Page 8 of The Bargain
“I have my new part-timer I just hired to lean on. Kayla is amazing. I like her.”
“We barely know her,” I remind her, pointing out the obvious, “and she’d be running the store when you’re in class.”
“For a limited number of hours,” she counters. “And we’re connected on text. She’s an excellent communicator. She’ll call me if there’s a problem. Problem erased.”
“Okay. Maybe. But think about my father being alone—”
She holds up her hands. “Whoa. Whiplash. You’re giving me whiplash. Your father’s a grown man. He doesn’t need a babysitter. He’s a great guy whoI knowis telling you to go.” Her brows dip. “Why are you making excuses? Are you self-sabotaging, and if so, why in the world would you do that to yourself?”
I’m reminded of Ethan saying life should be about “no regrets” back when we were in Hawaii and it gives me pause.
Am I holding myself back? Is there really even a connection between the Paris internship and Ethan that I actually need to worry about? “I have to go unlock the store,” she says, “but we’re not done here; of that, we can be certain.” She exits the office, and after a few moments of telling myself to just go to Paris already, I decide this is where limits come into play. Ethan needs to know I’m not desperate. Desperate is not a good look. I don’t feel comfortable using Harper as my attorney, after all that’s happened, but I’ll have our family attorney look everything over for me. Which is the smart thing to do.
I email Phil, my lead contact at Moore’s:
Dear Phil,
I’m excited about the mentorship and potential to build the Zoey brand with Moore’s Department Store. I do need to seek legal counsel before I sign the contract. There’s quite a lot of small print that is more legal-ese than fashion sense. My attorney is a tad slow, but important to my processes. Can I please get a week to review and return this document?
Kind Regards,
Sofia Cameron
I hit send and calm the flutters in my belly by reminding myself that this is a common business process. I should get an attorney and they will expect such responsible behavior from a potential partner. However, as I’m trying to make myself believe those words, Phil has already replied.
Ms. Cameron,
We will reluctantly grant you your week. While the Zoey brand is the way we want to move forward, when we decide to make a move, we believe in rapid actions. Try to expedite this process before the one week.
—Phil
Reading between the lines, I decide the board is sold on me, and the Zoey brand, but they’re equally sold on the premise or ahigh-end brand within their brand. If I am a problem in any way, they’ll find another designer if necessary.
Which guts me.
This is a dream come true, every young designer would hope to achieve. I pitched the idea. I opened this door. To have them use it on their own would be a blow. It would destroy me, so why in the world am I not just jumping through hoops to make this happen? Why?
What’s holding me back, besides me?
I haven’t found that answer when Lily returns with Kayla in tow, and I’m meeting my new employee, a brunette about ten years older than Lily, who’s fashion-forward in a cute black jumpsuit and friendly but highly professional in her manners. I like her quite a lot, and the barriers between me and Paris seem few. Really only one.Ethan.As if he can read my mind, my cellphone rings, and his number is on the caller ID, my heart lurching with the very idea of talking to him. With a trembling hand, I decline the call, and about the time I pull out my sketchpad from a drawer, my text message goes off, and, of course, it’s from him.
We need to talk, the message reads.
I swallow cotton and reply with,Business or personal?
Both,is his immediate answer.
This sets my heart to racing, but that doesn’t stop me from answering with,The two don’t mix, remember?
And yet, they do,he answers, or you would not have just asked for a week to think about Paris. There’s nothing to think about. This is a good move for you.
Spoken like a man who thinks he knows better than me. I’ll let you know after I’ve reviewed the documents with a clear mind.
That’s why I introduced you to Harper. She’s still your attorney. She’s handling this for you.
The memory of meeting his attorney and friend flashes in my mind. I’d felt a part of his inner circle, and it’s as confusing as this text exchange.He was with his ex, I remind myself. With that grim detail in mind, I type:I think it’s best I use my attorney here. Once he’s reviewed the contract, I’ll move forward. The time to do so is a reasonable request.
Of course it is, but we need to talk,he repeats.
