Page 3 of A Little Bit More

“No, it’s what passes for panic. I don’t want the uni owning my work.” He had plans for that research. He was going to get rich, then go home and sweep Maggie off her feet. That money was hisinwith her because his looks sure as hell weren’t going to do it. It was a lesson he’d learned from watching Bill Gates—nerdy guys needed moola to get the girl.

“Unlock my phone,” Rachel ordered. “I’ll ask my father if you can use the company lawyer.”

“Aren’t lawyers expensive?” He was pretty sure that, whatever they charged, the allowance his parents gave him wouldn’t cover it.

“Yes, they’re expensive, but don’t worry about it this time. I’ll also have him draw up a contract for us while he’s at it.”

“We need a contract?” Harry’s eyebrows shot up. His brother never covered this in the talk he gave him before he left for uni. “To be friends?”

“No.” She shook her head in clear disgust. “This is why you need me. I’m going to be your business manager, and we need a contract to set that up. It will give me permission to apply for the protection your ideas need.”

Harry looked around, checking the bustling cafeteria for cameras. Was this a joke? A skit for that College Humor site? “Uh, I don’t need a business manager,” he said at last. “I don’t have a business.”

“Yes. You do.Youare the business.”

“And you’re going to manage me?”

“Goodness knows you need it.” Her thumbs flew over her iPhone screen as she spoke.

“This is a weird conversation.” Harry was beginning to wish he’d picked another table.

“Don’t worry. This is just to get you set up. I have no intention of doing this long term. I have plans, and babysitting your budding software career isn’t one of them.”

“Plans?” It was becoming increasingly clear why Rachel had been sitting alone—she was as much of a freak as he was. She just hid it better.

She nodded. “As soon as I get my degree, I’m going to work in the family company. One day, I’ll take the helm when my father retires. Sure, everyone thinks it will pass to my older brother, Jonathan, but he isn’t as interested in it as I am. Jonathan is more of a financial whizz. But I can’t wait to get my hands on the company. I have so many ideas for making it bigger, better, stronger. It’s what I was born to do. But first, seeing as I’m here for the next few years, I may as well help you set up your company. Somebody has to make sure you don’t get ripped off.”

“Rachel?” Harry waited until she looked up from her phone. “You know you’re kind of scary, right?”

For the first time since he’d rocked up to her table, she smiled. And that was kind of scary too.