Page 18 of Business or Pleasure

“I prefer European entertainment,” she continued, “and I had always heard that American tastes ran to the uncomfortable, but that was…I canna understand what anyone would see in that.”

I would have called her a snob, but I knew far too many people who would have said the same, regardless of the actual quality of the art Brigh had seen. My parents would most likely have concurred immediately, which didn’t make me any more inclined to agree.

Not wishing to engage in a conversation—or debate—I changed the subject.

“You have the address for the restaurant?”

“Of course.” She pulled up her notes on her phone and gave the address to the driver before buckling herself in.

During the ride to the restaurant, I reviewed my business pitch and had Brigh check my notes for mistakes. The last thing I wanted was to present the wrong numbers. Nothing spelled amateur more than getting the facts wrong.

She smiled as she handed me the notes back. “You’ll be brilliant,” she said, giving my hand a squeeze that didn’t seem entirely appropriate, but was welcomed at the moment.

I hoped she was right. I had too much riding on this to fail, too much to prove.

Alec was waiting for us, dressed in the sort of business casual that didn’t look out of place here, even late on a Saturday morning. If he thought my suit and tie were too formal, he didn’t say it. Instead, he greeted me with a smile and a handshake and invited us to sit down.

We chatted while placing our orders, then moved on to business.

The air seemed to shift, and suddenly, my palms were sweating. It was daft, I knew. Alec was my closest friend, closer to me than even my own flesh and blood. He didn’t judge me when everything with Angie fell apart. He was a businessman, but he understood what it meant to be human too.

“You said before that your product is in the clothing industry.” Alec must have sensed that I was having difficulty starting. “That’s a large field.”

Right. Start with the basics. “I have a patent on a new type of strapless brassiere.” I took a steadying breath. “There are strapless bras for women of all shapes and sizes, but larger chested women often have trouble finding one that gives them the support they need.”

I continued for a quarter of an hour, explaining my idea of producing a limited stock for new investors. To get them on board, I had to show an entire business and market plan.

“Which is why I’m here.” I reached the end of my spiel with a feeling of relief. “I need help compiling the marketing information. To support my claims, I need statistical data and a marketing strategy. I want to find investors who believe in me and my vision, not because I’m a McFann.”

Alec nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. I knew that look. I’d seen it often when we were at university together. Everyone knew Alec McCrae was intelligent, but I always had a feeling that he was even brighter than most people believed. I could almost hear the wheels in his mind turning.

“MIRI is the right place for you,” he said. “And I think I have the perfect person to work on your account. A new hire, Ms. Sumpter. She can give a fresh take on things and a female perspective, which I think is far too often disregarded.” He gave me a slight smile. In my brother Carson's opinion, most women's fashion is designed by men, primarily to look good in their eyes, with little consideration for functionality.

“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” I admitted. “A valid point.”

Alec nodded. “And I think Ms. Sumpter would be the perfect person to offer that view.”

“She must have quite the resumé for you to trust her with your closest friend’s account,” Brigh spoke up. “I would have thought you’d want to work on Baylen’s project yourself.”

Before I could figure out how to respond to my assistant’s comment, Alec said, “I’m glad to see how passionate you are about your work. Rest assured, one of the first things a successful businessman learns is how to spot the talents of those around him and best utilize them. In MIRI, the part of finding the right person for each project is mine.” His tone was mild, his expression unreadable. “And I excel at my job, Ms. Flitton.”

“Of course, Alec.” I gave Brigh a sharp look. “I trust your judgment.”

“My apologies, Mr. McCrae.” She wore a tight smile that didn’t quite reach those dark eyes of hers. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.”

He inclined his head and then turned to me. “I had Tuesday clear a spot on my calendar for Monday morning. If you have any specific ideas, bring them. I’ll introduce you to Ms. Sumpter, and you can get started right then.”

“Thank you, Alec. My parents have made it abundantly clear that they have no faith in this at all and if it fails…” I shook my head. “I know how it could look for MIRI if things go badly.”

“If I didn’t believe in you, I wouldn’t have taken this as a business meeting,” Alec said with a smile. “Is it possible that it won’t work out? Aye. No business is without risks. But I agree that what you have sounds like a solid investment. I wouldn’t accept any account otherwise.”

Something in my chest squeezed. When I met Alec and the others, I understood what it was like to have true friends, and I never once doubted that they liked me for who I was.

“I do, however, have one request.” Alec’s eyes glinted with humor.

“Aye?”

“Please be kind to Ms. Sumpter. It will be her first day.” He grinned. “But not too kind. She doesn’t need her head clouded by some bloody Scot hitting on her.”

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