Chapter 2 #2
All eyes turned toward the head of the table, where Victoria executed a movie climax worthy slow clap. Or she was summoning the security guards to throw me down the trash chute. Or possibly trying to operate one of those clap activated nightlights they hawk on late-night TV.
Victoria wagged her finger at me. “I like this girl, Marcus. I like her a lot. She’s got grit.”
The executive who’d questioned my background looked like he wanted to melt into his expensive chair. Parker did a little fist bump with himself.
“But…” Victoria leaned over the table, eyes fixed on mine. “LuxeLife does, in fact, sell luxury. It’s in our name. Miss Li, how would you reconcile this authenticity with the aspirational lifestyle our brand represents?”
I gathered my wits and my thoughts. “Luxury isn’t just about thread counts and infinity pools anymore,” I said. “It’s about access. Experiences. Stories worth telling. Rich people can go anywhere. But what they can’t buy is the local knowledge, the hidden gems, the genuine connections.”
Marcus nodded, seeming to warm to the idea. “So you’re suggesting exclusive access to authentic experiences.”
“Exactly!” I pointed at him like he’d just solved a math equation involving fractions.
Marcus leaned in close to Victoria, whispering in her ear. She nodded, then whispered back. “Miss Li, you’re familiar with our portfolio?”
“Like the back of my hand.” As soon as we’d gotten the invitation to interview with LuxeLife about their campaign, Parker and I had poured over every piece of information we could find.
I had all their top spots memorized. Paris.
London. Bali. Hong Kong. There were more places, but not anywhere worth going.
“There’s one property in particular where we think you might be a good fit.”
Please be Paris, please be Paris, please be Paris.
Or London.
Or Bali.
Or Hong Kong.
“Aster Park,” said Marcus.
“Aster Park? As in … Colorado?”
“It’s been bleeding red. Bookings are down despite renovation efforts.
“Expensive renovation efforts,” Victoria added. “Do you think you could work a little of your Samantha magic there?”
Aster Park. I knew all about it. I just didn’t want to go.
Over the past week, any time I dared to let myself dream of the remote possibility that I could land this job, I always pictured myself nibbling designer macarons in Paris. Taking selfies in front of Kensington Palace. Putting together Instagram reels of my over-water bungalow in Bali.
“Samantha?”
I forced a smile back onto my face. I was a professional after all.
“Yes, I can absolutely work my magic there. Of course. Your Aster Park property isn’t just a luxury resort.
It’s a gateway to experiences most people will never have.
The best mountain views known only to locals.
The small-batch bourbon distillery that doesn’t offer public tours but might open its doors for LuxeLife guests who don’t mind splurging on craft cocktails. ”
Victoria tapped a polished nail against her chin. “So authenticity as the new luxury.”
“And who better to showcase that than someone who built her entire brand on finding authentic experiences?” I asked the room. “I won’t just show your customers the spa treatments and the thread counts. I’ll show them the moments in between. The ones that make a vacation unforgettable.”
The room had shifted. I could feel it in the air, like the moment at a K-Pop concert when the band is about to debut their new dance moves. Even Golf Voice and Slick Hair seemed to buy it.
Victoria steepled her fingers. All she needed was an eye patch and a hairless cat and she would have been a perfect Austin Powers villain. “And you think you can do this at Aster Park?”
“I know I can,” I replied immediately, praying my voice sounded more confident than I was.
Victoria exchanged another long look with Marcus. Some silent communication passed between them.
“The Aster Park team has been pushing for more ‘local flavor’ in our advertising,” said Victoria.
“Local flavor?” asked Parker
“You know, Colorado stuff. Dress up in cowboy boots and take a selfie with a polar bear or something.”
“I don’t think they have polar bears in Colorado.” Parker frowned.
“Whatever. You’ll figure it out.” Victoria waved her hand as if she was shooing a gnat. “Honestly, I don’t care what you do or how you do it as long as you get people to spend their money at my resort. Ship in a polar bear from the South Pole if you have to.”
“Technically, polar bears are only found near the North Pole,” said Parker, but Victoria wasn’t listening.
Marcus was actually nodding now. “That could get them off our backs until their contract runs out.” I didn’t know “them” and I had no idea what contract he was talking about, but I was too focused on getting my own contract at that moment to give it another thought.
“Two birds with one stone.” Victoria smiled, then turned back toward me. “We need to fly you out there as soon as possible.
“Does that mean I got the job?” When I glanced at Parker, he was holding his breath.
“If you can make this luxury authenticity thing happen, then yes. How’s tomorrow work?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Bookings are under forecast and we’re over budget. I need a quick win to justify the renovation costs for our investors.”
Marcus punched out a message on his phone. “I’ll have my assistant work out the logistics and text you first thing in the morning.”
When Victoria smiled, it almost looked genuine.
“I like you, Samantha. If you pull this off, you’ll have a bright future with us.
You know we just acquired a new property right next to the Seine.
You can see the Eiffel Tower from the penthouse.
And we’re looking at an expansion at our chateau collection in Zurich. ”
Mentally, I started strategizing an accessory plan for lederhosen.
It was the opportunity of a lifetime. I’d always dreamed of traveling the world, but I’d never even been out of the country before, unless you count that disastrous spring break in Tijuana, which most of my brain cells had opted to forget.
At least the ones not murdered by the tequila shots.
“Here are the contract terms we’re offering.” Marcus slid a stack of papers across the table, roughly the page count of the United States tax code, the bible, and Moby Dick combined. “I’ll just need you to initial the addendum for ‘authentic adventures’ once our legal team finishes writing it up.”
He made quote fingers when he said “authentic adventures,” which should have worried me, but I was too busy trying not to hyperventilate when I saw the figure at the bottom of the page. The Aster Park sponsorship was worth more than I made in an entire year. My entire career, actually.
“Oh, and of course, the ethics clause.” Marcus handed me another stack of papers. “Can’t forget that.”
“Ethics clause?”
“Just the standard terms.” Marcus flashed his warmest smile. About the temperature of an iceberg. “Nothing that should present any complications, I’m sure.”
“We’ll also comp all expenses and incidentals.” Victoria added. “So make sure to take full advantage of the amenities.”
I saluted her. “I absolutely will.” In my mind’s eye, I saw myself getting a hot stone massage by a lumberjack masseuse while being hand-fed mountain trout caviar by the resort’s Michelin-starred chef.
Once we were alone in the elevator, on our way back down to the lobby, Parker asked, “She wasn’t really serious about the polar bear, was she?”
“For what they’re paying us, I’ll take selfies with whatever kind of bear they want me too.”