Chapter 4

Julie

The next afternoon, Julie was sitting on her couch, with her feet up, still in her pajamas. She had her laptop on her lap, her phone next to her, and the television on. It was her first day off from school. She was done, and she couldn't be happier. Her dad had already text her to see when she'd be coming home, but she hadn't answered. Honestly, she wasn't even sure of the answer herself.

When she went home the night before, after having Cody walk up and take a seat at her table, she couldn't stop thinking about him. Was he as bad as her father and uncle made him seem, or were they just pissed that some new, young guy was taking them on? Sure, the guy was definitely confident, but if he really was coming out as strong as it sounded, maybe he had a right to be. He didn't seem mean or dirty, which were two of the words the men in her family had used. The man definitely had a sense of humor and some really great ideas.

Julie opened the browser on her laptop and began searching for information on Cody Williams. She'd done it before but only for a few seconds. Since all she was going to be was a lackey for her father, she hadn't really seen a need to dig deeper into the competition. Most of what she knew came out of the mouth of her dad, who felt threatened by the new competition, and her uncle, who had no filter whatsoever. It was time to do her own search, and search she did. She found photo after photo of the very handsome and sexy man she'd seen just the day before. Most of those photos were of him in a suit, much like the one he was wearing while he spoke to her class. There were a few photos of him on a golf course, and it stated that they were from a charity event. That was a good thing. Julie loved when companies gave back, and she made it a point to tell her dad and uncle that every chance she got. Julie hadn't stumbled across any photos of Cody with arm candy hanging from his arm. That was another plus. She found things about his business, and none of it was awful. So, where had her family gotten their information? They worked with many companies on different projects. Had it all been through word of mouth? Had it been from reputable sources? Were they just pissed that he was taking the local coding scene by storm? The man was cocky, but she'd also found herself being cocky with him, and that was not normal.

Julie was usually soft spoken. She'd even thought that maybe that was part of the reason her dad didn't look at her the same way he looked at her brother, the one that hated the business and took off for the service. She always gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, don't judge someone from other people's thoughts and all. That was just another negative in her dad's eyes. He'd told her several times that she went too easy on people, but she didn't care. She was who she was, and she was proud of that person. If someone screwed her over, she never gave them a chance to do it again, but she always gave everyone a chance in the beginning. Screw what everyone else thought. Those were words she lived by, and her father didn't like it one bit.

Just as Julie closed her laptop and set it off to the side, her phone buzzed. Thinking it was one of her parents, she let out a sigh and picked it up to check it. When she saw the text, she couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Best coder on the planet: Are you enjoying your first day without classes?

Julie: I think you have that wrong. I'm the best coder in the world. You just haven't seen it yet, but you will. I am very much enjoying my day off. Thank you for asking. Are you working hard? I sure hope so. Better stay on your toes.

Julie quickly went in and changed his name to Cody, making sure not to add his last name. The only person that ever saw her phone was her sister, and she was pretty sure Jessie wouldn't have a clue either way, but she wasn't taking any chances. Jessie was like Gavin. She'd never cared about the family business. She'd gone to school to be a nurse, and she loved it.

Cody: I am definitely working. If you're the best, maybe you should join my team.

The second she read his message, Julie froze, and a nervous feeling filled her. If she joined his team, her father would disown her. There was no doubt in her mind. She'd still have the crew. They'd never side with him, but there was no way she could hurt him or her uncle that way. Joining Cody's team was not an option, and it never would be.

Julie: I don't know about that.

Cody: Why not? What are your plans for the summer?

Julie thought as she read his message. She knew who he was. He'd just spoken to her class and talked about his company, but did he know who she was? Was he just messing with her? Was he serious? When she worked with her dad during the summers, she was a regular employee. She stayed in the background. There was a huge chance that he had no idea who she was. It wasn't like there weren't other people with the name Lucas in the world. He didn't know, she thought, and that gave her a feeling of relief. She wasn't sure why, but it did.

Julie: I'm not sure yet.

Cody: Don't you think you should decide? You want to jump on that shit right away. You are going to code, right?

Julie: Of course I am. That's what I do.

Cody: So, what are you doing today? I mean besides being lazy and enjoying your day off.

Julie: Never said I was being lazy.

Cody: I bet you're ass is planted on the couch. Shit! You probably haven't even gotten dressed yet.

Julie: Have too.

Cody: You're totally lying. I remember my first day after my classes. You're full of it. Especially after your late night at the club.

Julie: Okay, fine. You got me there. I'm not dressed yet, but I did not have a late night. I bailed not long after you did.

Cody: I didn't bail. Your friend came back, so I left. Not to mention, I had to be up early this morning. We can't all be lazy all day.

Julie: I'm just saving up my energy so I can better kick your ass a little harder.

Cody: I bet.

Julie: I'm doing a pretty good job already. It doesn't seem like you're doing much work right now.

Cody: Even the best of us need a break every now and then.

Julie: Really? Should I count myself lucky that you're spending your break sending me messages? Maybe you have ten conversations going at once, so maybe I'm not that lucky after all.

Cody: I only have one conversation going right now, and that is with you. You could do something to help me though.

Julie: Why would I want to help you? Especially if I want to kick your ass one day.

Cody: Because I'm nice, and I saw you checking my ass out last night.

Julie: I was not, and how do I know you're nice.

Cody: Because I'm telling you I am, and yes you were.

Julie: Anyway, what is it that I can do to help you?

Cody: Go out to dinner with me.

Julie read his message three times before replying.

Julie: How would that help you?

Cody: If you say yes, I can stop typing. Then I can get back to running a business and being the best coder on the planet.

Julie: Do you even code anymore? I bet you sit in your big, leather chair and tell people what to do.

Cody: That's where you're wrong. I code every single day. I do have a big, leather chair, but I never use it. I sit with my team, and that's just how it should be. If you go to dinner with me, you can bring those notes, and I can see what you actually found valuable yesterday. That wouldn't just help me. It would help everyone that ever has to hear me rattle on again.

Julie: So It would be a business dinner. That I can do. Where should I meet you?

It took a few minutes for him to respond, and Julie couldn't help but wonder if he was working or if he was thinking.

Julie: Wait! So, you are sitting with your team, and you're on your phone. Isn't that setting a bad example?

Cody: I'm actually sitting in our break room right now, but I do let my team use their phones. Happy employees are way more productive than ones that hate the boss.

A few seconds later, he sent a text with the name of a restaurant, an address, and a time. He wanted to meet at five o'clock.

Julie: Isn't that a bit early, or are you going to tell me that the rest of your team leaves that early as well?

Cody: Actually, they all leave at five. I'll only be leaving fifteen minutes early. It's business, your words not mine, so that's allowed. I'll let them know I'm going to meet the best coder in the world. They won't mind.

Julie: So, you stop working at five?

Cody: I said my team leaves at five. I, on the other hand, do not. There are days I have a very late dinner here. I've also spent the night in my office many times. I try as often as I can to leave with the team, but when I do, I take work home with me. So, now that I've given you even more of my secrets, will you meet me for dinner?

Julie read his text, but she didn't respond right away. If her dad found out, he would be pissed. It was only to discuss business, but that wouldn't matter to him. Cody was his competition. That made him hers too, or did it? She wasn't working for her dad again yet, so technically, he wasn't. He didn't sound mean, and he seemed like he probably treated his employees well, unless he was lying, of course. As much as she knew she shouldn't go, she couldn't help but want to learn more about the man her father couldn't stand. He couldn't really be that bad, could he?

Julie knew her sister wouldn't be home until at least nine o'clock from the hospital. If she met Cody at five, she'd surely be home by then. She'd make sure of it. If one of her parents called, she'd just tell them she'd been busy when she called them back later.

There was no reason she shouldn't go, she thought. If anything, she could get information that could help her family's business. Then maybe her dad would see that she was worth more than just a chair next to all of the other developers in his company.

Julie: I'll see you at five, and I'll bring my notes.

Cody: I'll see you there.

“I can't believe I'm doing this,” she said to herself, as she got up from the couch so she could get ready.