Summer in the City

Elle Leon goes to a club in New York City for a business magazine event to honor companies that made the “Next Big Exits” list with her friend Penelope. Penelope plans to network with a “legendary VC who funds” Atomic—one of the companies at the top of the magazine’s list. While waiting in line for the bathroom, Elle encounters someone she assumes is a bouncer. He assumes she is a gold-digger who is there to find a naive tech millionaire to ensnare. Despite their wrong assumptions, their attraction is strong; they are physically passionate in a stairway alcove. However, the passion ends when the man offers her anything she wants to go home with him. Elle assumes he means to pay her for sex and takes offense. She learns he is the CEO of Atomic, Parker Warren, when Penelope interrupts them shortly after. Elle wishes him ill-luck before leaving the club with her friend.

Two years later, Elle reads an article about Parker Warren negotiating a deal to sell his company for 10 billion dollars. She complains to Penelope, who has listened to Elle’s hatred of Parker ever since their disastrous club encounter.