Chapter Eleven
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Stevie
“A ll right, team,” Jack, one of the senior PR managers at Dare PR, said, addressing the small group sitting in the conference room, including myself. “Our main goal with PureGlow Cosmetics is to boost their brand awareness and drive engagement on social media. Their core message is all about inclusivity and natural beauty. Stevie, as content creator, what ideas have you come up with to support that?”
All eyes turned to me. This team was a small one with four of us in total, but I could still remember the first time that had happened, how intimidated and full of nerves I’d been to have more experienced strategists staring expectantly at me. But after a year at this firm and working with these people who I highly respected, and vice versa, I was much more confident in my abilities and sharing my ideas.
I had my detailed notes in front of me on the table, but I’d immersed myself in this campaign and knew my selling points by heart and didn’t need them. “We’ve discussed reaching a diverse demographic for PureGlow and I believe video content on social media is going to be huge in reaching those target groups,” I said, clasping my hands on the table and glancing at each person in turn. “TikTok, Instagram Reels, and even YouTube Shorts would be perfect for showcasing how their products work, especially in real life scenarios. People love seeing transformations or before-and-after shots. But I also think incorporating a good, emotional story will draw in potential buyers. It will also help foster relationships for PureGlow and build trust.”
“Agreed,” Kyle, one of the brand managers, chimed in. “It’s all about creating a community for PureGlow and that’s a great start.”
I nodded, getting more excited about these concepts I’d come up with. “In terms of community, how about starting a hashtag campaign? Something like ‘#Natural?And?Inclusive’ or ‘#Beauty?For?All’? We could encourage followers to share their own stories and experiences with the products using the hashtags. We could even share some of the best user stories and offer giveaways to build buzz.”
“I love that idea,” Sarah said, her tone full of enthusiasm as she stood up and walked to the whiteboard in the room, prepared to jot down notes. “That would create a lot of user-generated content, which is a great way to get more reach and build organic awareness for the client. What else have we got?”
From there, the four of us spent the rest of the morning brainstorming all the unique and different ways we could engage viewers. By the time we were done, we had a whiteboard filled with strategies, over half of which were mine.
“Great job today,” Jack said, once Sarah and Kyle were out of the conference room and I was still gathering my written notes. “Your ideas were solid. I especially like the one about integrating regular challenges, like that thirty-day skin care challenge using the product line that you suggested. Daily prompts on various social media channels and having users tag the brand and other friends to join in on the challenge was a brilliant idea.”
Jack and I had a great working relationship, and his praise always boosted my confidence. “Thank you. I spent a lot of time working on developing those ideas.”
“And it shows.” He grinned, tossing his empty paper coffee cup into the trash. “You’re going to be a great asset to Dare PR once Samantha puts you in a full-time position.”
Jack turned his head as someone walked by the conference room, the walls of which were built with floor-to-ceiling glass partitions. I followed his gaze, seeing Brandy chatting easily with my sister as Brandy led her to her corner office for the interview Valerie had today at eleven.
Jack blatantly stared at Valerie, interest flickering in his eyes as he craned his neck to keep watching them as they continued down the hallway.
Amusement trickled through me. “Would you mind taking your eyes off my sister’s ass?”
Startled, Jack immediately straightened and glanced at me, his face flushing red. “Your sister?”
“Yes.” I opened my phone and used my camera to take a picture of the notes on the whiteboard to use later when I put together the final presentation for the client. “She’s here today to interview as Brandy’s new assistant.”
He grinned, smoothing a hand down his silk tie. “Is she single?”
I looked at Jack, who was one of those classically handsome kind of guys. A little nerdy, but intelligent, and most importantly, a genuinely nice and kind person. That’s all I’d ever seen in the year of working with him. However, after what Valerie had gone through with Mark, I couldn’t deny feeling a little protective of her, which ironically reminded me of Caleb’s behavior with me, not that I was going to analyze that too closely.
“You don’t even know her,” I said to Jack, though I was smiling.
He shrugged. “Hey, a strong initial attraction is the most important part of getting to know someone.”
When I thought about the crazy chemistry between myself and Caleb that had been there from day one, I conceded his point. “Yes, she’s single, but she just went through a bad breakup and she’s a little…guarded.”
“Got it,” Jack said, his expression surprisingly serious. “So, don’t move too fast and overwhelm her. But asking her out for a coffee or lunch is pretty harmless, right?”
“Sure.” If Valerie was going to dip her toe back into the dating pool, someone easygoing and trustworthy like Jack was a good place to start.
I gathered up the rest of my things, as did Jack, and we left the conference room together, heading down the hallway in the opposite direction of Brandy’s office.
“Maybe you could introduce us sometime,” Jack said, his mind still on Valerie. “If she doesn’t get hired on as Brandy’s assistant.”
And if she did get hired…well, luckily there wasn’t any policy against interoffice romances. “We’ll see,” I replied, giving him a cheeky grin as we parted ways when we reached his office, one that came with a view of Manhattan as senior PR manager.
I returned to my small cubicle, which was also separated by glass partitions, so I was able to see when Brandy walked with Valerie back out to the reception area a while later. They were both smiling as they talked, but I couldn’t get a read on how well the interview might have gone.
Luckily, I was meeting Valerie for lunch in fifteen minutes at the deli right next to the office building. At noon, I let Jack know I was heading out for a bite to eat, anxious to hear all the details. I walked into the deli, grateful that my sister had already secured us a table since it was lunch hour, and slid into the chair across from her. Two iced teas had already been delivered, along with two settings, so I knew Valerie had already ordered for the both of us.
I looked at her, but she wore an annoyingly good poker face. “Well?” I asked, exasperated that she was giving me nothing to go on.
Her face broke into a grin and she nearly shrieked, “I got the job!”
I laughed, loving her excitement and beyond ecstatic for her. “Oh my God, that’s fantastic!”
Valerie beamed. “I know, right? I didn’t think I’d walk out of there with a job, but Brandy said she’d interviewed a few people already, and she really liked what was on my résumé in terms of my previous duties as an assistant…even after I told her what had happened with Mark. She was actually very sympathetic about the situation, like you said she’d probably be. At the end of the interview, she made me an offer that was more than my last job and I start on Monday!”
I grinned, her elation infectious. “I’m so happy for you.” I picked up my iced tea and raised it toward her. “Cheers to you.”
She clinked her glass to mine, just as our lunch order arrived. Salads for both of us and I ate a few bites before speaking again.
“So, I’m giving you a heads-up that you already have an admirer at the office,” I told my sister.
Intrigue touched her expression. “Oh?”
I nodded. “Yep. His name is Jack. He’s the senior PR manager. He’s a solid guy. And a gentleman, other than the fact that he was staring at your ass when you walked by the conference room.”
Valerie giggled, her eyes sparkling happily. “A nice, unspoken compliment. I’ll take it.”
“Don’t be surprised if he asks you out for coffee or lunch once you start at the office.” I stabbed a piece of chicken with my fork. “And I can vouch for him. He’s a very easygoing and an all-around nice guy. He’s successful, without an overinflated ego. In other words, no drama.”
She arched a brow at me. “Then why aren’t you dating him?”
I shrugged. “Because he’s not my type.” Which was true.
“Oh, right,” Valerie said, her tone filled with humor. “Hot billionaires with big dick energy are.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “Jack and I have a great working relationship, but that’s it. He’s clearly interested in you, so if you’re anywhere near ready to try dating again, he’s someone I’d trust.”
She bit her bottom lip, seemingly considering that. “I can do a lunch, or coffee, and see how it goes.”
I was glad to see my sister opening up again, relieved that Mark hadn’t completely crushed her self-esteem.
We continued eating lunch while I gave her a rundown of my meeting today and how well it had gone. When we were finished, we headed out of the deli and I waited at the curb with her, chitchatting until her rideshare arrived to take her back to the apartment.
Her cellphone rang and she dug it out of her purse. An unfamiliar number was on the display, which usually indicated a spam call.
She looked hesitant, because nobody enjoyed dealing with telemarketers. “I should answer this just in case it’s Brandy or someone at Dare PR about my employment starting on Monday.”
I agreed. I knew that calls from the office always showed up with the firm’s name for me, but considering Valerie had just been offered the job, I understood why she didn’t want to ignore the incoming call.
She connected the line and put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Where the fuck are you?” Mark yelled so loud, even I could hear him.
Valerie froze, and I saw the immediate panic and fear transform her expression.
“You haven’t been at the apartment for days,” he went on, screaming like a lunatic and giving away the fact that he’d been stalking her again. “And don’t think that I can’t find you, wherever you are!”
My sister seemed paralyzed, in shock and unable to respond or move so I grabbed the phone from her. “Leave her the fuck alone,” I said, furious that he’d dare to break the restraining order and find a way to call her anonymously. Not to mention his threats. “She’s done with you, asshole!”
“Yeah, well, maybe I’m not done with her.” Suddenly, he huffed out a breath, as if realizing how unhinged he sounded, and tried a more reasonable tactic. “Look, all I want is to talk to her. And apologize.”
My stomach churned at those words, familiar ones that reminded me of the way our father had always groveled his way back into our mother’s good graces. How he’d given her false hopes and promises that things would be better this time around. Except they never were, and the abuse only escalated until…well, I refused to think of that outcome for Valerie.
Valerie seemed to regain her composure enough to take the phone back. “I don’t want your apology, Mark,” she said, her voice stronger than I’d anticipated, making me proud of her resolve in the moment. “I want you to just stay out of my life. Stop calling me. It’s against the restraining order and I’m going to report you to the police.”
“Wherever you are, I’m going to find you,” he said, his tone intimidating.
Refusing to allow the prick any more airtime to terrorize my sister, I grabbed Valerie’s phone and disconnected the call and quickly restricted the new number.
Despite Valerie’s bit of bravado, I could see that she was shaking, her eyes filled with shock as we stood there on the sidewalk and pedestrians walked around us.
“How?” she whispered, shaking her head in confusion. “I blocked his number.”
“He clearly used a burner phone to try and trick you.” I tamped down my anger and forced a calm I didn’t feel. “You’re fine, Valerie,” I reassured her. “No one at our old apartment knows where we are, and we’re safe in the new one.”
She swallowed hard and wrapped her arms around her midsection. “I just want him to leave me alone.”
My heart ached for her. “Don’t respond. Don’t answer any more calls from a number you don’t recognize. He’ll get bored and move on.” I knew it wasn’t a promise I could stand by, but it was all I had right now to try and keep her from completely freaking out.
“I know,” she said, though she didn’t look completely convinced. “I just want it to be sooner, rather than later, so I can move on with my life.”
“You already are.” I smiled at her. “You’ve already got a new job, and we are not moving back to the old apartment when I’m done with Caleb. We clearly can’t afford a place at The Cortland, but I can now afford a building with security and a doorman in a safer area.”
She nodded, finally looking more reassured and mollified. “And I can help pay the rent, too, now that I have a new job with a better salary than the one I had before.”
I forced a smile for her benefit. “We’ll figure everything out. I promise.”
Her phone pinged, and Valerie visibly startled, until I checked her messages to see that her rideshare had arrived and was waiting at the curb a few car lengths up. I walked with her to the vehicle and she slid inside.
“Text me when you get home,” I told her.
“I will,” she promised.
I watched her car drive away, then obsessively checked my messages, waiting to hear from her. I didn’t relax until she finally assured me she was safe in our apartment.