Champagne Brunch: The Stiletto Sisters Series by Ainsley Claire (easy readers .txt) 📗

a lot of young people’s information, which would indicate that it’s government based.”

I uncross and recross my legs. “Do we think the Chinese government stole our app?”

“Well, that’s the thing,” Cameron says. “It’s a slimmed-down version of your beta app. So, it isn’t even what you released to pilot users here.”

“That’s good news.” I look over at Sean. “That means that they don’t have the full algorithm.”

Sean agrees with a tip of his head.

“So, you think someone got a hold of the beta version of the app?” I confirm.

“Yes. Just the version we gave away. And I’m not even sure they got in a back door. They just used what they could get and built from there.” Cameron taps a pen on the table. “But getting a Chinese company to admit that they stole something may be difficult.”

“Exactly.” Mason stands to grab a napkin from the table. “So, we’re trying to determine how we can distance ourselves from the Chinese version.”

“It’s a matter of how we make it clear we’re not out there collecting information for the Chinese government,” Cameron adds. “Because we all know that’s what the government-opposition groups will push out.” He takes a bite of the biggest turkey and bacon sandwich I’ve ever seen.

“I wonder…” I muse aloud. “I’d have to check with my sister, but China is very gossipy, and my sister is well connected. We could put out notification through her network that the Chinese version is not affiliated with the US brand, and people should be cautious about putting their information into the app.”

“I worry that it would be seen as misinformation put out by the Chinese government to destroy your app and have the opposite effect,” Mason says.

“What are our options?” I ask.

“What if we actually launch in China?” Cameron says. “It would mean a lot of work for Sean and me, and we’d need to bring in translators to vet our coding, but that might be the best way to show we’re something different.”

I look around the room. Are they serious? “What’s to stop the government of China from banning us or taking over our local servers? That would be a lot of work wasted if they stop us immediately. I mean, the encrypted messaging alone would be something the Chinese government opposes. Infidels could congregate there and plot to take over the Communist party.”

“Good point.” Mason nods.

I look at the view outside and try to think. “I should talk to Toni Lo. She grew up in Shanghai and may have some ideas for me. I’ve only been to China once, and that was for my sister’s graduation and one of her concerts.”

Cameron nods. “Regardless, before we can commit to moving to another market, particularly an international one, we need to get done with the beta phase of your app.”

We shift gears to going through the code and identifying remaining fixes and changes that need to be made. It soon becomes a three-way conversation between Cameron, Sean, and me. And a little while after that, Cameron and Sean disappear down a rabbit hole, wrestling with a particularly tricky issue.

Mason hooks his thumb at me, and I follow him out of the conference room and down the hall.

“I need something sweet, and I know we have options in the kitchen,” he says.

We walk to the office center where there’s a beautiful kitchen stocked full of enough groceries to feed the staff for a month. He rummages around for a moment.

“Ah, here they are.” He pulls out a pastry box from a popular local French bakery.

I look in and see lemon bars. “How are these still here?”

“I asked Carrie to put them aside for us.” He takes a big bite out of one, leaving his lips covered in powdered sugar. “These are the best.”

“You know they’re my favorite.” I take my own and bite in, savoring the sweet but slightly tart flavor. Fantastic.

“Here, we can take these back to my office and talk.”

I don’t need any others, but I know he wants to chat.

Once we’re in his office, he takes a big swig of water from his water bottle. “How did things go with the State Department interview? I’m scheduled for Monday.”

“Have you been deposed by Viv’s counsel?” I ask.

“Yes. She’s a slippery one.”

I nod. “After the deposition, I was prepared for her to be a bitch. But she surprised us all.”

“What did she say?”

“It’s what she didn’t say. She didn’t really ask me any questions.”

Mason stops, his eyes wide. “Why not?”

Shaking my head, I eye another lemon bar but I refrain. I want desperately to wear a cute outfit tomorrow for the baseball game, and too many lemon bars will mean it doesn’t fit. I share both Walker’s and Marci’s thoughts on what Tatyana might be up to.

He shakes his head. “That would be fucking devious if she uses you.”

I blow out a breath. “That’s what I’m scared of.” I study Mason and decide he’s safe. He’s forced to work with me since he’s an investor in Flirt and on the board at Diamond. “I didn’t have a ton of friends growing up,” I confess. “My mind didn’t work the same as kids my own age, and I was awkward. Viv knows my friends mean everything to me. Using me to lose the case for Nate would be an epic win for her. Not only would she ruin me, but all of my friendships, too.”

Mason rests his elbows on his chair, his hands clasped in front of him. “I know Nate pretty well, and while I can’t speak for him, I also can’t imagine you’d say anything that would destroy your relationship. He’ll know what Viviana and her attorney are up to.”

I nod. I want to hug Mason right now, and I tell myself he