Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106150 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106150 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
“It’s actually got three key components.” He pulled his hand away from mine so he could count them off on his fingers. “First, communication from dispatch, which begins with emergency response. Then, using an app to access medical records and track critical data like vitals, medical history, and preliminary treatment, which will then be sent to the nearest trauma centers. And finally, coordinating through the app between the EMTs and the trauma centers to create a care plan for the patient based on which center has the right staffing and resources and how long it will take to get there, because it doesn’t matter that the hospital in Timbuktu has the best resources if you’re gonna die before they can get you there. Once they have the plan, the EMTs can begin treatment in the field. The parts connect and build on each other, you see? Like a…”
“A daisy chain,” he and I finished together.
“Yeah.” Rowe’s brilliant smile broke out, warmer than the sunlight. “It fits, right?”
“It definitely does.” And wiped away any lingering doubts I might have had about whether Rowe had authored this plan.
“I know this all probably seems pie-in-the-sky,” he went on. “I’ve already heard that from my parents and the Tech Barn guys from day one. My mom says it’s not healthy for me to be so obsessed. She’d like me to forget all about this and just find someone nice to settle down with. My dad says it’s irresponsible of me to devote so much time and money to this when I need a new car and when I’m leaving Bobby short an employee by ‘traipsing off to New York.’ And I know it’s gonna take a lot of work to make it marketable and profitable, but it can be, Bash. I really think it can, if I can get someone else to be passionate about it.”
“I know,” I agreed. “But, Rowe—”
“A-and I’m not asking for a lot of money. I just want to get this out there in the world.” His excitement drained away, and he straightened in his seat, like he was trying to appear more professional. “When I sign a contract, I’m going to insist on the kind that guarantees the company will produce a working product within a certain timeframe, or the rights will revert to me. That way, I can make sure there’s forward progress. And if I can eventually get back the money I spent so I can get a car, I’d really like that also.” He chewed his lip uncertainly. “I… I guess I did get a little pitch-y there at the end. Sorry about that.”
Oh, god, he was planning to give the idea away? The man had no idea just how profitable this idea was going to be. None whatsoever.
I stared at him for a long moment, not sure how the hell I was supposed to tell him what had been going on behind the scenes. And as I stared, his face fell further.
“Crap. Is it… terrible? Like, no hope at all?” he asked in a small voice. “Maybe I’m just not explaining it well. If you let me get my PowerPoint— I have charts. Data I’ve collected. Screenshots from the app I built, which are pretty trash right now, but… Just… shit, Bash, say something. Tell me what you’re thinking. Don’t sugarcoat it.”
“What I think,” I said slowly, “is that you are amazing. Inspiring. And a little bit brilliant.”
Rowe’s cheeks flushed, and his eyes went shiny. “Really? Oh, shit. Wow. Okay.”
“I think Project Daisy Chain is amazing, too.” I set my jaw. “And that’s exactly what I thought the first time I heard it… When someone else presented it to me.”
“The same idea?” Rowe stared at me in shock, and his brown eyes filled with tears. “What?”
I was a man who’d never had a Kryptonite, an Achilles heel. There’d never been a button anyone could push to bring me crashing to my knees in despair… until now, apparently, because seeing Rowe so upset made me want to burn the fucking world down.
Hearing his project pitch, knowing just how much effort—how much of his heart and soul—he’d poured into the concept for Project Daisy Chain, had made me ready to sign my fortune over to him if that was what it would take to take the look of desperation off his sweet face. Now, seeing his entire face crumple in confusion made me want to go downstairs, find Austin Purcell, and assault him… possibly with a burrito.
“I don’t understand how this is possible. I swear, Bash, this was my idea. I know I lied before—about being Sterling, and playing polo, and… and… Bubbles—but I’m telling the truth now.”
“I believe you.”
Rowe didn’t seem to hear me. He jumped to his feet and began pacing, swiping an impatient hand under his eyes. “I have every bit of my research, starting with the first scribbles in my design notebook. I even wrote down the episode of the show I was watching when the idea first came to me.” He patted his pockets and seemed distraught to find that he didn’t have his notebook on hand.