26. Ember

26

EMBER

K nock. Knock.

I tap my knuckles on the outside of Elena’s door and look back at Cruz, who’s giving me two thumbs up with a ridiculously large smile. Even with my nerves taking over all my bodily functions, I can’t help but smile back at him.

“Come in,” Elena calls out from somewhere behind her office door.

I take a deep breath and turn the handle, pushing it forward, and walk into her office.

“Good Afternoon,” I announce with more confidence than I feel.

“Hey, Ember. How is everything going?” she returns with an ease I’m jealous of as she types on her keyboard.

“Great, it’s really great,” I reply. “Not only is this a dream job, but I’m learning so much from everyone.”

“That’s so great to hear.” She closes her laptop and looks my way, giving me her full attention. “Cruz mentioned you had a couple ideas you wanted to run by me during our meeting today. ”

Damn him. He told her that in case I chickened out. Which has crossed my mind twice already since I walked in.

“Actually, yeah. I have some ideas that I thought might work in getting some more traction for XConnect. It’s… unconventional. But, if we do it right, I think it could pay off.”

A look of curiosity crosses over her face. “Really? Interesting. Tell me more.”

I have been doing nothing but thinking of this idea for the last couple weeks, and the fact that she’s giving me this chance to propose something new and different, I wanted to take it seriously. I open my portfolio and pull out two pieces of paper. One has a full floor plan mockup that I created, along with a detailed proposal, in a business plan format.

“We’ve run some surveys with our users, and there was a lot of feedback that people were hesitant to meet up because we have no way to truly scan for AI pictures or filtered pictures. Also, women are more and more reluctant to meet strangers these days. There are so many matchmaking platforms out there, and although our niche is a little more unique and aimed toward sexual pleasures, users are still hesitant.”

She leans forward in her chair. “Okay, tell me what you’re thinking. How do we combat that challenge?”

“Well…” clearing my throat, “I thought maybe we could bring a function to them. Sort of a set up meet and greet.” I slide the floorplan sketch I made in front of her. The mockup has a full-scale club and bar, along with different rooms and areas in which people can meet. The layout is based on the layout of our website, directing our users to their desired kinks. Certain rooms designated for those who want to explore. I explain all of this in detail to Elena, referencing back to my business plan, detailed with membership programs, sign up options, and managing this event a couple of times a month.

“I feel like this may boost user engagement and allow for a safe space for people to meet. Member-only events, and we can theme them, depending on where we see the most traffic on the website.” My mouth feels like quicksand as I swallow thickly, finishing my proposal.

“I know the cost of an on-site club is not ideal, clearly. But I think this will allow us to not only increase the base cost, but collect door fees as well. Also, if we’re able to sell liquor, I have the liquor license permit process on that second page there, plus product sales at the venue. I truly believe it will pay itself off, and more importantly, promote our users to engage both in person and virtually. It’s time we get our recent generations out from behind their computers and phones in a comfortable and safe environment.”

She studies the plan; her eyes bounce between my business plan and side written notes, then the sketch. Back and forth.

I have no idea what she is thinking, and it’s killing me.

“So, yeah, I thought it could be, XConnect - Unleashed Live or Live After Dark or even simply, XConnect - the club, something catchy and—” She stands, straightening her blazer before grabbing the papers and rounding her desk.

“Follow me, please.”

Shit .

I stand urgently, pacing her hurried steps. As we exit her office, I look over at a stunned Cruz. I shrug with raised eyebrows and continue following Elena.

There’s only one office in this direction.

Christian Ford’s office.

Double shit.

She knocks, an interesting patterned knock, and he quickly replies, “Come in.”

Now, one of the things that Cruz shared with me, that some people know and some people think is rumored, is that, although Elena is married to Jake, they—as in her and her husband Jake—are also with Christian. I’ve never asked her about it, and I’ve only seen her and Mr. Ford in a business setting, where they were completely professional, but I do believe they live together. I’m so curious about it and would love to ask Elena about it one day.

“Ember has brought something to me that I felt you needed to urgently consider.” She doesn’t even say hi, she just bolts straight to his desk, placing the papers in front of him.

“Ember, please share with Christian what you shared with me.” My eyes look between the two of them, and I swallow the boulder resting at the back of my throat before I go into the speech I practiced way too many times.

After I finish, a smirk crosses his face as he looks up at Elena then back to me.

“This is going to be incredibly costly,” he responds. Which I knew. Why would we even consider doing something like this when you have an online platform and zero brick and mortar costs.

“I do realize that, sir. I truly feel like this can set us apart from the competition, and I do have a third leg to my business plan of renting out industrial space that will allow us to test this for a few months, like a pop-up event, before we—you—would invest in buying a building for it.” My passion in this idea surpasses the nerves I feel, and not only do I sound confident, but I feel that way as well.

“I don’t rent buildings, Mrs. Byrnes.” The lopsided grin that rests on his face is one that tells me he knows my secret, which wouldn’t surprise me, since Elena and Jake are aware of my situation. “I own far too many buildings that are doing way less than what this could potentially do. Elena, I assume you’re on board with this?”

She looks my way, taking a momentary pause before looking back at Christian. “Yes, I think it’s a great idea, and I think if anyone can put something like this together, she can.”

Jesus, I thought I’d leave this meeting with tears of embarrassment at my idea, not tears from emotional destruction .

She believes in me. They believe in me.

“That’s what I thought.” The smile he returns to her is one that would burst my entire body into flames if Hudson looked at me that same way.

Christian steps out from behind his desk, and I have to take a minute to breathe. Not only from the high level of anxiety that I’ve been experiencing since the moment I stepped foot in Elena’s office, but also from the power that exudes from Christian Ford. If what Cruz says about Elena and her relationship with both her husband, Jake, and Christian is true, wow. How does she handle them both? I was impressed with her from the moment I met her, but impressed is far beyond an understatement, at this point.

Christian stops a few feet shy of where I’m standing. He crosses his arms over his chest, then brings one hand to his face, wrapping it around his sharp jawline. He takes a moment to appraise me, and I surprisingly don’t feel belittled or concerned. I feel ready. I believe in this proposal.

“The public won’t see the perks of what we are offering for a venue like this. They will simply see it as us opening a sex club. I’ve been around long enough to know that some people in the community will eat us alive for pursuing something like this. There will be backlash, protesting. Also, we’ll have nothing but red tape from the city regarding permits and approvals. Are you ready for something like that, Ember?”

I rise to my full height, standing taller. My chin automatically follows as I tip my head back to meet his gaze.

“I am.”

“Good. Connect with Deitrich on security details for what we would need for a venue like this. Have Cruz start researching the existing floor plans to convert one of our downtown buildings.”

Oh my god. They love it, and we’re doing this.

Holy shit .

“Congratulations, Ember. This is a great idea, and you’re taking the lead on this project. You’ll get a commission of the sales for any event that we profit on. We’ll work out those details later. For now, let’s just get this ball rolling.”

“Yes, sir,” I reply, as I retreat from his office with a bounce in my step and a tenacious smile on my face. “Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down.”

I silently mouth a ‘ thank you’ to a beaming Elena as well before I exit his office and internally scream as I power walk to Cruz’s desk and squeal out loud when I share the news with him.

“I freaking knew it! I knew they would love it. We really are going out tonight, because we have to celebrate.”

I concede and agree because I couldn’t be happier. The only thing that could make this better would be going home to share it with Hudson.