Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
The only thing Elodie and C&S have in common are the massive price tags. Other than being expensive, we’re basically the apples and oranges of jewelry stores.
“I know,” Christina says, shaking her head. “I couldn’t believe it either. It’s like one minute we’re all in meetings trying to figure out whether we want to try and compete with what they’re doing, or differentiate ourselves even further, and the next we’re . . . becoming them? Or they’re becoming us?”
She shakes her head. “That’s where our team comes in. None of this is public news yet, and everyone all the way to the very top is trying to keep it that way until we can control the narrative.”
“They want a big reveal,” Thomas says, understanding.
“Big. Massive.” Christina makes a fireworks motion with her fingers. “They’ve brought in a superpower branding agency to spearhead the campaign, which is . . . kind of a bummer for us, we won’t get to be the brains behind it, but at least we get to be a part of it, right?”
I am definitely sharing Christina’s disappointment at the news of agency involvement. But I’m also not that surprised. It’s not the first time Elodie’s brought in contractors for a big campaign. But it means my role will be more execution than visionary. Someone else will decide the creative direction, and I’ll more or less just be their reference for adapting the new concepts for the current website infrastructure.
Still, it’s exciting news, and I can’t deny there’s an extra thrill from being one of the few in the know.
“I chose you specifically, Mac.” Christina smiles at me. “The whole idea behind the acquisition is appealing to a different customer base, a hipper one, and that’s your forte.”
I grin and give a little mock bow.
“I don’t doubt that Mac’s the best designer for the job,” Thomas says without glancing my way. “But what do you need from me?”
Christina’s cheeks puff out and then she blows out a slow breath. “Honestly? I’ve got a feeling this is going to be a logistical nightmare. The fact that the team is so small will help a little, but there’s going to be plenty of facilitation between us and Insurgence—that’s the design agency. They’re based in Paris, which means a whole lot of phone calls. Early-morning phone calls for you two.”
Woof.
“And speaking of logistics . . .” Christina opens her desk drawer and slides two electronic key fobs across the desk, one for Thomas and myself.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“Access to your new office. The higher-ups are no joke about the secrecy on this, so for the next three months, you two will be offsite at a rented workspace. It’s not fancy, but the website makes it look decent, at least.”
“A rented workspace,” I repeat. “So like, two individual offices . . .”
“One space,” Christina says distractedly, looking at her phone. “Big enough for both of you, plus access to a conference space if you need to meet with the Insurgence folks. Ah. Here we go. They found something on Fifty-Second between Ninth and Tenth for you to set up as the home base for the design portion of the project.” She turns her phone around and shows a nondescript-looking brownstone. “See? Cute, right?”
It is cute—super cute, actually. And normally, I’d be thrilled to be able to do my job from a nondescript brownstone with a big tree outside rather than the formality of Elodie’s headquarters. I love my job, but I’ve never loved corporate culture. Plus, this fancy office, while beautiful, isn’t really my style. Give me a cramped little studio with sloped floors and drafty windows and a tree outside my window any day over a glossy skyscraper.
But I won’t be alone in that cozy little studio, now will I? I’ll be with him. For three months.
Apparently Thomas and I are on the same page for once, because he’s frowning. “Are we sure that Mac and I working out of the office won’t make people more curious about what’s going on?”
“They can be curious all they want,” Christina says. “But you two won’t be here for them to hound for details. That’s kind of the point. Plus, working remotely is hardly unusual these days. Plenty of team members have a flexible work schedule. I myself work from my living room most Fridays.”
She looks between the two of us, seeming to notice for the first time that our excitement doesn’t match hers. “Everything okay?”
“Totally,” I say, forcing a smile. “When do we start?”
I’m not looking forward to this. At all. But my head hurts too much at the moment to fight the fact that the universe is trying to torture the two of us with each other’s presence.
Plus, if I try really hard to look on the bright side, the shared office will make it a little easier for him and me to sync up on our maid of honor and best man duties. There’s still the damn party to plan.