Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

MARLOW

A fter my trip home, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. I had recharged my batteries and was ready to get back to work. Today, I was meeting with Joshua Powell again.

The follow-up meeting with the social media star was my top priority. I was excited to see the revisions of his athletic wear designs. We had exchanged a couple of emails over the last couple of weeks. His team was on board with making the changes. I couldn't wait to see what he had done.

I got dressed for the day, choosing a professional but stylish navy-blue suit paired with a delicate silk blouse. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. This meeting was very important to me. This was my first real project. Joshua's revamped clothing line was my idea. If it was trash, it was all on my head. My future with the company was resting on this meeting. I needed it to go well. I didn't know if my career or ego would ever recover if the clothing line was garbage and my marketing advice proved to be a disaster.

I put on my favorite power heels. My Louboutin's were a splurge after my first big paycheck two years ago. These babies had gotten some mileage. I tried to only wear them for special occasions. Today was one of those occasions. I had to dress to impress. I needed to look like the expert I was.

When I walked out of the lobby, I noticed people looking at me. My confidence was high as I walked to my shiny new car, another confidence booster. The BMW logo made me smile. It made me feel like I belonged at the top with my coworkers.

The drive to the office was smooth, and my anticipation built with every passing street. I parked my car in the designated parking space and checked my appearance one last time in the rearview mirror. Satisfied, I walked toward the building.

I stepped into the elevator, smiling at the other people squishing in around me. As the doors slid closed and the familiar combination of cologne and perfume washed around me, I just kept smiling.

I confidently strolled toward my office.

"Good morning," Kyla greeted me. "Your coffee and protein bar are on your desk. I put the file for the meeting in there as well. And the digital copy is ready for you."

"Thank you, Kyla," I said. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"And like I always tell you, you're not going to have to find out."

I sat down at my desk and sipped my coffee. I looked up and noticed Kyla hovering at the door. "What's up?" I asked.

"Nothing." She smiled. "Do you need anything?"

I shook my head. "I think you've got me covered."

"Okay. If you need anything, just holler."

She was acting off. "What's going on, Kyla?"

"Nothing," she said with a shrug. "You look nice. You're wearing the power heels. You came to slay."

I smiled at her, knowing she was trying to boost my confidence. "Yes, I did. This is an important day."

"You've got this, Marlow. You're a force to be reckoned with."

Kyla's words rang with sincerity. I was grateful for her unwavering support.

"Thank you," I said again.

She left me alone. She was acting a little off, but that wasn't a total surprise. I took a deep breath and opened the file on my desk and the one on the computer. I knew the information backward and forward, but I wanted to make sure I had it all down. I didn't want to have to read from my notes. Joshua needed to feel like I knew his business inside and out. He needed to know I believed in him and his product. It was why I was as successful as I was. I could give my clients that personal touch.

Staring at the designs, I could see the potential for greatness. Joshua had done an amazing job of creating active wear that was not only functional but also stylish. He had managed to understand what the market needed and delivered it in an innovative way. I was proud to be part of this project. I knew that my contribution could take it to the next level.

I just hoped the pictures were as good as the actual clothing. If he presented cheap or dull clothing, I wasn't sure what I would do. I didn't think I could tell him how bad they were a second time. The first time, I got away with it. The second time, probably not so much. Then again, I had to be honest.

Before long, my office door opened. "He's in the conference room," Kyla said. "He brought a few boxes and several people."

"People?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I think an assistant or maybe employees. I have no idea."

I took a deep breath. "Okay. I guess this is the make-or-break moment. If this goes bad, we'll be packing up."

"Stop worrying," she assured me. "You've got this."

I picked up the file, grabbed my laptop, and made my way to the conference room. Spencer and Jax were already there with Joshua and two other young guys.

"Hey, Marlow!" Joshua greeted me. "Check these out. Just got them in this morning."

His partner opened a box and started putting clothing items on the table.

I walked over and inspected the athletic wear. The fabrics were high quality, the designs sleek and modern. The mockups he had sent looked good, but the actual clothes really popped.

Joshua's excitement was infectious. He was still young, cocky, and a bit annoying, but I didn't mind. The product was authentic now. These were more his brand than the soulless outfits he brought in before.

"These look incredible, Joshua," I said, holding up a jacket with a reflective logo. "You've really outdone yourself."

He grinned. "Told you they'd be amazing. Now we can start talking about the marketing campaign. I've got a few ideas, but I want to hear what you think."

Jax, the graphic designer, looked ready to start taking notes. We all sat down. Unlike our first meeting, I was the one officially leading the charge. No more pouting from the partners.

I began outlining our strategy.

"We need to get these in the hands of other influencers," I started. "People who can showcase the product. It needs to look natural, not forced. They'll wear it when they're shopping or hanging out. They post a few pictures to Instagram, and it generates buzz."

"Yeah, I get that." He nodded.

"We should also look at sports events sponsorship, targeting local marathon races, CrossFit competitions, or even extreme sports events. Big names wearing your brand can create a huge impact."

"I like that." Joshua nodded, seeming to absorb every word. "I'll get in touch with some skaters I know. I'm sure they'd help us out. They love free shit."

"We should also consider doing some giveaways after a soft launch," I went on.

Everything I was saying was all in my notes, but I didn't have to refer to them. After seeing his clothing, I knew exactly what it needed.

"I like that. Get some big names to wear my stuff and post about it. That'll definitely get people talking."

"And we'll run ads," Jax added. "Targeted ones. We can collaborate with a few high-profile photographers to create eye-catching visuals. The natural, candid pictures are good, but you'll still need professional photos."

"Absolutely," I agreed. "We should also think about a pre-Christmas release. It's the perfect time to capitalize on holiday shopping. We can build anticipation leading up to it."

Joshua looked thoughtful. "That makes sense. People are always looking for unique gifts, and my line would stand out."

"Absolutely," I told him. "You'll target that age group that is always so hard to buy for. We'll market it as a gift for that twenty-something. Grandma will see the ad and be inclined to buy at least a shirt."

He chuckled. "Grannies love me."

We spent the next hour brainstorming and refining our plans. By the end of the meeting, we had a solid strategy in place. We all participated, tossing around ideas. I loved that everyone was on the same page. There was no tension between me and the others. Joshua was buzzing with excitement along with partners. They were happy.

"I can't wait to see this all come together," he said, shaking my hand. "Thanks for your help, Marlow. This is going to be huge. I truly appreciate you being honest with me about that first line."

"It's going to be great," I agreed, smiling. "We've got a lot of work ahead, but it's going to pay off. I'm sorry I had to be blunt before, but I have to be honest because the consumers aren't going to hold back once you release everything."

He shook his head. "I'm glad you gave us a fresh perspective. I know I can trust you to be straight with me. Maybe just let me know in advance you're going to burst my bubble. I'll come prepared with a bottle of tequila and my vape."

I laughed. "Deal."

As Joshua and Jax left, I felt a sense of accomplishment. We were on the right track, and Joshua's brand was going to make a bigger splash than it already had. It was going to be a huge success and I was going to be able to say I had a small part in that.

"Good job," Spencer said. "That's exactly what I knew you would do."

"Let's get the campaign launched and then we'll celebrate," I said.

He smiled and nodded. "Sounds good."

We left the conference room and started toward our offices. He reached out and put a hand on my arm. "Marlow, can we talk?"

"Sure."

I followed him into his office, half expecting him to steal a steamy kiss. I'd been thinking about the sex we had since the moment it ended, and after being away, I was craving more of him. He closed his office door. But instead of pulling me into his arms, he looked concerned.

"I need to talk to you about something," he said, gesturing for me to sit down.

My stomach dropped. "What is it? Does everyone know what we did? These offices don't have cameras, do they?"

"It's about Dakota," he said, his tone serious.

"Dakota?" I asked with confusion. "Eww, what about him?"

"He showed up at the office this morning," he said quietly.

Embarrassment and anger washed over me. "What the hell? Why?"

"He said he needed to talk to you, but Kyla was keeping him from getting to you. I told him to leave, but he didn't take it well."

I sank deeper into the chair, the high of the good meeting going poof . "I can't believe he showed up here. I've been trying to avoid him, but he's relentless."

"Don't worry," Spencer said, his voice soothing. "I've given Dakota's picture and description to the security company in the lobby. He won't be able to come up here again."

"Thank you," I said, relief flooding through me. "He's been harassing me for months, and I don't know what to do."

Spencer's eyes hardened. "I can rough him up if you want."

I laughed, a mix of nerves and genuine amusement. "Spencer, you can't be serious."

He arched an eyebrow. "I mean it. Fuck this guy. He thinks he can intimidate you and bully you into giving him what he wants. He needs someone to knock his dick in the dirt and remind him of the natural order of things."

"You bullied me into taking this job, remember?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"He and I are not the same," Spencer said firmly.

"I never said you were," I replied, meeting his gaze.

The room hummed with tension, the air thick with unspoken words. Before I could do something I might have regretted, Kyla walked in with some documents.

"Sorry to interrupt," she said, looking between us. "Another sprained ankle?"

"No, it's okay, Kyla," I said, grateful for the distraction. "What's up?"

She handed me a stack of papers. "These are the reports you asked for. And Joshua wanted to know if you could review the final marketing plan by the end of the day."

"Of course," I said, taking the papers. "I'll get on it right away."

Kyla glanced at us both again pointedly before she left. She knew me too well.

Spencer turned to me. "We're not done talking about this, Marlow. If Dakota shows up again, you let me know immediately."

"I will," I promised. "Thank you, Spencer."

"No, thank you ," he said. "You killed it today. You should be proud of yourself."