Page 77 of Love In The Spotlight

“Oh,” she said. “Then another week.”

“We can do Saturday morning again,” he said. “If you want. A few hours and maybe have lunch together.”

“I’d like that,” she said. “I’ll make it work.”

“Good,” he said. Before Laken left he’d make sure they went to see Penelope and tell her. His daughter would be upstairs with Janelle now playing anyway.

Janelle was good at keeping it structured with play and learning time.

“As I said at the table, West has the test models almost set. Nelson and he met last week and once they are done, I’ll show them to you for final approval.”

“Can I show them to Penelope?”

She laughed. “If she is the final approval, of course. I figured she could be our test subject. On the design and maybe the usage.”

“She’d like that,” he said. And he didn’t want to have his name attached to anything that he wouldn’t let his daughter use anyway.

“HR is weeding through applications and resumes. I believe they’ve got a few first interviews set and Nelson and I will sit in on second interviews next week to get you a Director of Operations lined up. Then we are going to start checking boxes with that person to get staffing for the floor. Construction should be done by the end of this week on the floor and machinery installed after. Nelson and some of my team are looking at supplies and figuring out what needs to be ordered to get started. It’s going to be trial and error and best to get those tweaks out before we hit the floor running.”

“Agreed,” he said. “It doesn’t take long to make everything.”

“No,” she said. “With the equipment, we can get enough soap and shampoo in stock to hit retailers quickly. We are just waiting for the finished sponges and bottles to be completed. West is going to want to do that right about the time you make it all public. I know you might not be ready, but there is a timing to all this. If there is enough notice with you and him out there, the retailers are going to love it and sell out fast.”

“I’m going to follow his lead on this,” he said. “If it’s before my time, I’ll adapt.”

Things were moving much faster than he thought they would. In more than one aspect of his life.

That didn’t mean it was a bad thing.

“I’m glad to hear you say that,” she said. “I think within two weeks the goal is to start production. Close to the end of February, West is going to try to get a slot on a morning show for you and him. It’s possible contracts could be signed by retailers by then too.”

“You’re joking?” he asked. “My agent normally does that.”

“Your agent can do all he wants after. The first time has to be in conjunction with West. If you think you have a preference over what morning show, talk to him. I know one of your broadcasting friends is pretty popular.”

He laughed. “This is where both West and I have a lot of contacts.”

“That’s right. But since West owns sixty percent, you signed a lot of documents allowing him to make the decisions to get going.”

“I know,” he said. “Everyone will understand. So you’re telling me within a month, I’m going to be letting the world know about my daughter?”

“Yes,” she said. “I’m sorry if you’re not ready for that. I can help you through it.”

“Personally or professionally?” he asked.

“Both, or either. This will be your decision,” she said.

“Will I be letting the world know about us at the same time?” he asked.

She angled her head. “Don’t you think we should focus on work first?” She held her hand up. “I’m not mixing the two and it shouldn’t be part of any of this. My feeling is, this is about Penelope Plush Soap. If it gets out that you and I are more than working colleagues, I won’t fight or deny any of it. But I just don’t think any official statement needs to be made.”

Which told him that as much as she hated eyes on her, she wasn’t hiding either.

He couldn’t ask for more than that.

24

BALANCING ACT

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