Private Offerings — Ann Bridges

THE MODERN DAY GOLD RUSH IS ON The breadth of Silicon Valley's reach is global, penetrating all aspects of civilian life, as well as defining the new Cold War: how governments monitor worldwide financial transactions to maintain an edge on political posturing and defense technology. Ann Bridges presents Silicon Valley drama within this global context, from an insider's perspective that is rich with authenticity and nails current-day issues. Tech guru, Eric Coleman, is about to embark on an IPO road show for SDS, the company he founded with funding and support from the U.S. Defense Department. The uses for his proprietary, top-secret technology is coveted by the Chinese government, represented by a variety of nefarious parties who have plans of their own: delay the IPO with false rumors and force a private offering, allowing them to step in as the white knight, offering a rich payback for the founder while also buying the technology and placing China firmly at the head of global dominance. Lynn Baker is the struggling public relations consultant hired by Coleman to grease the wheels of the IPO syndicate, derailed immediately with allegations of a bug in SDS software. A flurry of suspicion ensues, the root of which goes so deep into the heart of the code, it points to insider corruption. As Baker and Coleman fight to maintain an offensive, the international intrigue hastens and clashes with the greed of the Wall Street handlers, in step with the heightening attraction between Lynn and Eric. Past entanglements come to the fore, setting a firm backdrop for a myriad of clues and motives for both power plays and love triangles. As the sultry heat builds between Coleman and Baker, internal and external forces wreak havoc on their mutual trust, and the potential for a future together. When the stakes are this high, how far will governments go to secure a Holy Grail in forensic technology? And will their desperate power plays overshadow the possibility that the guru behind it has already anticipated the feeding frenzy with a power play of his own?