Page 45 of Tempt Me

We settled into our seats while the tech performed the audio check. When that was done, Nita started with a few questions about Jamilow’s upcoming launch that Jamila handled with ease, her eyes sparkling as she talked about her team’s brilliance and teased about the product, carefully avoiding spilling any real details about what it did or the partnership that made it possible.

Switching topics, Nita said, “Tell me how you started Jamilow.”

“Everyone knows that.” Jamila waved a hand dismissively.

Nita leaned forward. “Indulge me.”

I wished I had the courage to do that. To speak as suggestively as Nita had, to give Jamila a peek at her cleavage though—I glanced down—I didn’t have that much cleavage to show off. I crossed my legs and kept my mouth shut.

“I started it at Stanford.” Jamila settled back against the sofa cushions. “Well, I guess I started the app on my breaks from Stanford. When I was home during winter break my freshman year, I went to a party with my high school friends. As you do.” She winked.

Nita nodded and scribbled on her notepad.

“Some of the younger kids were there, and they asked me questions. Not about Stanford so much as about going to college in general. The process was overwhelming to them. I realized some of them didn’t have any family who’d gone to college.” Jamila leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. “My nana went to college. She was a teacher. She did all she could to push me. So I told them a little about how I’d done it and gave them my number.

“Then when I got back to my grandmother’s place and was talking with my brothers, I realized they were pretty clueless too. They played football, and they’d get recruited, but they didn’t understand how to weigh their options. Or what they would do academically once they got there. After talking with them, I realized I could provide a service to kids like them. Kids like my friends.”

I’d heard the story before, but now that I’d met her brothers, I understood how Jamila’s advice might have led to their success. I tilted my head, eager to catch every word and examine it in that new light.

“So I programmed an app to answer most of the questions my friends had about going to college.” A fire blazed in Jamila’s eyes. “Standardized testing, grades, financial aid, applications and forms, scholarships. I only meant it to be useful to kids back in my old school. But then, talking to some of my classmates like Winslow, who had all the advantages I didn’t, I realized it wasn’t only kids like my high-school friends who could benefit. Anyone could. So I made it bigger. I gave it an AI interface so it could take info from the kids and provide a customized plan and advice.”

“You partnered with Winslow Keating-Ashworth,” Nita said.

“Yeah. He wasn’t as good at coding as I was, but he had ideas for the business side of things. Connections, too. He was the one who said we should nudge the app toward life coaching. Easy stuff like a morning routine, making lists, putting your phone away at night, or advocating for yourself with professors.”

“And the human coaches?” Nita prompted.

Jamila chuckled. “I took a psychology class and learned people can be way more complicated than artificial intelligence can handle. So we planned to augment the AI with access to therapists, but we needed funding for that. That’s when we entered the app into a contest. We didn’t win, but we got the interest of one of the judges, and she gave us our initial backing.”

“And you bought her out a few years later?” Nita said.

I frowned. I hadn’t known that.

“I didn’t want anyone else calling the shots. I never wanted…” Jamila stared out the window at the sparkling pool for a moment.

“What didn’t you want?” Nita prodded.

Jamila shook her head and finally directed her gaze at me. “I didn’t want to tell my life story to some reporter. I’d rather focus on my business.”

I wished I could release her from the interview. It was unfair that some jerk could goad her into making an unguarded, unwise comment, and only Jamila paid the penance for it. But that was life as a woman in tech. Jamila had signed up for it. Though she never could have predicted that fifteen years later, she’d be here, in someone’s empty mansion, sharing uncomfortable details of her life. I shot her a sympathetic smile.

“But you haven’t shied away from other partnerships,” Nita said. “You’ve partnered with coaches, therapists, and college-prep services, so whom are you collaborating with next?”

Jamila smiled, smug. “Now, Nita, you know I can’t comment on that.”

Heat prickled along my skin. Witnessing Jamila’s and Nita’s chemistry made me feel like a voyeur. Was the cameraman uncomfortable too? I glanced up at the ceiling fan, wishing I could turn it on through sheer force of will.

“The article won’t be printed until after your launch,” Nita said. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?”

“Call me after the launch.” Jamila winked. “I’d be delighted to talk about it then.”

“Great. I’ll get your number when we’re done.”

I wanted to run outside and jump into the cool depths of the pool. Where I wouldn’t have to watch Jamila seduce the woman I’d brought in to rescue her reputation.

14

I satsilent while Nita and Jamila ignored me.

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