by Gun Brooke
“Holy smoke.” Addison blinked and kept looking.
“Need a drool bucket, sis?” Stacey said in a fake angelic voice. “You can’t sit around with your tongue hanging out while you’re in meetings with her.”
“I’m not drooling and my tongue is where it’s supposed to be.”
“I could say something really crude, but I won’t.” Stacey laughed. “All jokes aside, Addie, you’re staring at her like she’s prime real estate or something.”
“Oh, you’re so funny. Not.”
Stacey stuck her tongue out and then looked back at the screen. “She’s amazing, and I’m not a lesbian. She’s totally hot.”
“Just because I’m a lesbian doesn’t mean I find all types of women hot.” Addison sighed.
“I know that!” Stacey punched her shoulder lightly. “And you know that I know.”
“I do.”
“So?”
“What?” Addison understood what Stacey was asking but wasn’t sure she could, or would, answer it truthfully.
“Oh, come on. I’ve never seen you act or look this way when it comes to any woman. She triggers something. Tell me I’m lying.”
“You’re…you’re not lying.” Covering her eyes with her hand, Addison moaned. “She’s really something, in more ways than one. I was already aware that she was stunning.” She lowered her hand and looked at the photo of Eleanor again. “Then I stumble into that restaurant, all winded, sweaty, and late, and she’s sitting there. Calm, cool, rather acerbic, and gorgeous. I swear her eyes were like sparkling icicles. She was only wearing very light makeup, very classy.”
“Trust you to notice that.”
“Brat.”
“So, go on.”
Addison squinted and tilted her head. “I should just drop this. Erase it from my mind and be totally professional. I’m going to advise her company. I’m sure I won’t be working anywhere near her, really, but I should still make sure I regard her only as a client.”
“Uh-huh. Sure. That’ll work.” Stacey snorted. “You have no idea you just licked your lips, do you?”
“What? I didn’t.”
“Did too. Like this.” Stacey licked her own lips slowly and with an exaggeratedly blissful roll of her eyes.
“Oh, you awful brat!” Digging her fingertips into Stacey’s side, Addison tickled her. “Take that back.”
Squealing with laughter, Stacey tried to escape the sisterly punishment, but Addison had found the secret spot that would render her sister helpless with laughter and continued to tickle her.
“I give up. I give up.”
Addison chortled and stopped the tickle attack. “See what happens to liars?”
“I may have exaggerated, but the licking-lips part wasn’t a lie.” Stacey swiftly moved out of reach. “You did do that.”
Somehow, this time Addison believed her. “God. I’m screwed if I let the least bit of this…this, whatever, instant crush, show.”
“I could be really crude now, but that would only get me grounded, so I won’t—ah!” Diving out of her room, Stacey hurried into the bathroom and locked the door. “I was kidding, I was kidding!” She laughed so hard she could barely speak.
Addison couldn’t keep from chuckling. Stacey was a bit of a rascal, that much was true, but to see her have a really good day was worth everything. She tapped on the door. “Don’t think you’re safe forever. You still have to help with dinner, and you never know when I’ll get my revenge.”
“Oh, yes, I do. As soon as you start cooking, your revenge begins.”
Addison guffawed at Stacey’s quick wit. Her lack of skill in the kitchen was legendary, but at least she hadn’t poisoned anyone yet. “Oh, please. I’ll have mercy on you and make spaghetti and meat sauce. That stuff you like. From a can?”
“Oh, thank the Lord.” Stacey opened the door and suddenly Addison found herself wrapped up in a fierce hug. “Thank you.”
“No need to go overboard. It’s just pasta with canned meat sauce.” Addison patted Stacey’s back. “Isn’t it?”
“Yeah. That and the fact that you’re taking this step, this amazing leap into the unknown. I know you’re doing it for me. I mean, you would’ve had to launch a career since so many subscribers and viewers love you, but…it’s because of me that you’re doing it now.”
“Hey, don’t worry, honey. I’m excited about this opportunity. Yes, I confess I’d work in the sewers if it meant getting you the best physical therapist, but now I get to work with what I love. It’s not exactly a sacrifice on my part, Stace.”
“Perhaps. In a way I think it is.” Stacey began to pull Addison toward the kitchen. “You’re quitting a steady job, albeit not your dream job exactly, to go into business on your own with all it brings with it. I’m glad Peter will be able to help you. Just let the poor guy down easy, okay? He’s totally into you.”
“What?” Addison turned around so fast she nearly smacked her head on the pantry door she’d just opened. “Peter? You’re joking.”
“Uh-uh. He looks like a pitiful St. Bernard whenever he and Janet come over. Haven’t you ever wondered why he hangs with the two of you? He’s hoping he’ll be the one who makes you switch teams.”
“Oh, God.” Closing her eyes, Addison rested weakly against the pantry door for a moment. “Well, no matter, I’ll just keep things very professional—”
“And where have I heard this before? Hmm? Oh, yeah, in my room a few minutes ago when someone told me she’d be very professional when she has the hots for her new client. I see a trend here.”
“And I see a teenager who’ll be cooking the rest of the week if she doesn’t quit the smart-ass routine.” Narrowing her eyes deliberately, Addison gave Stacey her best glare before she pulled out the pasta, smiling at Stacey’s yelp.
“All right, all right. I won’t mention anything about professionalism, crushes, team changes, or smoking-hot middle-aged women. Nuh-uh.”
Addison tried to stay stern, but as usual, Stacey made her giggle as if she were still a teenager herself. Clutching the spaghetti, she laughed helplessly as she held onto the counter. Stacey joined in, actually ending up sitting on the floor holding her stomach and wiping at tears of laughter.
“Brat,” Addison managed, and began filling a large pot with water. “I don’t know where I went wrong with you.”
“See, even that’s your fault,” Stacey pointed out helpfully. A few moments later, her face grew serious and she came up to hold her around the waist. “Actually, you’re pretty awesome, Addie.” She pressed her forehead against Addison’s shoulders. “Eleanor Ashcroft better realize that and treat you accordingly, or she’ll have to deal with me.”
Addison closed her eyes briefly. Stacey wasn’t joking.
Chapter Four
Riding the elevator up to the twenty-first floor of the Ashton Group’s building, Addison found herself tapping her foot and fiddling with the shoulder strap of her messenger bag. Her other hand opened and closed repeatedly until she willed it to relax.
This was ridiculous. All the legal stuff was ironed out, thanks to Peter, who’d accompanied her when she met with the marketing manager and personnel manager. She was going to work full-time with Face Exquisite and combine this position with managing her YouTube channel. No doubt, she’d have a lot of long days, which she worried about. Once Stacey had her surgery, Addison would feel torn, but earning what was for her an unfathomable amount of money made it worth every effort. It didn’t compare to her job as a barista, not by a long shot, and she could now take care of Stacey’s needs.
When she arrived at the top floor, one of the senior assistants she’d met before stood waiting for her by the elevator. Immaculately dressed in a light-gray skirt suit that made Addison worry she might have dressed completely wrong, the woman guided her through a maze of brightly lit corridors. Addison wasn’t underdressed, but she didn’t own any power suits or formal office outfits. Instead, she wore a dress made of green linen. Over it, an off-wh
ite bolero cardigan and a black, short blazer helped keep her warm.
“They’re waiting for you, Ms. Garr.” Susan, the assistant who had met Addison, opened a door and motioned for her to step inside.
“Thanks.” Addison smiled politely at Susan and entered the conference room. Four individuals sat around the oval conference table and, to her surprise, Eleanor Ashcroft sat at the head of the table, focusing on her cell phone. The last time Addison was here, Eleanor had been out of town on some last-minute business, and for some reason Addison hadn’t expected her to be at her first meeting with the CEO and different managers at Face Exquisite.
“Welcome, Addison.” Eleanor stood and rounded the table, her hand extended. “Have a seat. Do you know everybody?”
“Only Ms. Leighton. Hello again.” Addison nodded at the marketing manager, shaking her hand. Vanessa Leighton was Eleanor’s age and just as elegant, if not as stunning.
“This is Keith Berger, Face Exquisite’s chemical engineer.”
A sparse man in his late fifties remained standing as he greeted her. He seemed skeptical as he regarded her through stark, black-framed glasses. “My pleasure, Ms. Garr.”
“Please, call me Addie.”
He nodded briskly and sat down.
The last person to greet Addison was a woman closer to her own age. “I’m Linda West, the coordinator and your go-to person whenever you need to contact anyone.” Her slightly overbearing tone made Addison pause and take note. Clearly this Linda regarded her position as important.
“Thank you, Linda. Good to know,” Addison said amicably, and took her seat on Eleanor’s right. She thought she saw Linda narrow her eyes and wondered if sitting on the head honcho’s right was indicative of anything.
“You will soon get to know the entire team we’re putting together to revive Face Exquisite.” Eleanor pulled out some documents from her briefcase. “Everybody here has had the opportunity to peruse your YouTube channel. Vanessa, I believe you had some ideas?”
“Yes, Eleanor. I do.” Vanessa turned to Addison. “As popular as your channel is, I still believe you can do a lot to streamline it and make it more professional.”
What? Addison laced her trembling fingers together and listened to the accomplished woman speak as she tried to figure out why her channel was on the agenda. “Go on.”
“I commend you on the quality of your videos. Not bad since they’re done from your home. Quite good for an amateur. Still, it’s clear we need to move you to a studio and—”
“No.” Addison smiled gently and shook her head. “That won’t work.”
“If it’s a matter of cost—”
“It’s not. Well, it would be, if I thought it was a good idea. I’m sorry, Ms. Leighton, but it’s not. My channel remains the way it is, until I decide it needs to change. I’m here to be your consultant, ma’am. Not the other way around.” She wasn’t sure if it was wise to call Vanessa “ma’am” or to take a stand so early into the meeting. Inside she was trembling, fearing that Eleanor would tear up the contract and leave her with no way of paying for Stacey’s rehab.
“Surely you can understand that we need to streamline your channel and make it the best it can be in order to promote our brand.” Vanessa’s lips thinned. “Eleanor?”
“I think you’re starting at the wrong end,” Addison said quickly, fearing Eleanor might kill the whole project. “My channel is growing with each passing week. I don’t need advice or streamlining—at least, not yet. But your company and your brand are in dire need of CPR. If we’re going to do something about that, we need to determine what’s not working. I’ve been going over all the products Eleanor sent me, and I know why they’re not selling.”
“By all means.” Eleanor motioned for Addison to continue.
“But Eleanor…” Vanessa shrugged as Eleanor slowly shook her head. “Fine.”
“Let’s start with your lipsticks. The colors are dated. The formula is drying and has a tendency to leave your lips chapped and looking patchy. And they smell. I mean, that old-fashioned chemical-lipstick smell that I remember from my grandmother’s lipsticks.”
“I see. Go on.” Eleanor placed her elbows on the table.
“Your mascaras are equally dated. Hasn’t anyone researched what all the other brands are doing with the brush alone? While applying it I tried every technique I’ve picked up over the years, and I still ended up with spider legs.”
“Excuse me?” Eleanor’s eyebrows went up. “Spider legs?”
“A term used when your mascara clumps the eyelashes together several at a time. Makes it look like you have five thick strands instead of tons of defined, long, voluminous strands. You need a great formula and an even better brush.”
“That can be done. Continue.”
“Okay. Eye shadows. Not entirely a fail, but the color range needs expanding. Some were too powdery and others not pigmented enough, but throughout your entire line of products, I see one major flaw that you need to address.” Addison let her eyes deliberately meet those of everyone else, making sure they were paying attention. “I researched your way of producing the makeup and face products, and it saddened, but didn’t entirely surprise me to find that not only you, but also your suppliers, all test the products on animals.”
“So do a lot of the big companies!” Vanessa sat up straight. “It’s necessary to ensure—”
“It’s not!” Addison tapped the folder in front of her. “You can get even better results by testing on people. Volunteers. And what’s more, making the entire brand cruelty free is a selling point in itself.”
“You have a point, but it’s a large undertaking to change the entire chain of production.” Eleanor looked down at her notes. “I assume you will have a verdict on all our products once you get through them all?”
“Yes. I really gave the ones I tested the benefit of the doubt, but just as you have a brand to change, to save—I have a channel to maintain that has taken me four years to build. My viewers regard me as a truthful, unbiased source of information. As it stands right now, I can’t review a single one of the products in a favorable light as none of them are cruelty free. Nor could I afford them—yet.”
“What?” Eleanor’s eyes narrowed into thin slits. “Your job as our consultant, according to your contract, is to work with us to make Face Exquisite visible to your viewers.”
“As soon as I can give my honest opinion in a positive way, when all the criteria are fulfilled, I will do so. And as you know, I don’t review any products that I haven’t bought myself. Peter made sure that’s in my contract as well.” Trying not to let on how Eleanor’s icy glare made her tremble inside, Addison refused to be intimidated. “After I took a position on this issue last year, after educating myself on the matter, I don’t buy any brands that aren’t cruelty free.”
“Even if we decided on the spot to go along with this unrealistic and romantic idea of cruelty-free manufacturing methods, it will take time. Time we don’t have.” Linda spoke curtly. “It’s one thing to have a wish list for a brand, but another matter to execute it. Your inexperience when it comes to business endeavors evidently makes that hard for you to understand, Ms. Garr.”
“I may not have a college degree in economics, but I can add and subtract, Ms. West.” Addison curled her toes to keep her legs from shaking. “Your company has been on a downhill slide for the last twenty-some years. It’s not up to me to judge, but no money has gone into research or product development. I don’t have to examine any books to tell you that. It’s like time has stood still. Makeup is like…like toothpaste and toothbrushes. Haven’t you seen how they’re coming up every season with new high-tech stuff for both the brushes and the paste? The competition is fierce—for them and for the makeup industry.” She turned her full attention to Eleanor and had to swallow at how intently the woman was gazing at her. Perhaps she was risking everything, but this was why she’d been contracted.
“So this is your advice?” Eleanor spoke slowly,
her voice even. “I can understand the reasoning behind modernizing the products to suit today’s market, but this company doesn’t have a large budget due to the inaction of the previous management. In fact, it’s a miracle this company isn’t bankrupt by now.”
“We have a steady customer base that has always used Face Exquisite,” Vanessa said defensively. “They trust our products, and I’m afraid we might lose them if we adopt all the changes Ms. Garr suggests.”
Addison couldn’t understand Vanessa’s reasoning. Were they so dead set on catering to the older demographic that they were prepared to disregard everyone under sixty? She couldn’t say that out loud, of course, but perhaps her point of view was clearly visible on her face, because Keith straightened in his chair.
“Creating better formulas and better products in general won’t make us lose customers.” He tapped his fingertip against his computer tablet. “As for the cruelty-free aspect, I’m not so sure. I don’t think enough people care for it for such an endeavor to be financially sound.”
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Eleanor said. She glanced quickly at Addison. “I’ll need to see this broken down in numbers before I make a decision. Surely you can see the reality of this, Addison?”
“I’m starting to feel I’m the only one here doing that.” Addison leaned back and crossed her legs. “The feedback I get all points in the same direction. A majority of my subscribers claim they want cruelty-free, preferably vegan, products.”
“Vegan?” Keith gaped. “What the hell? Nobody’s going to eat the damn eye shadow!”
Addison wanted to slap her own forehead in sheer frustration. How could they be so clueless? Were they pulling her leg perhaps? Was it a test to see how she would approach them if they pretended to be total morons?
“Addison, I want you to work with Keith to create some samples of a few key products. I want them made in two versions: the traditional way and according to your ideal specifications. While they’re working on the products, I want Vanessa to run the numbers, which is ultimately what it comes down to, to keep the company alive.” She let her gaze meet all of theirs, one at a time. “And make no mistake—that is my goal here. To return this company to its former glory.” Zeroing in on Addison, she added, “Find me in my office when you’re done for today.”
