Page 93 of Not That Into You

“How much more, Dad? I have some savings.”

“Monica, no. We’ll cut back. In a few months, we should have enough.”

I sit back up. “But Mom needs surgery now. I know she’s not working as much as she used to. You’re already losing income. She needs the surgery now.”

When my father doesn’t respond, I try again. “Please, Dad. How much more do you need?”

He tells me a number, and I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Schedule the surgery, Dad. We’ll work it out.”

If I clear out my savings, if I take on additional work, it should be enough.

I take a deep breath and then swallow.

If I find a subletter, if I leave New York, I know it’ll be enough.

Chapter 25

Cameron

“Thanks everyone. That’s it for today.”

My marketing team gathers their things in record time, their relief palpable. I’d kept them longer than usual because I was out of the office for a few days, and we have an upcoming marketing campaign that needs tweaking.

Jeff, one of my marketing analysts, walks back into the room. “Here’s the engagement data you wanted.”

He hands me some papers.

“Thanks.”

Jeff had already emailed me the information, but I prefer to analyze numbers on paper. There’s something about being able to physically highlight and mark up a document that makes information easier to digest.

I gather the papers and my notes.

“Cameron?”

“Yeah?” I look up.

Alice, my brand manager, walks toward me. “I agree with you on the advertising campaign for the Stilton Project, but you know Peters is going to be a tough sell.”

Stanley Peters, the current CMO, favors a more traditional approach to marketing, which I’ve argued inhibits growth and makes The Stanhope Group appear dated and out of touch. Needless to say, he hasn’t been very receptive to my criticisms and has rejected my proposals and suggestions more than he’s accepted them.

He’ll definitely be a tough sell, but I’ve already started strategizing how to present our campaign in a way that might appeal to him. And he’s weeks away from retiring, so he may not care.

Fingers crossed.

I sigh. “I’ll handle Peters.”

“Let me know if you need any help,” Alice says as she heads out the door.

“Will do.”

I leave the conference room and head to my office just as my assistant Mac catches up with me, matching my stride.

Mac is frighteningly competent, and over the last two years, I’ve come to rely on them more and more. Sadly for me, they’ll be leaving in just a few months to go to business school, and I dread the thought of replacing them.

“Stephanie sent a draft of the press release regarding the Madison building.”

We walk into my office. “And?”

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