Chapter Three
“Hey, queen,” Ayanna called, stopping by Mei’s desk. “Ready for your big moment?”
Mei looked up from her presentation and smoothed the white blazer she wore over a silky cami in Livin’s bright yellow. “You know it.”
“I can’t wait.” Ayanna started down the hallway. “You’re going to crush it, as usual.”
Mei turned back to the slide deck with her three-year brand vision. She had revised it countless times, and now it was perfect.
Her phone buzzed. Mei clicked on a new text from Joey.
Go get ’em, babe!
He’d attached a gif of an animated spatula saying, “You’re flipping awesome!”
Mei laughed. Spirits high, she gave her slides a final read.
Ten minutes later, she stood at the head of the executive boardroom.
Oversized prints of Livin’s marquee buildings hung on the wall: a stately Haussmann with wrought iron balconies on the Champs-élysées, a beachfront Miami art deco.
The leadership team and senior stakeholders sat around the conference table.
Raucous male chatter filled the air, though a hush fell when Julian Fredericks, Livin’s CEO, strode in.
Tall and imposing with flowing golden locks, piercing green eyes, and a neat goatee, Julian resembled a gracefully aging pop star more than the head of New York’s highest-valued private company. He took a seat and acknowledged Mei with a dip of his head.
Diana shot Mei a confident smile. Ayanna gave her a steely nod that said: You. Got. This.
Mei clasped her shaking hands, then lifted her chin and addressed the room. “As you all know, in three years, Livin will be in more than one hundred cities on every continent. This brand strategy will ensure we continue our unprecedented growth while letting the world know about us in a big way.”
For the next hour, Mei outlined the global brand campaigns they’d run, plus targeted campaigns for Livin’s key offerings: Livin the Life (beautifully furnished rentals, from big-city apartments to rustic-chic homes in stunning rural settings), Livin Like a Boss (hip business travel accommodations), and Livin It Up (stylish apartments full of amenities, like gourmet meal plans and luxe fitness centers).
Mei highlighted projected year-over-year growth and detailed how the company would break into new markets and expand in existing ones.
“By upleveling our brand, localizing our campaigns, making our storytelling and imagery more inclusive, and streamlining processes with AI-driven solutions, we’ll transform Livin into the world’s hottest brand—with the revenue to match.”
She faced Julian expectantly. The CEO was sitting with his hands folded against his lips. Mei’s heart thudded as she awaited his reaction.
Finally, Julian lowered his hands. “What more can I say? We’re on a mission to revolutionize the way people live, work, and play.
Right now, Livin impacts millions of people every day.
In two years, it’ll be billions. This brand strategy is exactly what we need as we’re transforming the world.
That, and your leadership.” Julian flashed her his rock-star grin, the one that had made him an overnight media darling and pop culture phenom.
Mei grinned back. “I’m thrilled to be on this journey with you.”
When she returned to her desk, Mei opened her laptop to a slew of Slack messages.
You killed it!
That presentation was !!!
Word on the street is that you slayed. Get it, girl!
Mei closed her eyes and smiled. She needed to get back to work, but this moment was worth savoring.
· · ·
“My presentation went so well!” Mei spooned papaya salad onto her plate, then passed the dish to Joey.
She’d picked up dinner from her favorite Thai place to celebrate.
“The head of finance asked tough questions but was fine with my answers. James, our new chief marketing officer, was there, too. He signed off on my strategy over email, but he’s never seen me present.
I bet I wowed him.” She bit into a spring roll with gusto.
“I still can’t believe Julian praised my leadership!
This makes me want to keep rising through the ranks.
There are so few women or people of color at the top. ”
Joey clinked his water glass against hers. “I’m so proud of you. There’s no doubt in my mind that you’ll be running Livin soon.”
Mei laughed. “I don’t know if I want to run Livin. But VP of marketing would be nice.”
“You’ll get there, babe. I know it.”
“Me too.” She filled her plate with pad see ew. “I still can’t believe this is our life. Who would’ve thought two kids from Queens would go and make something of themselves?”
“Well, you have. I’m still just a schlub in IT,” Joey said with a chuckle.
“Oh please. You only manage everyone’s access to every system in your company.
And you’re moving up!” Earlier this year, a larger paper-shredding company had acquired the one Joey worked for.
The new head of IT had met with Joey and saw his potential.
She’d arranged for him to take a network security certification exam at a national testing center to position him for a promotion.
“Your test is Monday, right? Have you studied?” Last night, when Mei was reviewing her presentation, Joey had been lounging on the couch, laughing at videos of people falling off trampolines.
The previous night, he’d been at his desk, playing obscure songs and cursing when music identification apps failed to recognize them.
“Not too much.”
“Why not?”
Joey shrugged. “I’m not sure I want the gig.”
“Why? It’s more money and a step up. And you’ll be learning something new.”
“It’s also more responsibility. I like being a systems admin. I’m already making good money.”
“Yeah, but a raise could always help.” Their combined income was several tax brackets higher than where their parents had been, but now wasn’t the time to be complacent about their finances.
Mei gestured to their kitchen’s glass tile backsplash.
“This apartment is as much as our separate places combined, so we’re not saving extra money.
And, yeah, our wedding’s small, but it’s still costing several thousand. What if there’s an emergency?”
Mei’s mind flashed back to her preteen years.
Her family never had much to begin with, but their situation became dire after her parents divorced and her father died.
Mei recalled winter afternoons with Ali, shivering under blankets as they tried to do homework in their frigid apartment.
She could still smell the twenty-five-cent packaged ramen they cooked for dinner every night as their mom worked late.
Joey chewed his lower lip. After a moment, he scooched his chair closer to hers. “I get it, my baby.”
Mei rested her head against his chest. Joey understood.
When he was a teenager, his father injured his back and lost his job at an auto repair shop.
Joey had worked full-time slicing cold cuts at the ShopRite deli counter to support his family, while finishing high school and going to community college.
He kissed her cheek. “Don’t you worry. I’ll study and pass my test.”
“And work toward that promotion?”
“Yup. You and me, baby. Moving up in the world.”
Mei’s heart swelled. She brushed Joey’s cheek with the back of her hand.
He leaned into her touch, his lopsided smile turning devilish. “Now, how about we get to bed early and really celebrate your presentation?”
Familiar heat spread through Mei. She nuzzled her face against Joey’s neck, relishing the scratch of his facial hair. “I like the way you think.”
· · ·
On Sunday morning, Mei kissed Joey goodbye outside their building as he set off for Virginia.
“I got this, my baby. Gonna ace this exam.”
“You will.” Joey had studied every night for the last few days, and all day Saturday. Mei had kept an eye on him, even as she reminded herself not to micromanage his career. Hopefully he’d crammed well enough to pass.
Mei watched Joey’s Corolla drive out of sight. Then she rode the subway to Grand Central and boarded a train north. An hour later, she met Ali at the station, and they drove to join Luc, Kaia, and Alexandre at a summer festival on the Hudson.
They perused vintage furniture in the antiques tent, then strolled down rows of farm stands laden with homemade pies, cakes, and preserves. A local cover band played on a small stage, filling the air with rootsy music.
After a lunch of assorted tacos, Ali turned to Mei and Alexandre. “Luc and I are going to take Kaia to the playground over there. We’ll meet up with you in a bit.”
Mei glanced at Alexandre. It was a little weird to be stuck with him. “What do you feel like doing?”
He scanned the scene. “How about the beer garden?”
They ordered pilsners from the taps, then found seats across from each other at a long wooden table beneath a tree. The sun highlighted a few strands of gray in Alexandre’s hair. They suited him, Mei decided.
“How’s your new place?” she asked.
“Not bad. It’s right across from campus, but it’s kind of generic, with beige carpets and an amazing view of the parking lot.”
“You should’ve considered a Livin,” Mei said teasingly. “We have Hudson Valley rentals.”
Alexandre raised an eyebrow. “Livin? That startup with the ridiculous valuation?”
“Yup. I’m kidding, though. I work there, so I couldn’t resist.”
“I didn’t know you worked there. Livin came to Oregon last year and it was big news. Everyone in my lab was talking about it.”
“I like to think that’s due to our incredible marketing.” Mei smoothed her hair facetiously.
Alexandre laughed. “That would be you?”
“Me and my teammates.” She tilted her face up to the sun.
“Well, it’s working. I can’t go a day without seeing an ad or a news story about your company. I saw photos of the Portland factory that Livin turned into apartments.”
Mei nodded knowingly. Pride flowed through her, though she attempted to play it cool.
“I also read how they’re building a wilderness compound outside Salem, with glamping and tiny houses.”
“Our CEO actually wanted to build that on Crater Lake, along with a massive lodge and helipads. You can imagine how conversations with the National Park Service went.”
“So there are some things that billions can’t buy.”
“Apparently.”
Alexandre shook his head. “I’ve read so many crazy stories about your CEO—Julian Fredericks, right? I’m sure some are exaggerated, but others have to be true.”
“Try me.” Mei arched an eyebrow in challenge. “I might be able to spill some dirt.”
“Ha. Okay.” Alexandre brought his hand to his chin and looked away pensively. Mei couldn’t help but notice his handsome profile.
Alexandre turned back to her. “Fact or fiction: Livin only serves vegan food in the office because Julian is all about sustainability and saving the world.”
“Fact. I only eat vegan at work because I’m not saying no to free food. So now I have very strong opinions about fake meat.”
Alexandre chuckled and sipped his pint. “What about Julian’s office? Does he really have a cryotherapy chamber and a space devoted to sound baths?”
Mei smiled slyly. “I’m not confirming or denying, but let’s just say that Julian is very into rich-person wellness.”
“Ha! Next question: Even though he’s so passionate about the environment, Julian flies around the world on a private jet he bought with VC funds.”
Mei groaned. “You’re not making this easy for me! I shouldn’t say this, but it’s true, though obviously Livin tries to keep that under wraps.”
“The hypocrisy of those people.”
Mei caught the distaste in Alexandre’s voice.
She stifled an eye roll and looked at Alexandre squarely.
“I get it. I don’t agree with everything Julian does, but that would be the case with any CEO at any company.
I’m at Livin because it works for me. Before, I was at Daisyland Dairy, where I had no creative freedom or growth opportunities.
At Livin, I manage a big team and a multimillion-dollar budget.
” She saw Alexandre’s eyes widen, sending a satisfied thrill through her. “Yeah, I work crazy hours—”
“Like what?”
“About eighty a week.”
“Oof, that used to be me.”
“But I love what I do, so I don’t mind. I’m climbing the ladder at a company where there are no women or people of color in leadership positions.” Mei paused to let Alexandre absorb her words. “And while I can’t control everything Julian does, I can fix some things.”
“Like what?”
“When I started, our ads had slogans like ‘Livin La Vida Loca,’ with photos of drunk people doing keg stands.”
Alexandre smothered a laugh. The corners of Mei’s lips turned up, too.
“We’ve evolved our brand, and now I’m giving it a total refresh to make it more inclusive so people from all walks of life, all over the world, will see they’re welcome at Livin.” Flushed, Mei took a sip of beer.
“That’s huge,” Alexandre said. “The world needs more of that.”
Mei smiled from behind her beer.
“Hearing you speak about your job gives me hope as I’m about to start my new one.”
“What exactly happened in Oregon?” Mei ventured. “Only if you want to tell me.”
Alexandre winced. It was nearly imperceptible, but Mei noticed.
“I was studying neuromuscular degeneration and aging in zebrafish, a model organism that shares many genes with humans. Basically, my research was in service of helping people stay mobile longer in life.”
“That’s important. How could there be a problem with that?”
“All research is high-risk, high-reward. I had some big findings early in my career. But in the last few years, all my studies were inconclusive. I couldn’t get publications or funding, and you can’t make tenure without both.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Couldn’t people still see what you tried and learned?”
“Yeah, but that means nothing in academia.”
“The hypocrisy of those people,” Mei deadpanned.
Alexandre let out a sharp laugh. His eyes shone with appreciation. “Touché.”
Mei made herself shrug nonchalantly, though her cheeks warmed at Alexandre’s attention. “So are you excited to teach?”
“I think so. I’ve taught since grad school. It was just hard to abandon research before I was done with it.”
The wind rustled the tree branches above them.
Mei turned her pint glass on the table. “Your scientific career isn’t ending. It’s just—” She racked her brain for a biology-type word. “Metamorphosing. Is that a real scientific term?”
Alexandre laughed. “It is.”
“It’s never too late to carve out a new path for yourself. I am.” She considered herself a late bloomer but didn’t want to say so, since that would make Alexandre an even later bloomer.
“I like that.” Alexandre lifted his pint. “To carving out a new path for yourself.”
Green flecks shone in Alexandre’s hazel eyes. Mei hadn’t noticed them before.
Joey’s brown eyes suddenly appeared in her mind. She hadn’t thought of him this entire time.
Mei swallowed her guilt. She tapped her glass against Alexandre’s. “To carving out a new path.”