by Calista Fox
“It is sort of a rush,” Lola admitted.
“So, is there a reason you don’t want to be in the ads that you can share with us?” Jen asked.
“Yeah, because if I had all that going on”—Sarah eyed Lola—“I wouldn’t be able to keep a roommate since I’d be strutting around naked in my Staci Kay shoes every night.”
Lola bit back a grin. She hadn’t had that much confidence until Alex had lit her up. But there was a fine line between the way he saw her and the way the rest of the world did. She had eight years of proof to back that up.
But the girls had a point. If they were going to be a tighter team, they should be open with one another.
“Fine.” Lola stood. She pulled in a deep breath, held it a few seconds, then let it out slowly. Steeling herself.
The ladies watched her curiously as Lola prepared to make her grand confession.
“I don’t want to be typecast,” she tentatively began.
This was a bit more painful to admit than she’d suspected, but she didn’t back down from the personal, emotional challenge it presented. “I don’t want to be the ditzy blonde in the sexy shoe ads. I have a brain and a business degree.” She propped her hands on her hips, fighting the agony of scrutiny she’d lived with for so long. “I’m tired of the asshole remarks and the second-guessing because I have boobs and curves. Even you two looked shocked—the first time you met me—that I could put a sentence together, much less a coherent, intelligent one. It’s bullshit.”
Her looks were a total bitch when it came to first impressions.
Lola shook her head as her agitation mounted, the momentum building within her. “I’d change my hair color to help matters, but I shouldn’t have to change anything for anyone. I like my hair, and so screw everyone who thinks I’m a dumb blonde. A Barbie. That’s what they called me the first week in Baltimore, by the way. Until someone with stones even bigger than yours, Sarah, set the record straight.”
Neither Sarah nor Jen said a word. They stared at her, wide-eyed. Lola’s pulse raced and her cheeks flamed. She even had to force back the prickle around her eyes with some vicious blinking.
“I’m smart and I work hard,” she insisted. “But I always have to fight for a chance to prove it. So, yeah, I get a little pissed at people who judge books by their covers. I’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done, to be the best that I can be. I don’t need the under-the-breath, snide remarks or outright gawking constantly undermining my confidence.”
The other women exchanged a contrite look.
“It’s pure crap,” she contended. “I deserve an opportunity to show what I’m made of, just like everyone else. It gets a little tiring being instantly stereotyped, you know?” Her frustration overrode her emotion, so that she kept her head high and the tears at bay. “And I just want to say ‘fuck you’ to anyone who thinks that all I have to do is show a little cleavage or a dimple to get my way. I’m willing to demonstrate my value, to deliver on my promises that I can achieve professional success. And so, yeah… to hell with people who constantly question me based solely on my looks.”
Lola heaved an irritated sigh. Sank into her chair.
Sarah and Jen still stared at her, jaws slack.
“Sorry,” Lola ground out. “I’m a little sensitive when it comes to this subject.”
A few more suspended seconds of silence ensued.
Then Jen’s expression changed to one of sheer admiration. “Are you kidding?” she said. “That was fierce.”
“Yeah,” Sarah concurred, respect finally flashing in her unwavering gaze. “Full-on fierce.” Surprisingly, she wagged a finger in Lola’s face. “You are so doing these ads. Super-sassy in stilettos, but successful, too. Think about it. Play it up. Pitch it tomorrow morning. Ad agency is coming on Monday. We need to blow the fucking doors off this thing.” She turned on the heels of her strappy sandals and sauntered off.
Lola blew out a breath. That woman was a force with which to be reckoned.
Jen simply said, “Do it up right, Lola.” She smiled encouragingly, then disappeared to go about her business.
“Sure,” Lola mused, bewildered and breathless. “Because that wasn’t the most bizarre Ya-Ya Sisterhood moment on the planet.”
She turned back to her laptop, but couldn’t fully focus on her work. She swam in a sea of confused thoughts and exhilaration laced with nervous anxiety. Such contradictory sensations. Yet Lola mulled over that opportunity to show what she was made of—could she really prove to be creative behind the scenes and in front of the camera?
Maybe…
If she played her cards right.
Did she actually have the power to make this ad campaign speak to people?
Perhaps…
And, quite honestly, that was the ultimate career rush.
* * *
“Oh, shit!” Lola’s hand pressed to her chest as her heart launched into her throat. Her Friday morning was getting off to a very unexpected, insane start. “What the fuck?” she managed to squeak out.
“Killer, huh?” Sarah beamed as she stood beside Lola, just outside the conference room.
“Oh. My. God. Staci’s in there.” Lola tried to breathe. It was a natural function. One that shouldn’t require any sort of thought or effort. Yet, for Lola, at that moment, it demanded her full concentration.
She should have known something was up. A table had been placed next to the door of the conference room with lox and bagels and rich-smelling coffee set out. Obviously for a surprise guest. She never would have believed it was the surprise guest of the century.
In a very calm voice, Sarah said, “She’s my aunt. Did I forget to mention that?” She smiled coyly. “Anyway, Todd and I talked about how we were bringing in the ad agency so quickly, and he suggested it’d be cool to have Staci here before that, and I took that as an exploit nepotism request to get her in this morning. Whatever a girl has to do, right?”
Lola’s head whipped in Sarah’s direction. “You could have warned me,” she snapped.
“No.” Sarah insisted. “I couldn’t take the chance. You wouldn’t have slept all night and look as refreshed as you do. And it might have given you a whole mind-block, which won’t help in a situation like this. What you have to do,” Sarah said as she gripped Lola by the shoulders, “is be as savvy as you have been since Tuesday—screw Monday, right?—and look Staci in the eye and sell this campaign. You remember what I told you about her philosophy regarding those within being the true stewards of shoe sales?”
Lola swallowed hard.
Holy shit.
How was this happening? She’d just bought a car. She’d signed a lease on an apartment. She couldn’t afford to lose her job, or she’d end up living in her parents’ house.
No! Not an option!
Oh, God. What if she opened her mouth in front of Staci and all that came out was blah, blah, blah that didn’t make any sense at all?
“How could you do this to me?” she demanded of Sarah. “I thought we were like, you know, becoming friends.”
“We are.” Sarah stared into her eyes. “I would not have called Staci if I didn’t believe, to the depths of my soul, that this ad campaign is going to launch this company into the stratosphere. And here’s something else you need to know…” She actually cupped Lola’s face with her hands and stared even harder. “Staci wouldn’t have come just because I called. She came because she knows this is a defining moment for her business. Don’t just sell the campaign. Fucking own it.”
She released Lola and sauntered into the conference room.
Lola felt her entire world spiral out of control.
Her.
Lola Vonn.
The woman who thrived on out-of-control. The woman who created chaos because she believed everyone should have twists and turns in their lives.
Clusterfuck was her middle name, for chrissakes.
Yet she felt the way Alex must have back in high school, wondering where the hell his car ha
d disappeared to when she’d moved the Altima on the sly. Had someone stolen it? Was he losing his mind because he couldn’t even remember, between first period and lunch, where he’d parked?
Alex.
Just thinking about him made her smile. Made her breathe easier. Alex was a steady, stable force in her life. If he were there at that moment, he’d tell her she could nail this meeting—and he’d do it with conviction in his eyes. Because Alex always believed in her.
When she’d tried out for cheer the first time in junior high… when she’d worried over taking the SAT, despite her stellar grades, because college meant so much to her… when she’d vacillated over whether she was doing the right thing by moving to Baltimore three years ago… Alex had helped her to follow her instincts and her dreams. Always.
In addition to him, her new coworkers were on her side. Even the management team supported her. She accepted what they’d all told her—that Todd wouldn’t have called in the ad agency so soon if he didn’t buy her campaign concept.
It was go-time, and Lola knew she’d never have a better chance than this to strut her stuff and prove she was no Barbie doll. She was an up-and-coming creative marketing force. And the people surrounding her—Alex and her team—were the ones helping to make her dreams come true. Because they all believed in her.
She squared her shoulders and entered the conference room. Staci stood and extended her hand.
“I’m Lola Vonn,” she said as they shook.
“Staci. We’ve met a couple of times. In Baltimore. You worked in Maxi’s division.”
“Yes. She’s an amazing person.”
“She feels the same about you. She wrote a glowing letter of recommendation when Todd spoke with me about promoting you to the Marketing department.”
Lola’s brows knitted. “She never told me that.”
“We didn’t put out a call for recommendations,” the tawny-eyed, dark auburn–haired owner of Staci Kay said. “The department wasn’t recruiting at that time. But your ad concept intrigued Todd. And Maxi and a few others in the Ops division let me know how much they value your work ethic and contributions to the company. And according to everyone gathered in this conference room, you’re rockin’ it pretty hard-core here in Scottsdale.”
Lola’s gaze flashed to her new teammates, then returned to Staci. “I thought I knew more than I did about marketing before I joined the department. These people are infinitely more experienced, and I’m learning a lot from them. But one thing we’re all on par with is that we love the principles of the company. And the shoes. It’s a passion, Staci. That’s why this campaign means so much to me. To all of us.”
“Show me what you’ve got.”
Lola wrung her hands as nerves got the best of her. Sarah shook her head sharply. Lola’s hands dropped to her sides. “All right.”
Let’s do this.
Everyone settled in. Lola remained standing. She launched into her modified pitch and topped it off with the idea of their agreed-upon designees—even Lola herself—playing supporting roles in the ads to personify Staci’s motto of employee engagement, the embracement of diversity, and female empowerment.
She concluded with, “I’d originally shied away from the prospect of being in the ads, because I wanted to be viewed from the business side, not the modeling aspect. But the truth is, these aren’t just shoes, Staci. They’re a statement. They build confidence—not just in one’s appearance, but for many of us, they provide a professional purpose, toward goals we want to achieve. And we all agree they exemplify our character as individuals—the shoes and/or the concept of them and this entire organization. They complete us.”
Staci laced her manicured fingers together on the conference table and stared at Lola for several long, tense, excruciatingly nerve-wracking minutes.
Finally, when Lola didn’t think she could take the silence another second, Staci spoke. “I’m glad I came.” She pushed her chair back and stood. “Todd, excellent work. All of you, really, I’m impressed.” She turned to Lola again. “Walk with me to the car.”
Lola’s gaze flashed to Sarah. Sarah mouthed, It’s cool.
But Lola wasn’t fully on board with that quiet sentiment. Her pulse raced. Why was Staci flying back to Baltimore even before lunch? And speaking with Lola privately? Had she been too scattered in her presentation? Too emotional? Not professional enough?
Her panic escalated as they left the office in an awkward silence that pricked her nerves. They walked the parking lot, still not saying anything. When they reached the Town Car, the driver opened the back door, then stepped away.
Staci speared Lola with a let’s get down to brass tacks look. “This company is everything to me. These shoes are everything to me.”
Lola swallowed down a lump of holy crap, I fucked this whole thing up. “I understand that. I can relate, even.”
Staci studied her closely. Lola couldn’t fully discern the meaning behind it.
The CEO of Staci Kay Shoes told her, “I wouldn’t have flown all the way out here—when I have a board meeting this evening in Baltimore—if I didn’t think you were on to something. I didn’t come because Sarah called me. I’m glad she alerted me of the progress on the campaign and I’m impressed by her enthusiasm about it and toward you. Winning her over isn’t easy. But it was Todd wanting to bring in the ad agency so quickly that told me I needed to hear what you’d further drummed up. To be frank with you, Lola, you’ve taken the bull by the horns, and I like it. A lot.”
Lola still couldn’t breathe. How long could a person go without a full breath before they passed out?
Staci smiled again. “Lola?”
“Yeah.” She finally sucked in some air. “I mean, yes. Sorry. I’m kind of… freaking out.”
She cringed. Had she really just said that out loud?
Staci said in a softer tone, “You can talk to me, Lola. It’s okay.”
“I love your shoes,” she blurted. “I wear them every day. Honestly, they’re the only brand I buy.”
Staci nodded. “That’s why you’re so good at this. Passion for our product, Lola. That’s what makes you so sensational.” She reached for Lola’s hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “Keep at it. I’ll be watching you.” Then she slid gracefully into the backseat.
“Thanks for your time, Miss Kay. It really means a lot to me.”
“Staci,” the CEO corrected with a smile.
“Right. Sorry.” Lola closed the door and stood back, watching the car drive away. And thinking she’d just had one hell of a good day at work. It wasn’t even noon yet.
A sense of pride and accomplishment flowed through her veins. Lola couldn’t stop smiling as she returned to the office.
“Tell us what happened!” Jen sing-songed excitedly.
“Staci likes our approach,” Lola announced to the group.
“And…?” Sarah challenged, her brow crooking.
Lola shrugged. “She was nice to me?”
Mark laughed. “Come on, Lola. Spill.”
“There’s not much to spill,” she told them, “except to say that Staci felt it was a worthwhile trip to make and… I have to thank Sarah and the rest of you for helping me out. This is solid. We can pull this off and it’s going to be amazing.”
“Damn straight,” Sarah said.
While Lola beamed over her enhanced coup, Tiff came trudging through the department with a ginormous bouquet in her slender arms.
“Clear the way,” she called out. “Lola, make some space on your desk.”
“Those are for me?”
“Yes,” Tiff said. “Quick—this weighs almost as much as I do.”
Lola shoved her papers and files to the side, and Tiff set the decorative vase on the desk.
Handing her the envelope, Tiff asked, “From Staci?”
Lola whipped out the handwritten card. “No.” She plopped into her chair. Alex had sent her the most ostentatious thanks for the hot sex flowers known to womankind.
; “Then who?” Sarah asked, as she admired the arrangement, sniffing the multicolored roses.
“A guy,” Lola said. Then choked out, “The guy.”
Oh, fuck.
How true was that statement?
Wait.
Rewind.
She amended her comment with, “Just a guy.”
Jen gaped. It took her a second or two to recover. “Yeah, right. My husband doesn’t send flowers like these.”
“He’s just that way, you know?” Lola tried to downplay Alex’s over-the-top gesture. A much appreciated one, but still. The arrangement screamed fantastic orgasms, Lo!
The corners of her mouth quivered as she fought a bright smile. Her heart fluttered. And she found herself telling her captive audience, “The truth is, he’s hot and sexy, but also sweet and generous. Pretty much to die for.”
Lola stared at the bouquet, thinking of how hunky and gorgeous Alex was. How sensational he made her feel, how great they were together in every way. As though they’d been meant for each other all along…
Hmm.
Wasn’t that a strange little thought to pop into her head?
Lola’s brow furrowed as an even more curious notion flitted through her mind.
Was she… falling… for Alex?
Chapter Eight
Alex had a client dinner, so Lola took the opportunity to hang out with a few of her college friends. They hit the trendy Scottsdale scene, intending to bar-hop, but not getting past the hot new Maya Day & Night Club, where they danced until last call.
When she got back to the condo, it was dark and quiet. She was tempted to wake Alex and show him just how much she appreciated the flowers he’d sent. She’d barely managed to get them into her car so she could display them on the kitchen table.
But it was late and she was pretty buzzed. Luckily, one of the girls had agreed to be the DD for the group, since she was two months pregnant and sipping nothing stronger than iced tea.
Lola changed into a nightie, climbed into bed, and was asleep within seconds.