Chapter Thirty-Three
Drinks were flowing and the dance floor was still packed when Mei, Alexandre, Ali, and Luc called it a night. They said goodbye to Evie and walked outside.
“Do you want a ride?” Alexandre asked Mei, just as they’d planned.
Mei embraced Luc, then Ali. “Get home safely.”
“You too.” Ali hugged her back, glancing from her to Alexandre, a question in her eyes, a smirk on her lips.
After Ali and Luc left, Mei grabbed Alexandre’s hand, and they ran the two blocks to his car. Once inside, she relished his cold cheeks against hers, thawing as they kissed.
Back at her place, they shucked off their winter layers and hopped into bed.
Mei ran her hand over Alexandre’s chest. “I was looking forward to this all night.”
He tangled his fingers in her hair. “I was, too.”
“I don’t know,” she teased. “You could’ve gone home with one of the dancers.
That girl was hitting on you, right?” Mei had seen one of Evie’s friends approach Alexandre.
Possessiveness had overcome her, but when Alexandre had looked at her and smiled, Mei knew she had nothing to worry about.
He’s mine, she’d thought with certainty.
Alexandre chuckled. “Yeah, I didn’t think so at first. She’s a PhD candidate at NYU, so she was telling me about her research.”
“Is it similar to what you were doing?”
“No, but it was interesting. She’s working on cost-efficient cancer screenings for underserved populations. Even though she’s still a student, she’s pretty accomplished.”
Mei stiffened. Was she accomplished, too?
“What’s wrong?” He touched her lips. “You’re frowning.”
“I’m not a talented dancer like Evie and her friends. I’m not doing lifesaving research, either.” She forced a laugh. “I guess I’m just a boring old normie.”
“How can you say that? This may come as a shock, but most people don’t run global campaigns for a famous company. Millions of people have seen your work, and thanks to you, they’ve seen themselves reflected in it, too.”
A little smile tugged at Mei’s lips. She nodded begrudgingly.
“Need I also remind you that last week, I was feeling like I wasn’t good enough for you?”
“Which is so ridiculous!” Mei rolled on top of him. “You’re perfect for me.”
“And you for me.”
Mei grinned through their kiss.
“So what do you think about telling people about us?” Alexandre whispered. “Evie’s friend asked if you were my girlfriend. I wanted to say yes. Luc also asked if I was dating. I said I was, but didn’t give any details. It would be nice to tell everyone the truth.”
Alexandre’s kind eyes searched hers. Mei blew out a breath. They’d already shared so many fears and insecurities. What was one more?
“I’m afraid of ruining everything.”
“With us? How?”
“By doing something that would make you hate me forever, which would destroy everything for Ali, Luc, and Kaia, too.”
“How could you possibly think that? I could never hate you, no matter what happens. If we ever broke up, we’d figure it out. We’re adults. So are Ali and Luc.” He shook his head. “But I don’t think we need to worry about that.”
Alexandre clearly couldn’t imagine them not working out. Mei bit back her smile. “Okay. Let’s tell them. Maybe when you’re back from the conference?” That would give her two weeks to work up her courage.
Alexandre’s eyes shone with anticipation. “Let’s do it.”
Despite her apprehension, an unexpected thrill ran through Mei. Telling Ali and Luc was the first step to her and Alexandre being out in the world as a couple. Mei caressed his cheek, tracing his fine jaw. He kissed her tenderly, making her shiver. The beginning of us.
· · ·
The following Friday evening, Mei took a seat at Alexandre’s new dining table and dug into the roasted chicken, orzo, and vegetables he’d cooked for her.
He passed her a glass of cider. “Congrats on your interviews!”
“Thanks!” Mei clinked her cup against his. “I’m exhausted, but I feel great.” She’d called in sick to Livin and interviewed with Pure in the morning and We’re the First in the afternoon.
“I want to hear everything. How was Pure?”
“Kind of like a much smaller Livin.” She’d met with Whitney Allen, the CEO of the sustainable cleaning company, at their Chelsea office. “They only have a hundred employees, and their marketing budget is a fraction of what I have now.”
“Not every startup has billions of dollars to throw around.”
“Ha! True. Whitney said they’re rolling out three new products, partnering with a big nonprofit, and expanding to Canada and the U.K. I’d report directly to her and oversee the entire marketing strategy and team.”
“That’s exciting! How was We’re the First?”
“Different. In a good way.” The nonprofit had a small office in Midtown East that was, admittedly, cramped and dated.
“Paz Bautista, the director, was also a first-gen student. We talked about the challenges we’d faced, and that the organization’s students face, like understanding that private colleges can be an option with enough financial aid.
” She polished off her orzo. “I’d be raising the organization’s profile among first-gen students still in high school by attending college fairs, holding events, and running social media campaigns. ”
“You’d be joining me in the academic world.”
“Yeah! I love the work they’re doing. Pure’s mission resonates with me, too.
They’re a Black- and women-owned business.
Whitney said Pure is her way of fighting climate change by making concentrated, plastic-free products that cut down on waste.
Unlike some companies that just pretend to save the world. ” She rolled her eyes.
Alexandre served her a second helping. “Did you discuss comp?”
“I did. I’d have to negotiate, but my base at Pure would be a little more than I’m making now.” Mei frowned. “I’d have to take a major pay cut at We’re the First. The most they could offer is half my salary.”
“Oof.”
“Yeah.” She’d barely be able to live on it. Saving would be out of the question. “I don’t think I can afford it.” Mei’s stomach tightened. “Does that make me a terrible person?”
“No. You can’t take a job that’s going to cause you financial stress.”
“Maybe I can volunteer for them, or do some pro bono marketing.”
“If you have time! You’re trying to break the burnout cycle, not overload yourself before you even get a new job. Did you ask about Pure’s work/life balance?”
“I did. Whitney said it’s a priority. They have a flexible policy where you set your own hours and days in the office. People tend to work forty to forty-five hours a week, not sixty or seventy.”
“That sounds perfect.”
“Right? I’d have so much free time.”
“Time to get the rest of your life back.” He shot her a devilish grin. “And time to spend with me.”
“Definitely.” Mei leaned in to kiss him.
“So you’d take the job?”
Mei chewed her lip. Would she? The thought of leaving Livin made her nauseous.
But really, what was left for her there?
Fourteen-hour days of chipping away at pointless goals only to have them reset every month?
Managers she didn’t trust? Being overlooked and underappreciated by the execs?
Sure, she loved her teammates. But Mei was pretty sure they were job hunting, too.
She’d spied Bryce’s résumé on his laptop when she’d walked by the other day.
Tamiko had updated her LinkedIn profile with a snazzy new headshot and all her Livin responsibilities.
Pure would never be a major global brand like Livin. Maybe that was okay. She’d have a smart, supportive manager. Mei had also met the senior members of Pure’s marketing team; they were all kind, intelligent, and brimming with enthusiasm for the company. Like how I used to be with Livin.
At Pure, she’d have work/life balance.
And she’d be a VP, a position that still eluded her at Livin.
Mei nodded. “If they offer me the job, I’ll take it.”
“Yes!” Alexandre reached around the table to pull her into a hug.
Mei laughed, squeezing him back. “Whitney said I should hear from her next week. That seems like a good sign.”