Nudge 4 The Group Project #2
‘We could reach out to tourism boards for the gift bags – include fact cards and links to causes people can donate to,’ I say.
‘Yeah, and serve authentic cuisine from each region, from smaller family-run businesses who would really benefit from the money and exposure,’ he adds.
‘And of course, if we’re going immersive, we’ve got to go all the way. What about if we have the waiting staff in cabin-crew uniforms or traditional cultural dress?’
‘That works, then theme the invites around travel kits,’ Aiden continues. ‘I’m thinking boarding passes, custom passports . . .’
‘We could ask Production if they can make some event-exclusive passport cases just for guests as pre-event promotion.’ I throw out the idea.
Aiden nods. ‘Actually, if it isn’t too late to add passport cases to the range, they could be released on the website a week after the party. We wait a couple of days to announce it, so fans have time to ask where they can get one and then boom – surprise drop with instant sell-out potential.’
‘We make it clear that it’s limited edition – that way we not only get hype, but massive resale value,’ I say.
We both stop to catch our breaths, the rush of the back-and-forth knocking us speechless. The moment is fleeting, but it’s just long enough to notice the five now-startled faces staring at us.
Evie gasps. ‘That was electric.’
I still can’t speak. I’m forced to stare back at her silently, and by the sounds of the poorly concealed panting to my left it seems that I’m not alone.
‘Oliver, Maxwell. You heard that, right? I want all of it, just like they suggested. How possible would you say that is?’
‘Well, we’d have to look into suppliers and run some numbers, but if you’ve got the budget I can’t see why not,’ Oliver replies.
‘We can get a deck together by, let’s say, this time next week?’ Maxwell looks to Pippa for confirmation.
‘Perfect. Friday works for me,’ Evie says, flicking through her phone calendar. ‘How does eleven a.m. sound? We can swing by the office.’
‘Oh, absolutely!’ Pippa forces herself back into the spotlight. ‘We’ll get on it right away!’
The deal’s in the bag; everyone is visibly more relaxed at the knowledge. We’ve got Evie’s Summer Splash and I managed to play a part in it.
‘Brill! So we’re done.’ Evie’s eyes are still glued to her phone. ‘And I want those two leading on this.’
The sentence sends a visceral ripple through the group, ripping apart any trace of status quo as all eyes follow her pointing finger to where Aiden and I stand.
I can barely process the words myself; a rush of adrenaline vibrates through my body.
If this is everything I’ve wanted for years, why does it feel so terrifying?
Pippa splutters, plastering a strained grin on her face.
‘Well, as a team, we tend to work in a certain order . . . Maddison will, of course, be heavily involved, but she works in an assistant capacity. I really don’t want to overwhelm her at this stage in her career.
Especially with something as important as this. ’
The words drip off her tongue like honey, but I see them for the lumps of coal they really are.
She was not concerned about how ‘overwhelmed’ I was when she made me take over hosting duties at our last Christmas event so she could shed some mulled-wine-fuelled tears, or when she was passing all of her incomplete tasks to me before going off for unscheduled annual leave, or while sending me off on three buses and two trains to location-scout because she just had ‘too much on’ to do the half-hour drive in her car.
It doesn’t fool me one bit and it doesn’t look like it fools Evie either.
‘I believe in empowering people, especially young women in the workplace. I would never have got to where I am otherwise. I am sure you agree that if Maddison is big enough to come up with the idea, she’s big enough to execute it, right?’ she asks bluntly.
‘Oh, yes, we believe in empowerment and have a strong focus on diversity at Abbingtorn too,’ Pippa recites robotically.
Evie’s done with Pippa. Bored, even. Her eyes swoop over her head and land on me.
‘Maddison, do you feel capable of leading this, if you are supported?’ she asks, her face softening.
I’ve always known what I could do if I were just given the chance, but it feels validating to know that someone else can see it too. There’s something about the way Evie carries herself and the support in her eyes that lights a fire in me that I have not felt for a long time.
‘One hundred per cent,’ I reply, holding her gaze and trying to block out the sets of eyes burning into my skull. ‘I won’t let you down.’
‘Perfect.’ The smile she gives me is like a warm bear hug. ‘And, Maxwell, you trust in your team, right?’
He’s flustered under her gaze, his face matching the salmon of his shirt as he mumbles a response. ‘Well, I suppose . . . provided you are happy with the deck she produces, and it doesn’t interfere with her other tasks, Maddison can lead with Pippa’s supervision.’
‘Then I don’t see a problem!’ Evie claps her hands together and keeps grinning as they all nod in tandem, dazzled by the power in her stare.
‘I reckon I can part with Aiden two days a week so he can work with Maddison on the logistics.’
And that’s when the second part of her sentence truly hits me.
‘I want those two leading on this.’
Two of us.
Me and Aiden.
‘Wait, when you said “both” . . . you want me doing events?’ he asks, sounding about as horrified as I feel.
I’m not being dramatic when I say that I’d rather chew gravel than work side by side with him.
‘I need more of that fire.’ She sweeps a perfectly manicured finger between the two of us.
I feel my blood run cold. I have been waiting for four years for any modicum of recognition – a new title or a pay rise that wasn’t a fraction of the inflation rate.
And now, I have been handed the ultimate chance to show just what I’m capable of and prove that I’m worthy of more.
It’s the exact rocket up the ladder that I need to make up for stagnant time, and Aiden has shown up to rip it all away.
He tries to argue. ‘I’m sure Abbingtorn won’t need my input for the deck.’
‘Yes, we’re good to handle it on our end!’ I nod in agreement.
I will not have him walk his way into something I’ve spent years preparing for and outshine me. Not this time. Not ever again.
‘I think this will be good for you, Aiden. I like what just happened and the ideas came from you both equally.’ Her tone is final. ‘I want that deck by Friday. Got it?’
And just like that, Aiden Edwards has cemented himself back in my life for another round.