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is excellent. I think you’ve got what it takes to be CEO , and after I buy Doreye, it’s the first move I’m making.”
    “That’s great, Dad. Really exciting.”
    “I want us to work closely together on this, but I don’t want the public to perceive any sort of conflict of interest, you know? I’m worried people might get the wrong idea if they see the investor’s son running the business.
    So I’ve set up a shell company, Proximate Investments, which will be the investor of record, so that my name stays out of it. But rest assured, you’ll still have me for anything you need.”
    T. J. nodded blankly at his father. He couldn’t believe how easily his father was lying to his face.

Chapter XI
Deal or No Deal
    “I s it true?” Adam stormed into Tom’s office. “Are you going to kick me out?”
    “Of course it isn’t true,” Tom said. “It’s journalism, Adam. They needed something juicy to finish off their piece. Rule number one in press relations: don’t take anything personally.”
    “But why didn’t you bring me to the meeting? I’m the head of business development!”
    “You weren’t here, Adam, and the meeting came immediately. And, frankly, as the head of business development, you ought to recognize that Amelia is our star, and her image and her story will draw people to the product.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean that a brilliant female engineer on need-based scholarship at Stanford is a fantastic Cinderella story. You can’t pay for that kind of PR.
    People will latch onto her journey and will want to use the product to support her.”
    “But I’m a need-based scholarship kid at Stanford, too. Why can’t I be the face? Amelia doesn’t want it.”
    Tom looked over the top of his glasses at Adam disapprovingly. “One: that attitude will never make you the face of anything. Being the face can never be the goal. Two: prove yourself first.” They heard the front door slam and T. J. rushed by the office door.
    “Everything okay, T. J.?” Tom called from his desk.
    “Yep. Just fine!” T. J. said.
    Tom’s phone rang and he answered. “Hello?” Adam sat down in the chair across from Tom. He wanted to ask him how, exactly, he
could
prove himself.
    “Is that so? Just off the article? What’s the offer? Uh-huh. And who’s the investor? Never heard of them. Well, yes, we’d have to review the terms.
    If the investor wants to remain anonymous, he can’t have voting rights.
    Okay, send over the sheet and we’ll take a look. Thanks, Linda.” Tom had a suspicious look on his face as he turned to Adam. “Can you get your sister and meet me in the conference room?”
    Adam stood up quickly, suddenly realizing that the call must have had something to do with Doreye. “Sure.”
    Tom and T. J. joined Adam and Amelia in the conference room. Tom shut the door.
    “Well, guys, I’ve just had a phone call from a lawyer at Winger Partners.
    You’ve gotten your first offer.”
    “Our first offer? You mean someone wants to buy Doreye?” Adam asked excitedly.
    “But we haven’t even launched the product,” Amelia said, cocking her head with suspicion.
    “How much are they offering?” Adam asked, leaning forward in his chair.
    “Eight and a half million,” Tom answered. T. J. clucked his tongue in disgust, but no one noticed.
    “Eight and a half
million
?” Adam almost shouted.
    “Who is the investor?” Amelia asked.
    “A company called Proximate Investments. It’s a new fund. The individual investors want to remain anonymous—I imagine they’re VCs who are investing as individuals and don’t want to have a conflict with their firms. Linda is sending over the terms.”
    “I can’t believe we’re going to get eight and a half million dollars!” Adam was practically drooling.
    “Well, you have to build in taxes,” Tom said.
    Adam was exuberant. “Who cares? It’s still amazing! Amelia, forget everything I said about the article! This is unbelievable!” Amelia was