Robby was her fate, her destiny. And yet she was powerless to return to him. This office represented her innermost self, too. Even if her parents would fault her for it, work fulfilled her as nothing else could.
Whatever the case, she thought, returning to the topic at hand, Susannah and J.D. were back together, as happy as peas in a pod. “I don’t think I want to elaborate on J. D. Johnson and Susannah Banner any more than I already have,” Ellie finally decided.
“My only remaining question concerns what you see in your immediate future.”
She smiled, thinking the phrase sounded catchy, and making a mental note of it. “The future of Future Trends?” Before he could respond, she continued. “Funny you should ask. I am about to do something totally unprecedented in the history of the polling industry.”
Derrick took the bait, leaning forward. “And you’re going to let me announce this in my article?”
Astute fellow. “Of course.” She flashed a smile. “I’m going to put my money where my mouth is.”
“How?”
She glanced toward the front room. “As you’ve made clear, you’re no stranger to the necessity of passion. And ever since Angelina and Antonio became engaged, I’ve been inspired…”
Now Derrick was beginning to look a little confused.
“By using my polling skills and talents with statistical analysis,” she said, “I’m going to find a mate.”
Derrick chuckled. “You’re kidding, right?”
Slowly, she shook her head. “As you know, today’s marketing strategies include tricks unimaginable a generation ago. Today, there are databases chock-full of information about everyone. With nothing more than my computer, I can access a world of data about you—where you go, what you earn, where you shop, what you buy, what you do for entertainment, who you know, what you read…”
“I get the point.”
She laughed softly. “Scary thought, isn’t it?”
“If misused.”
“Well,” she assured him, “I’m in the process of putting my data gathering and analytical skills together to demonstrate why everyone should use Future Trends. After this, everyone will understand that we can make any correct prediction, right down to what you’re going to have for dinner tonight.”
“You’re already blowing people out of the water.”
“Maybe. But this will be spectacular. Within two weeks, I expect to finish crunching my numbers. In addition to available data, I’ve requested focus groups and questionnaires, the results to which Angelina is entering into our private database now. And from all the existing information in the country, I expect to find the man with whom I would be the most compatible.”
“Of course you intend to meet him before you marry him?” Derrick teased, looking incredulous.
“I would not have to,” Ellie assured him. “That’s how much I stand behind my methods, but…” Pausing, she shrugged gamely. “I can’t expect anyone else to play by my rules, and so…”
“So?”
“The announcement will be made next week.”
“And what do you expect to come from this?”
She flashed him a grin. “Besides publicity from you for Future Trends? Mr. Mills, I’m not sure you appreciate the full gravity of what I’m saying. This man will be The One. I will be able to do anything with him…and everything. I can bed him, wed him. Make mad, passionate love. He will be my alter ego and very best friend. That’s what I’m looking for, and—”
“My, my,” her interviewer interjected. “This is interesting, indeed. Other papers may want to follow this, watch the story unfold.”
It was what she’d been hoping for. If things went smoothly, she could actually make a mint in new business, and garner the resources for taking over Lee Polls, if she chose to do so. She took a deep breath. “Let me just finish by saying that I know two things. First, and I speak as a statistician.”
“To say?”
“The numbers never lie.”
“And…”
“Second, as a woman, I’d say…”
He leaned even closer. “Yes?”
“I always get my man.”
He would be better than Robby Robriquet in every way. Sexier. Smarter. Richer. Hotter in bed. And the only remaining question was his identity.
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