,” Chase says, and the realization hits me. Chase didn’t care about me and Scott having sex in an empty corner hallway, or even about me, really. But all of it, his taunting, his words . . . it was to get inside Scott’s armor. To needle him into making a mistake, exposing a weakness.

With a single punch, Scott exposed that weakness and showed that I’m a liability. I feel used, a pawn in the war between the two brothers, and somehow, that hurts more than the actual taunts themselves.

“Chase, shut the fuck up,” Olivia says. “Use your handkerchief to mop that up before something shows on your shirt. Can’t do anything about the rumpling, but the lights are low.”

“You’re a fucking dead man, Chase,” Scott seethes, but Olivia holds up a hand.

“What the hell are you two thinking, fighting like you did when you were eight? You’re both damn lucky nobody saw you.”

“Olivia—” I start, but a single glance from her cuts me off. Scott said she’s been dubbed the Ice Queen, and from the coldness in her eyes, I can see why.

“You two, get out of here,” she says to Scott and me. “Chase, you’re coming with me and leaving in five minutes after we get the blood stopped and cleaned up. Both of you had better hope I don’t tell Father.”

“You’d blab just to win?” Scott asks, and Olivia sighs in frustration.

“Not to win . . . but because you two insist on acting like this company is nothing more than pieces on a board. The people in your pitches, in your presentations tonight, they’re not marbles to fight over. They’re real people with real feelings. That you two are still acting like this means I don’t know if I can trust you not to destroy their lives in your little sibling rivalry. I won’t have that. Now get the fuck outta here.”