Chapter Eighteen Ella
Chapter Eighteen
Ella
Jimmy and I chatted aimlessly, and before I knew it, we were headed down Fifth Avenue, chatting about the weather and life back home in Scotland.
The conversation felt effortless; he seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me.
The air was muggy, with clouds scattered across the sky.
I wasn’t sure if it would rain or burst into sunshine at any given moment, but my cute pinafore dress was sticking more firmly to my underarms with each step in this swelteringly warm city.
‘So, Britney. She’s a hard nut to crack,’ Jimmy said, then laughed, acknowledging some passers-by who recognised him in the street.
‘She seems it.’ I grinned. ‘But my old boss was much worse than her. I honestly think Hitler himself would have been terrified of Andrea.’
Jimmy gasped, then laughed. ‘I never understood people like that. Surely, it’s better if everyone gets along, then you can bounce ideas and concerns off one another.’
I agreed, stepping in sync with him between the crowds of tourists.
‘I learned that in the system, you know, at an early age. The foster homes where you weren’t afraid always helped me progress much further at school or with my development.’
I turned to Jimmy, not realising he’d grown up in care. Fuck, my late-night rabbit hole search hadn’t mentioned a single thing about this.
‘I didn’t realise. I’m sorry.’ I studied his face, but he seemed happy, easy-going.
‘It’s all right. I was a crazy kid, so at least some of it was my own fault.
I got back to my mom and my sister when I was sixteen and honestly, now, I realise it was the best thing that ever happened.
It brought us closer. And I vowed to stay out of trouble and not to let anyone separate me from my sister.
Yeah, I cleaned up my act and brought her in when this whole company started. ’
My heart felt heavy for all his earlier troubles, and my mind was full of questions. But I knew it was none of my business, unless he chose to share more. Ultimately, his success was even more earned and deserved, given the obstacles he’d had to deal with at such a young age.
‘It’s lovely how close you are,’ I replied. ‘I have that with Zola and Katy.’ A grin immediately appeared on my face, thinking of my two friends.
‘Exactly like I said. When you work with people who have the same mindset, who aren’t afraid to take risks and can air their troubles freely, great things happen.
You girls really impressed me with your idea.
I read it and, my God, I nearly busted a rib laughing.
’ As though to prove it, he started to laugh now, making me laugh too.
‘It wasn’t fun at the time, trust me,’ I admitted.
‘Tell me about it,’ Jimmy said.
Up ahead of us, a spectacular, ostentatious building caught my eye, with its bronze-tinted glass and gold writing – Trump Tower. I giggled, pointing. ‘Is that Donald Trump’s?’
Jimmy turned, noticing the building. ‘Urgh. Sure is. There are condos up top and coffee shops, bistros and food on the lower ground level. The public can go in; it’s a nice enough building. But I don’t set foot in it.’
I peered behind the security guards at the door and noticed an enormous American flag hanging proudly in the lobby.
‘It sounds a bit stupid to say it,’ I admitted, ‘but everything is so Americanised over here.’ It was true – every shop, taxicab and hoarding seemed to declare, You are in America.
‘It’s our stars and stripes, baby, and we’re proud of them!’ Jimmy grinned, looking pleased that I was soaking in the atmosphere.
‘Stars and stripes,’ I repeated, with a snigger.
I glanced back at the giant flag, repeating in my mind: Stars and stripes.
Then I turned to Jimmy with a gasp. ‘I’ve got to get back to the office.’
My cheeks were flushed – maybe from the heat, maybe from the handsome man I had been hanging out with, but I was sure the flush was actually with focus. I had the name in the bag, and I really wanted to present it professionally to Britney and the team.
‘Already? We haven’t been out all that long.’ Jimmy watched me curiously. ‘We are still in time to catch your curfew, Cinderella!’
‘It’s about a twenty-minute walk back,’ I laughed.
‘You carry on without me. But I have to go. I think I’ve figured out a name.
’ I clutched his arm excitedly, feeling the warm muscles flex underneath his shirt.
‘Thanks for this,’ I added, then began backtracking towards Times Square, weaving in and out of the crowds of people, trying to keep pace with the speed-walking New Yorkers rather than the ambling tourists.
‘Ella! Hey, Ella!’ Jimmy called out behind me.
I turned to see Jimmy waving at me in bemusement. ‘The walks do good, yeah?’ he called out.
I nodded and grinned. ‘Yeah!’ Then I turned back, hurrying towards Flirtify HQ.
*
As soon as I was back in my office, I hammered out an email to Zola and Katy with a plan. Zola was quick to reply, sending template ideas and creating backgrounds and logos. I laughed as she joked that her day was going about as well as mine with her new team.
Until I realised my time was up.
I clutched my laptop under my arm and returned to the PR office, where Britney was already stationed with her team around her.
‘OK, Ella, take a seat,’ she ushered me.
I crossed the room and sat down, setting my laptop on the table.
‘We’ve been researching and brainstorming and we have our top three names. First off is “The Audit”,’ Britney said, indicating to a young dark-haired woman to take over.
‘So, yeah, I personally loved this one. It sounds official, easy to remember, and it’s funny, right? It’s also exactly what the app will be about, essentially,’ she said, and the people around her nodded in unison.
‘I like it.’ I smiled. ‘I’ve also got a suggestion . . .’
‘And we have Rate Club. I believe Texas suggested that one.’ Britney gestured towards another vivacious young woman.
‘Yes!’ Texas swooped in. ‘Tag line – think Fight Club, but with opinions. We thought the word “club” would be a cute way to connect it to the original name, make it feel like an inclusive space or a secret organisation.’
I nodded, wondering when or how to introduce my idea.
‘And finally, we have The Ex-Files. But I’m not sure about that one, given that our primary purpose is for people to date, not attack their ex-boyfriends.’ Britney turned to me. ‘Well?’
‘I like them all. Thanks, guys,’ I said. ‘Really snappy and of the moment.’
‘I recommend a focus group this afternoon,’ Britney carried on.
‘Sorry, I wasn’t finished, Britney. I’d like to add another suggestion to the mix, if you don’t mind?
’ I opened up my laptop and clicked on the image that Zola had created in a matter of minutes, based on the brief I’d given her.
‘I was thinking . . . I mean, you guys love an American flag over here, you’re so proud of your culture and your country, and that’s really just so inspiring.
So, what if we leaned into that a little bit more?
I was playing around with a design idea and was thinking of this.
’ I turned my laptop around to the group.
On the screen was a giant American flag, but in place of the fifty stars were fifty shiny purple aubergines. ‘Stars and Swipes!’
A few giggles filled the room, but Britney gasped in horror.
‘Our flag,’ she muttered.
‘It’s bold.’ Texas laughed, then tilted her head. ‘I like it. It’s giving Gen Z.’
‘You have insulted the Founding Fathers!’ Britney shook her head.
OK, calm down, Hamilton, I thought.
‘No. It’s memorable, Britney,’ I said, trying to be diplomatic.
‘And there’s a long tradition of playful reimagining around this image; just think of Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.
’ I felt a little smug, I admit, at my easy pop-art references.
‘Look, the American flag represents unity between the states, right? One way we could spin this is for unity between women. Think about it!’
Britney opened her mouth to say something, but a knock at the door cut her short. Fee entered, looking as bright and bubbly as ever.
‘Sorry, I missed the morning meeting, everyone. How y’all getting on?’
‘Well . . . Ella has devised a new name for the app,’ Britney replied, her tone dripping with disdain, ‘and she was just showing us a mock-up logo, which, quite frankly, is outrageous!’
I glanced at the girls who’d seemed to like my idea for backup, but they lowered their heads, clearly too afraid to speak out.
‘Outrageous! I love it already. Let’s hear it, girl?’ Fee beamed, dispelling the negativity Britney had conjured with her put-down.
‘Stars and Swipes.’ I shrugged, turning the laptop of cute rows of shiny aubergines around.
Fee covered her face, threw her head back and clapped her hands. ‘Oh my God, I love it! Don’t you, guys?’
The other girls eventually laughed, and I watched their shoulders drop as Fee’s laughter and enthusiasm instantly made the atmosphere in the room feel so much lighter.
‘Great work, Ella. What a start!’ She winked at me. ‘Should we let these guys try out some taglines and sketch out a fun way to release this to the media while we catch up?’
I glanced at the group, who seemed to bite their lips in amusement, knowing how Britney would react when we left.
‘We should trial the name with a focus group?’ Britney said. ‘That would be best practice.’
Fee turned to the laptop again, then back to Britney. ‘No need. I love it.’ She grinned widely. ‘Can I have the taglines and media approach on my desk for three?’
Britney fumed. ‘Sure.’
‘Come on, Ella.’ Fee walked towards the door, holding it open for me to follow.
Once out in the hallway, I turned to her and laughed.
‘That was amazing, thank you.’ I paused, not sure how much solidarity I could assume. ‘But I thought Britney was about to combust!’
Fee tilted her head at me. ‘She knows all too well not to rattle me! She’ll calm down and come to my office kissing ass by the end of the day. Stars and Swipes, eh? I love it. How did you come up with that?’
I felt my cheeks heat up and immediately lowered my head. ‘It was something Jimmy said.’
Fee kept her eyes on me. ‘Interesting!’
We headed down to her office and spent the rest of the afternoon preparing for tomorrow’s interview, deciding on the perfect outfits for our photo shoot and brainstorming strategies for making sure Stars and Swipes would soon be trending.