Page 26 of The Enemies With Benefits Deal

“And that’s where I’m going to disagree with you.” She grabs another sheet of paper covered in bar graphs and points to one of the numbers there. “This is the number of people who are streaming a true crime podcast weekly. This chart over here compares those numbers to the news.”

She taps another with her black-painted nail, though it’s chipped at the edges.

Like when she used to get stressed out before a big test.

“This chart over here shows how many hours in a week true-crime podcasts are listened to versus the news.”

As much as I want her numbers to show that I’m right about the podcast, they don’t.

Jade shuffles more papers over. “We would need to look at doing a true crime podcast first, and then once we have people listening to that, we would start branching out.”

“And even with this, you still think that an app is better to start than a podcast of any kind?”

“I do.” She pulls out her phone, thumbs flying over the screen before she turns it around. “Apps are at your fingertips. I keep all my favorite news sources on my phone so I can look at things while I’m on the go without having to wait for a mobile site to load.”

“All right.” I sit back down beside her as she tucks her phone away. “Say that I get on board with this idea. What makes you think this is something you’re going to be able to pull off?”

“I know a company in France — Pelletier Design — and they might be willing to squeeze us in. I worked with them for both of my own apps, and they were amazing.”

My hand drags over my chin as she hands me a sheet with the company’s information on it, along with some mock-ups of their app designs. Another sheet is covered in testimonials from people who have worked with the group.

Jade gestures to the papers in my hands. “It’s all laid out in that stack, but if we want to work with them, we’re going to need to act fast. I don’t want to have to worry about someone else coming in and swooping away a spot with them.”

“You already booked a spot with them?” My tone is sharp as I put the information back down and turn to her. “This is going to cost a fortune. You can’t just go ahead and book this without the board’s approval.”

“I didn’t.” She gives me a flat look, implying that I’m an idiot for even thinking she wouldn’t follow the right channels to get this project pushed through.

“Then how do you know they have a spot open that works with our timeline?”

“Paloma works for them sometimes. She knows the app designers there, and she said that one of them has some time open on his books. It would be enough for us to get an app up and running — if the board agrees to foot the bill.”

My hands curl into fists as I run through all the ways the board is going to say no to this. “This is going to be a hard sell. There are limited funds as it is. Dad might be willing to dip in his personal funds, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

“I think you underestimate your father and what he’s willing to do to save the company he built with his own two hands.”

“You don’t know my dad.”

Jade purses her full lips, one shoulder rising and falling as she turns her attention back to the work in front of her.

There’s a small sense of satisfaction that comes along with knowing that she’s never going to get this project pushed ahead. The board might have agreed to an app, but once they see the expense that comes along with the rush job, they’ll turn it down.

Which will then open the doors for me to pitch the podcast.

A true crime podcast will take time to plan for, but I could have it up and running within two months.

Though, it likely wouldn’t be making money right away.

But it would introduce more people to LRH Global.

Jade would kill me if she knew that I was even considering going behind her back and presenting her idea as my own.

The thought of doing so gives me a moment of pause, but this could be what I need to finally get the position I deserve.

I’ve worked too hard to let it slip through my fingers now.

CHAPTER 10

JADE

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