The Right Swipe (Modern Love, #1)(78)

“And you had a relationship with your employer?”

Well. This was brazen, but she’d roll with it.

Annabelle shifted, her frown disapproving. “William, how is this relevant?”

“I’m fine answering.” She wasn’t, but it would appear shadier if she didn’t answer. “Peter and I dated for about a year. It was well known throughout the company. We broke up. I left Swype and started Crush. These things happen.” She almost choked on that last meaningless nothing sentence, but managed to get it out.

These sorts of things were bound to happen. Bound to be forced to make nice with a man who had tormented her and almost run her out of her own industry and faced no repercussions for it.

That was life.

Annabelle smiled with approval. “I like your calm attitude. Be like the Europeans about past lovers, that’s what I always say.”

Did Europeans often want to murder their exes? If so, then Rhiannon was very European. “Sure.”

“It’s interesting you built an app so similar to Swype’s.”

She narrowed her eyes at William. Now this, she’d fight him on. “Swype didn’t invent swiping right and left. I did not lift one proprietary bit of technology from them.” She resisted the urge to say she knew that because she’d helped build Swype. “Swype has had years to test us in court and they’ve refrained because they know they’d lose. Not sure where you have standing to litigate for them, though.”

Annabelle tapped her fingers on the desk. “William, why are you being so confrontational?”

William scowled at his boss. “I am not. I merely want to clarify Ms. Hunter’s history.”

Nah. He believed the lies Peter had spread about her years ago. Hell, Peter was probably still spreading lies about her, about how she’d slept with him to get ahead.

It was easier for William to believe those lies. They probably confirmed what he’d already thought: that there was no way a woman like her could get as far as she had without cutting corners.

She could address the lies right here and now. Tell them she had been in the right all those years ago and it had been Peter who had been the liar and cheat. She opened her mouth, then closed it.

Damn it, no. She ought to be able to win this company on her own merits, and not out of sympathy. “I’m happy to answer any questions about my past,” she said simply.

William grunted. “I think we’re at the end of our time here. Do you have any more questions, Annabelle?”

Annabelle thought for a moment. “Tell me, Rhiannon, why do you want Matchmaker?”

A million corporate-speak answers rose to Rhiannon’s tongue, but she went with her gut again. “I want my company to be the best in the business. I want to be so big, no one can ever threaten my livelihood again.”

Annabelle dipped her head. “You don’t like failure.”

“Does anyone?”

Annabelle smiled. “I suppose not.”

“I’ve tasted failure. I like success more.” Rhi shifted. “I have worked hard to get where I am, Annabelle. I will not purchase your company and fail.”

“And the employees?” William interjected. “You pride yourself on a high percentage of women employees. What will you do with all our men?”

Castrate and murder them. She almost rolled her eyes at that stupid question and bit back her snarky reply. “We pride ourselves on hiring the best. If your people are the best, they’ll be retained. I’ve outlined our full plan for employees in the proposal, as well as timelines for any layoffs we might have to make. I’m not in the business of destroying lives. My people will tell you, I am a good employer.”

“You’re quite the self-made woman, Rhiannon,” Annabelle said. “And I do like your emphasis on ethics and fairness. Unusual to see in a company in this day and age. Tell me, if you could do anything other than what you do right now, what would it be?”

Rhiannon blinked, caught off guard by the question. “I wouldn’t do anything else,” she said, honestly. “If I couldn’t do this, I’d be lost.”

“Interesting.” Annabelle pursed her lips, and Rhiannon wasn’t sure if she’d passed that odd test or not. The dismissal was apparent, though.

Rhiannon rose to her feet and dipped her head to both of them. “Thank you for your time.”

She was almost out the door when William called her name. She glanced over her shoulder.

William cocked his head. “I understand you’re in a personal relationship with Annabelle’s close family friend. Please understand Mr. Lima has no say in our decision-making process.”

Rhiannon’s face went hot, then cold as she stared at William’s smug face. He looked like a well-groomed cat that had eaten a particularly delicious treat.

Annabelle slowly faced her CEO. “Uncalled for, William. Putting current business aside, Rhiannon and Crush are friends of ours, or we wouldn’t have partnered with them recently. Also, please understand that you have no say in my decision either.”

Ugh, if only she wasn’t so mortified so she could properly appreciate Annabelle’s burn.

Annabelle smiled at her, and there was a hint of steel in it. “Apologies, Rhiannon. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon. Please gather in the rose garden at five. I’ll be announcing any definite no’s then.”