Beyond the Ivory Tower Read Online Free Page B

eight,” he said. “We’ll do brunch afterward.”
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
     
    The summit took place in an imposing stone edifice that had originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Hundreds of chairs were set up theater-style in the central hall, facing a raised stage where workers appeared to be checking the video and sound system.
    Dozens of fresh-faced teens mingled in the marble-floored lobby, chatting with people in business casual attire, whose name tags identified the companies they represented. Anna was surprised by how many of the names she recognized: leaders in computer technology, bioengineering, medical device manufacturing, and business. There were also members of the press, cameras and recording equipment in hand, moving from group to group.
    Before she could find Klara amid the crowd, Ethan swept in from a recessed alcove near the entrance. “You came.”
    “I said I would.”
    “A woman of her word.” He smiled. “I like that.”
    He led the way up a marble staircase to the mezzanine, which opened onto an outdoor balcony. Long tables covered in snowy linen showcased an impressive breakfast buffet. Most of the small tables scattered about the balcony were occupied, but Ethan found an empty one tucked behind a potted palm.
    “Hungry?” He removed his jacket and draped it over the back of a chair.
    “I thought the food came after the speeches. A reward for staying awake and clapping in all the right places.”
    His laughter melted some of her apprehension. “Sounds like you’ve had some experience with tough crowds.”
    “You could say that.” She set down her purse and followed him to the buffet. “Nothing like a bunch of undergraduates crammed into lecture hall first thing Monday morning.”
    “We can have a real meal later,” he said. “But I could use some caffeine before the festivities start.”
    Fortified with a couple cups of coffee and some light conversation, they returned to the main hall. Ethan pointed her toward an area of reserved seating near the front before disappearing into an anteroom with a woman whose name tag proclaimed her the CEO of the Talbot Foundation.
    Instead of taking a seat, Anna meandered around the hall’s perimeter, keeping a sharp eye out for her sister. She finally found Klara near the back, engaged in an animated discussion with a lanky boy who didn’t look old enough to shave.
    Klara stopped mid-sentence when she noticed her sister. “I’ll catch up with you later,” she told the boy, before pulling Anna to the side. “What are you doing here?”
    “I was curious. Thought I’d look around, see what the summit was all about.”
    Klara lowered her voice. “It’s an invitation only event.”
    “I know,” Anna said. “Ethan invited me.”
    “Ethan—you mean Ethan Talbot?” Klara’s eyes rounded. “No way.”
    Anna wavered between annoyance and amusement. “Yes way. We had dinner last night.”
    “You had dinner with Ethan Talbot?”
    “Is there an echo here?”
    “Sorry.” Klara slumped against the wall. “It’s just…weird, that’s all.”
    “Why?”
    “Well, for one thing, he’s a gazillionaire,” Klara said. “Like, cover of Forbes magazine rich. Plus he’s got a reputation. Ever since his divorce—”
    “He was married?”
    “Yeah. TMZ ran a story about it a while back. ‘Starter Wives’ or something like that.” She shrugged. “Anyway, he only dates supermodels and Hollywood stars these days. And if they can’t keep his attention….No offense, Anna, but you’re not exactly in his league.”
    Anna stared at her sister, wishing she could refute Klara’s words. But deep down she knew Klara was right. Wasn’t that why she’d avoided looking him up online after returning to her hotel room last night?
    The fact that she hadn’t Googled him back in L.A., when she’d realized that Klara was serious about this Talbot Fellowship business, was an uncharacteristic oversight. At the time, all Anna cared