Page 54 of Tell Me Something

He looked completely taken aback. “But this could launch you into a full-blown modeling career.”

I didn’t want to offend him. “And I appreciate that you would do that for me. I truly do, but I’m attending law school next year. Although I’m thankful for any opportunity to do modeling on the side in order to help fund that dream, I don’t desire an actual career of it.”

He glanced toward Josh and then back at me. “All right. My client will be happy that you’re willing to do their summer campaign. The pictures are yours, by the way. Take them home, frame them.”

I smiled, happy that he understood. “Thanks, for everything, Warren. I can’t tell you how much it means that you would give me this opportunity. Truly.”

He seemed appeased and gave me an awkward pat on the arm. “Of course, kiddo.”

I watched him walk back into the large conference room. Rooted to the spot, I was still trying to take it all in.

“Are you okay?” Josh inquired.

Nodding, I sighed. “I think so.”

“I can have those pictures framed for your apartment.”

I looked at him, focusing back on reality. “I really don’t want them. Maybe smaller ones, but those—Those are just too much. I mean, to have pictures that big of myself on my wall is kind of weird.”

Throwing his head back, he laughed. “You never cease to surprise me.”

Was that a compliment? I didn’t have a chance to figure it out as Brian interrupted.

Making my escape, I gathered my poster-sized photos and put them in Josh’s office. The last thing I needed was to be on display in the meeting room for the rest of the afternoon.

LATER THAT DAY, after only taking notes for an hour, a few things became apparent to me during the meeting of Gamble VPs. Warren was the senior man who made his opinion known whether it was asked for or not. Josh tended to sit back and take it all in, only commenting when necessary—which ensured that everyone listened to what he had to say. And lastly, everyone talked over or dismissed the one woman in the room, Sasha.

“All right, moving to Sasha and Delayne Diamonds,” Brian started out with the next agenda item. “They were very unhappy with the last campaign they ran with our competitor. Obviously, they’re looking for something different from us. What do you have, Sasha?”

Giving Brian a smile, she started out, “I was thinking we might focus on their vintage line, a black-and-white throwback.”

She definitely had my attention with the word vintage.

Warren spoke over her. “How would you do black and white when diamonds are white?”

“Well, I was thinking of muted colors, but—”

“I think it goes without saying that we need a big splash on this one. Show Delayne they made the correct move coming to us,” Warren interrupted.

I watched her swallow and could feel the tangible tension when she tried to continue. “We could do an engagement or wedding focus with the vintage spin…”

Everyone shook their heads and looked unimpressed. I watched her confidence strip away with one comment after another.

“Isn’t their vintage line the least profitable part of their business? I don’t think they’d want to put their ad campaign dollars towards something with such a small niche,” John from Chicago pitched in.

“Plus engagement and wedding would need to be done in time for the holidays which would prove impossible at this point. For some odd reason, Christmas and New Years are big engagement holidays,” Warren remarked.

Brian then spoke, clearly taking control of the situation and, in my mind, protecting Sasha from any more of Warren’s comments. “I think that we should do a smaller breakout session tomorrow and discuss some possible new options for diamonds.”

Sasha appeared to be biting her tongue, and I felt some sympathy for her. She continued on, however, discussing her other clients as though she hadn’t been grilled. Her ability to shake it off was impressive.

LATER, while Juliette briefed everyone else on the plans for the evening, I excused myself to go to the ladies’ room and walked in on Sasha dabbing her eyes.

She immediately tried to recover when she realized I was there, but I knew without a doubt she’d been crying. She gave me a brief nod and then went about washing her hands.

I contemplated what to say. “For what it’s worth, I absolutely loved the vintage idea.”

She turned to look at me and sighed.