21. Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-One
Harris dropped the thick folder on his dad’s desk. The slap of papers echoed in the massive corner office, which was ninety percent glass and leather. “Dean and I came up with a new proposal for the business together.”
His dad stared at him from the opposite side of an obnoxiously wide desk. He leaned back in his chair, a skeptical look crossing his face. “So, you ended up revising your proposal? Why?”
“I changed my mind about SheTime. We need to invest in that side of the business. Dean agrees. There’s so much untapped potential.”
“Your last proposal recommended we dissolve SheTime.” Wrinkles deepened and fanned out from his father’s eyes. “Now you want to invest in it? What could have possibly changed that much in the last few weeks?”
Harris met his father’s critical gaze, everything he’d experienced with Gigi flitting through his mind. “I made a mistake.”
His dad’s head veered back like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. “A mistake with the numbers? That’s not like you.”
Harris shook his head. “No, I made a mistake by only focusing on the numbers.” Harris paused, gathering his thoughts. His father’s sharp eyes bored into him, waiting for an explanation. “I’ve been working closely with Gigi, and I don’t think you understand how incredibly talented she is, and how much passion she has for the brand. She has endless ideas and a deep understanding of the market, but she’s been operating with minimal resources. You’ve been running SheTime too lean, expecting her to do too much on her own.”
His dad frowned, obviously not liking Harris’s answer. “So, you’re saying the lack of success is because of my underinvestment, not the product or market demand?”
“Yes. Exactly,” Harris replied, steeling himself under his dad’s scrutiny and powering on. “The products are amazing. Customers who use them love them. But we haven’t given Gigi the tools she needs to grow the business. She needs a team under her, people who can help with social media, public relations, content creation, events. She needs a bigger marketing budget to reach a wider audience.”
His dad shook his head, looking disgusted, which was not the reaction Harris was hoping for. “Are you serious?”
Harris nodded confidently, knowing he needed to go deeper, go back to what he believed in. “You asked what could have changed in a few weeks’ time.” He paused, amazed that one person could flip his opinion completely in such a short time. “Well, I’ve seen firsthand what Gigi can do with limited resources, and I’m confident she could grow that business tenfold with a proper team and funding. SheTime has the potential to not only survive but thrive and become a significant supplement to our larger business.”
His dad stilled, as though the “tenfold” comment had finally grabbed hold of his cynicism and shook it. He cocked a brow. “Tenfold?”
“Yes,” Harris confirmed.
His dad thrummed his fingers on his desk. “I’m listening.”
“You’ve undervalued Gigi. Her instincts are excellent. She’s incredibly creative and delivers results under pressure, with little to no resources. She’s the one that has built SheTime from the ground up.” Harris pointed to his proposal, a thrill shooting through him as he finally captured his dad’s attention. “I was wrong to think that dissolving SheTime was the solution. We need to invest in it, support her, and give her the resources to succeed.”
His dad’s eyes narrowed, but Harris could tell he was considering the proposal. “You’re betting a lot on one person, Harris. What makes you so confident she’s worth it?”
Harris paused for a breath, picturing the passion in Gigi’s eyes, the determination in every expression, her endless optimism. “Because she reminded me that success isn’t just about numbers. It’s about people. And I believe in her. I think if we give her the chance, she’ll exceed our expectations. She’s the one that needs to lead SheTime, not me.”
The silence that followed fell hard on Harris’s shoulders. His dad stared at him, dissecting his words, piece by piece. When he finally spoke, his tone was curt and simmering in doubt. “You’ve got everything laid out in here?” He tapped his pointer finger against the folder.
Harris gave a nod. “I do. Every detail.”
His dad pursed his lips, looking sour. “I’ll review your revised proposal, but I think you’re speaking out of turn. Investing heavily in a niche business is a significant risk. I wasn’t on board when Dean originally started SheTime, but I let him do his thing.” He paused, festering in annoyance. “If I agree to this, there will be expectations.”
Harris clenched his jaw, biting his tongue as his father referred to women’s skin care as niche. It was a massive market. Yet, he knew that disagreeing with his father now would only agitate him further, make him double down on his opinions.
“Read the proposal,” Harris replied. “I believe it’s a risk worth taking.”
Two days had dragged on like an eternity. Harris hadn’t seen Gigi since the night they lost and found Rudy, and the void was palpable. She’d been busy setting up the last Gift Guide event, while Harris had been consumed in board meetings with his dad and Dean, along with having video calls with his GambleOnLove team. A few exchanged emails, snarky signatures, and evening phone conversations did little to quench his longing for her.
Gigi really was like a drug. His mind eased and his spirit soared in her presence. His heart might burst if he had too much of her, yet he craved more. The need was beyond his control.
Navigating the bustling crowd on State Street, Harris scanned the sidewalk ahead, looking for Gigi. He smiled wide when he spotted her, standing near the entrance to Macy’s, waving at him, looking as bright and shiny as the golden trumpets and sparkling garland that trimmed the historic building. His pulse quickened as he neared. A satiny skirt peeked out below her long peacoat. Her dark, velvety hair was down, curling into soft waves. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and Harris yearned to wrap his arms around her, lift her off her feet, and kiss her as if no one else was around.
Reluctantly, he steeled his arms, resisting the urge.
“You look beautiful,” Harris greeted her, reminding himself they were at a work event.
“Thanks.” She practically twinkled. “You’re looking extra dapper yourself.” She tipped her head and a lock of hair fell across her cheek and neck. He dug his fingers into his palms, fighting the powerful urge to brush her hair back, to tuck it behind her ear.
“I can’t wait to show you the window!” Gigi bounced on her toes, breaking up the battle Harris was having with himself.
“I can’t wait to see it,” he replied, anticipation building in his chest.
Tonight was long awaited, the largest and last of all the Gift Guide events. It was the grand finale. Besides the brunch, which would start shortly, each sponsoring business had decorated one of the famous Macy’s window displays. Gigi had been planning and preparing her creation all year. She’d told him about the display but hadn’t revealed the details of the design, keeping it a secret and a surprise for today.
“Close your eyes,” Gigi said, taking hold of his arm. Harris buzzed with her touch. “Then I’ll take you to our window.”
“Close my eyes?” He quirked an inquisitive eyebrow.
“Yes,” she insisted, smiling.
“Close my eyes and walk down an icy sidewalk packed with a million people?”
Gigi laughed at his resistance. “Yes! Do you think I’d let you fall?”
“Maybe?”
“Never,” she replied through a grin.
“Okay. For you, I’ll do it.”
Gigi took his hand, and Harris shut his eyes, surrendering to her guidance. He followed her voice and touch, reveling in each sensation, all his senses on fire. Her warm, soft hand in his. The sweet vanilla fragrance she exuded. Her contagious laugh that Harris was sure he could pick out from seven states away.
Each step felt like a promise, a whispered secret shared between them. The world around them faded, leaving only the warmth of her hand and the thrill of the unknown.
“We’re here.” Gigi guided him to a stop, her voice brimming with excitement. “You can look now.”
Harris opened his eyes, first finding Gigi’s beautiful face. Then he blinked against dazzling lights, wondering if he’d stepped into a dream. The Macy’s window showcased a Winter Wonderland—a snowcapped, enchanted forest, framed in gold. Fake snow twirled down from above, dusting emerald pine trees. Woven through branches, twinkling lights cast a magical glow, and woodland creatures danced through the trees.
In the center of the forest was a vintage clawfoot bathtub, overflowing with glittering ornaments. A cozy fireplace crackled in the background, its warmth almost palpable through the glass. Plush white towels and robes were draped elegantly over branches or pooled in the snow, inviting relaxation. And an array of SheTime soaps and lotions artfully adorned the scene, each product glowing under soft spotlights. A pedestal showcased one boxed gift set, elevating it like a precious artifact.
Harris gawked, taking it all in. Then he turned to Gigi, struggling to find words. He was speechless. SPEECHLESS .
“Do you like it?” she asked tentatively, her hand grasping his forearm.
His eyes were wide with admiration. “Gigi, this is incredible. I don’t even have words. You’ve created something truly magical .”
Her eyes flashed with relief and then pride. “You really think so?”
“Absolutely. This . . . this is beyond what I imagined. How did you . . . how did you even do this?” He waved a hand at the scene, at the piece of art before them. He knew what kind of budget she’d worked with, yet she’d knocked this project clear out of the park.
She smiled brightly, nerves replaced with joy. “Lots of work. And negotiating. I managed some great deals. Found the bathtub at a garage sale. It has a hole in the bottom, but I didn’t need it to hold water. It just needed some paint. The trees and animals came from a local high school. Bought them from the theater department after their spring run of The Sound of Music . I got all the lights and ornaments on clearance last year, the day after Christmas.”
“Really?” he asked, dumbfounded.
She nodded. “You can accomplish a lot by getting up early, putting in some elbow grease, and having crafty friends.”
Suddenly, it became clear to Harris why his father didn’t give Gigi more support. She did it all without a single complaint. He was letting Gigi do the work of ten people, because it saved him the cost of a team.
“I hope you weren’t doing this off the clock,” Harris said, gathering that she had and wanting to give his dad a piece of his mind.
“It’s fine.” She shrugged. “Besides, how many people get to create a window display for Macy’s? I wanted it to feel special, to really showcase SheTime. I tried to capture the way our products should make customers feel—like they are being whisked away to a luxurious fantasy, even in the midst of holiday chaos.” Her smile widened.
Harris pushed down a flash of anger aimed at his dad, not wanting to rain on Gigi’s parade. He’d deal with his father later. Right now, this moment was for Gigi.
Scanning the scene, he lingered on the intricate details. The effort, thought, and love Gigi had poured into this project was evident. “You’ve outdone yourself. This is beyond perfect.”
She blushed. “I’m so glad you like it.”
Gigi still had her hand on his forearm, and Harris set his hand on top of hers. He wanted to take hold of her, to kiss her and tell her how amazing she was and how much she meant to him, but he held back. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”
“On Christmas Eve?”
He nodded, losing himself in her dark-chestnut eyes.
“Having an early dinner with my nonna,” she replied, looking confused. “Why?”
“After you celebrate with your nonna, would you join me for the Christmas Ball at the Ice Castle?” Never in Harris’s life had he wanted to take anyone to a ball, but the emotions Gigi pulled out of him were different. He wanted to sweep her off her feet, make her feel like a queen every minute of every day. And he knew the Christmas Ball would be something Gigi would love.
Her red lips opened, as if he’d confessed he could fly. “Are you asking me on a date?”
Harris stepped closer, wanting his intentions to be clear. “Gigi, will you be my date for the Christmas Ball tomorrow night?”
“I—” The twinkle returned to her sweet eyes. “If I’m going to be your date for the ball . . . I might need to go dress shopping tonight.”
Harris grinned. “I can coordinate that. Is that a yes?”
Gigi nodded, her head bobbing up and down excitedly. “Yes, I’d love that.”
A wave of adrenaline washed through him, and Harris couldn’t stop his impulse. His fingers gently lifted her chin, tilting her beautiful face up so he could dive straight into her eyes. He leaned in, the need to kiss her overpowering, but just as their lips were about to meet, a lurking figure behind Gigi caught his attention.
Glancing up, Harris froze when he discovered his father standing a few strides away, watching and judging.