Page 56 of The Funnel to You

“Thank you so much for being here. We definitely have things to talk about but thank you for all you did for me to get here.”

“You put in the work, I just built the funnel.”

“The funnel to you.” I smile back at him. And then it’s my cue to walk onto the stage.

The End

Epilogue

Sasha

One Year Later

Social Post: We are officially launching our third company collaboration with Pink Every Day next month! Any guesses on who is joining us this time around? Tag your guesses below or who you would like to see in future campaigns. #sashaloveslipstick #pinkeveryday #coloradogirl #christmasincolorado

Image Description: Lipstick from Pink Every Day collection lined up on my makeup desk.

It has been a full year. And I wouldn’t change any of it.

Christmas is next week and I am officially moved in with Matt. We kind of started our relationship over after the gala last year and it has been wonderful. We did the whole dating thing again and completely separated it from the work we did together. He isn’t doing consulting anymore, instead he is working alongside me as my business manager and will be in the same role for Ashley when she is ready.

Ashley has jumped in and is doing more work alongside our Pink Every Day brand now and it has exploded. We don’t do a ton of just makeup tutorials anymore, but still put out new tutorials a few times a month along with our current favorites and trends we are loving. The platform is so much more than we thought it would be eighteen months ago.

But it’s gotten us to an amazing place.

I didn’t fully get to a space where I trusted Matt again for a while, but I told him I loved him last Valentines’ Day. I know it’s cliché, but it was perfect. And I was ready. I moved in with him at Halloween this year. It fit for our relationship. And I wore my Spider Gwen outfit again. He didn’t complain. The coffee cabinet that he worked on with Jonathan was such a wonderful surprise and I worked with Jonathan to get some custom pieces made for my makeup items and the awards we have received. Yeah, multiple. I won my first award at the Women’s Collective Gala last year. And Matt and I have been recognized a few times since then. I received my fifth award last week at the second Women’s Collective Gala. I didn’t need to hide behind a makeup desk that time. I was the keynote speaker. And I had my man right there at my side.

Matt is no longer manipulating algorithms or email campaigns. He’s settling well into his role as Instagram boyfriend and partner. And I couldn’t be happier. Things are running smoothly and I can’t wait to see where the business, our community efforts, and our lives together are a year from now.

Epilogue Two

Ashley

Christmas break is finally here. We just got back from another trip to New York. There has been a lot of travel this last year with Matt and Sasha and it has been incredible. Now that I’m not buried in finals and everything that’s needed for school, I can actually rest and just enjoy being home.

I ended up staying on campus this last semester. It was nice to have my own space out of the house, but I do miss the quiet of my parent’s house. So, I’m taking it all in this break.

We are heading over to Matt’s house for dinner tonight. I think he’s getting ready to propose. But he won’t tell me for sure and wants us to be surprised when he does it. I think he’s nervous that I am going to spill the secret. I can keep secrets better than he thinks.

I’m getting ready to fix my hair and makeup before we head over to Matt and Sasha’s when my phone buzzes. Repeatedly. I groan to myself, already knowing what I am going to see when I pull it out of the charger next to my bed.

Unknown: The red dress that you wore to the gala was stunning on you, baby.

Unknown: Do I get any pictures of you in it that weren’t taken by the press?

Unknown: How was the trip home on Tuesday?

Unknown: I wish you wouldn’t keep ignoring me. You look so sad when you pretend I’m not yours.

I block the number.

Again.

I don’t know who this is but they started texting and calling me when I got to college. Yes, I am halfway through my junior year, so this isn’t new. They are escalating though. It started out as just a text every few months. Since the gala last year, it’s almost weekly now. I don’t think they’ve attempted anything in person. And I don’t want to freak out my family if this is just some random obsessed person on social media. Thankfully, we are sharing less personal stuff on social media now that we have the Pink Every Day foundation starting up officially.

I just need to get through the holiday break and then I can immerse myself back in school in the new semester. Less time at home means less time where I let my mind wander about who this is and what they want. I finish getting ready and head to my car to drive over to my brother’s house. My parents are already over there so they could help finish dinner.

There is an envelope taped to my windshield wiper. I grab it and get in my car and immediately lock the doors.

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