Page 195 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

“Performance. The advanced systems division outgrew the original projections faster than we anticipated. Once that happened, the question stopped being whether we expanded and became how quickly we could do it without weakening the rest of the operation.”

“So California isn’t secondary anymore.”

“No.”

“Could it eventually rival New York?”

“As a research center, yes. As headquarters, that isn’t the current plan.”

I make a note.

Julian watches my pen move for a moment before asking, “So whereabout in L.A. are you ? What area?”

I look at him before answering slowly.

“Westwood.”

“You’re in Westwood?”

My hand slows slightly.

“Yes.”

“That’s a long way from Silicon Valley.”

“Yes.”

“You ever consider moving north?”

I look up. “For work?”

“For anything.”

The question is casual enough to deny later.

“I like Los Angeles,” I tell him.

Julian leans back in his chair.

“You’ve established that.”

I wait.

His gaze stays on mine.

“You said California is home. What made it home?”

There it is.

Not Vanguard Business Journal. Not Blackwell. Not the interview.

I keep my voice even. “Time.”

“That’s vague.”

“It’s accurate.”

Julian’s expression doesn’t change.