Page 125 of Twisted Truth

The reporters break into questions, and I tell the press about Asher’s generous donation to the school lunch and weekend food pantry programs. He hasn’t actually agreed, but I know he will, so I’m not worried about making that claim prematurely.

Once the kids enter the room, I make my way back to my station and wait as the kids shuffle down the assembly line. As the children make it to my section, I place a small jar of peanut or almond butter in their backpack, depending on allergies. As always, their sweet faces bring me back to second grade, and I remember the relief and happiness on Maya’s face when it was time for us to sit and eat our double lunch. It’s a bittersweet feeling. I’m happy to be a part of the program that provides that food, and yet I hate that it’s a need in the first place.

When we finish up with all the children, I stay for a few more photos, then head out as the reporters begin to speak to the school administrators. The NYPD has arrived and set up a barrier to keep the paparazzi away from the school, and I notice that there are a few more news outlets parked behind the barrier as well.

Jenkins and Waters surround me to escort me to the car, and it hits me again how insane this all is. Last month when I volunteered here, no one knew who I was or cared that I was here. And now, the NYPD is here to keep the premises safe because of the stir surrounding my appearance. It’s mind boggling that people are fascinated by such mundane things like my volunteer efforts. And yet, here we are. Asher’s sentiments about sometimes feeling like a zoo animal hit a littledifferently, and it makes me wonder if maybe Lucy has a point. This attention is unnatural, and who knows what the future will hold.

But at least it served a good cause today.

An hour later,my heelsclick clackagainst the marble floor of Vericom Technologies’ vast, new age lobby. Emily, Heather, and I are helping the marketing team launch the tech watch today since they’re still feeling like they’re on shaky ground, and our team doesn’t have much to do since Asher’s out of town.

The lobby is massive and exactly what you’d picture for a tech company. Clean lines, modern aesthetic, lots of white in the design and architecture, and ample amounts of natural light. Vericom is one of Langford Holding’s largest subsidiaries, but lately, there has been tension over the partnership, and it’s no secret that Vericom wants to buy out their contract and separate themselves from Langford Holdings.

So today needs to be perfect.

One hang up that Vericom has with Langford Holdings is that they offer a lot of their services in-house. Instead of hiring a marketing firm, Langford Holdings bought one, and now that team works in the Langford building on my old floor. Same with PR, advertising, and all sorts of other divisions. Langford Holdings doesn’t pay other companies for services when they can pay themselves to do them. But Vericom believes this approach creates sub-par results. They feel that companies competing over business creates a better end product, and in some ways, I can’t blame them. I will admit, the change of the guard on their account three weeks before their launch was a major problem, but I think the team has rallied well, and everything is in order. Now we just have to perform.

The press is gathered around the focal point for the launch,which is a small stage lined with display tables, banners, and a screen to project the launch video. The banners Jerome designed look even better printed in person than they did on the computer, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

I meet up with the team as they’re all flitting about, getting the last-minute details put into place. Models are being fit with the watches, Jerome is setting up the projector, and Emily and Heather are passing out marketing packets to everyone in attendance. The watch doesn’t hit the market for another five months, so this is a soft launch announcement, but it still must make an impact. Vericom needs five months of buzz and excitement to get consumers salivating and counting down the days until the watch is available.

“Can you pass these out?” Heather asks me, handing me a stack of glossy information packets.

“Of course.”

I take the stack and make my way through the crowding lobby, greeting newcomers and handing them packets. A camera flashes, and I think nothing of it since there are several press outlets here.

Until I hear my name called.

“Ella! Is that you? Are you working the launch?” a photographer to my right calls out.

Shit.

I don’t want my presence here to overshadow the launch.

More photographers start to pique with attention and look at me. Soon, more cameras are flashing my way, and my name is being shouted over and over.

“Yes,” I answer in the general direction of the press. “Vericom is one of the largest subsidiaries of Langford Holdings, and we couldn’t be more excited about their new smartwatches.”

I continue handing out packets while trying to dodge personal questions and photos, but when the barrage of attentionwon’t die down, I finally look toward Vericom’s executives for a clue as to what they want me to do about the situation. They are huddled around Blake Covington, Vericom’s CEO, and two of them are looking my way, having noticed the change in the photographers’ attention.

As I hand out my last packet, Mr. Covington catches my eye and waves me over. My stomach drops, but I shift my shoulders and walk toward him and his executives, ignoring the growing buzz of the press.

“I’m sorry,” I say as I near Mr. Covington and his executives. “I’m not trying to draw unnecessary attention; I can leave if it’s a problem.”

“Of course it’s not a problem!” Mr. Covington says, flashing me a bright smile. “If anything, you’re an unexpected prize.” He brushes his hand along my elbow, and gestures for me to stand near the display on the stage. He’s young for a CEO, probably somewhere around Asher’s age, and, also like Asher, he’s stupidly handsome with his dark blonde hair, gray eyes, and the bone structure and build most men would kill for.

“Can we get you fit with one of the watches?” he asks me. “We’d love for you to wear one with the models.”

“Oh, um . . . okay,” I say, relieved that he isn’t annoyed that my presence has shifted the attention in the room.

An assistant places a watch into the CEO’s waiting hand.

“May I?” Mr. Covington asks, holding out the watch to fasten around my wrist.

“Sure,” I say, and hold my wrist out for him.

He fastens it as he gives me a rundown of the product. “This is our top-of-the-line model, and it’s fitted with one of our luxury watch bands from the designer collection. One criticism we heard from our original watches was that all of the band options were too sporty. Many wearers wanted an option to turn their smartwatch into something more sophisticated for evenings or events, and with this new design, I think we’veachieved that. This band is twenty-four carat gold, but it also comes in white gold, platinum, and tungsten. This is a slender design for women, and the men’s line has a thicker band. More designs will be out later this year.”