Chapter 3 The Proposal #2
Orm looked at the numbers. She had known people were talking. She hadn't realised how much. Aurelia's older posts had suddenly started receiving new attention. People were searching for the campaign. Clips were being shared again. The photograph was appearing beside Aurelia-related content.
Orm stared.
"How much of this came from the photograph?"
"Enough that our clients noticed."
Ling leaned forward.
"Which clients?"
Khun Dew answered.
"Aurelia House, Veyra Group and Siam Horizon Media."
Orm sat back.
That made everything feel more serious. Those weren't random people watching from the sidelines. They had invested in the campaign. Their approval mattered.
Khun Dew continued.
"The campaign was already successful. The clients aren't asking us to change it."
Orm relaxed slightly.
"Good."
"They want to extend the conversation around it."
Ling frowned.
"Using the photograph."
"Using the attention generated by it."
Orm looked at the picture again.
She already knew where this was going.
"No."
Khun Dew smiled.
"You haven't heard the proposal."
"I think I have."
P'Cherry quietly laughed.
Orm looked at her.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because your face is very expressive."
"I'm trying to be serious."
"You are."
"Then stop laughing."
"I'm trying."
Khun Dew folded her hands.
"The campaign has already been released. We're not replacing it, restarting it or changing its original message."
She pointed toward the photograph.
"We simply have an unexpected second wave of public interest."
Ling's expression remained guarded.
"And what exactly do you want to do with it?"
Khun Dew looked at both women.
"We want to build a short promotional extension around the public's interest in the two of you."
Orm blinked.
"The two of us?"
"Yes."
Ling's voice was calm.
"There's nothing between us."
"I know."
"The photograph was accidental."
"I know."
"Then why would we build a campaign around it?"
Khun Dew answered simply.
"Because the public doesn't know that."
Orm stared at her.
P'Cherry nodded.
"And because they don't seem particularly interested in knowing."
Orm sighed.
"That's unfortunate."
"From a personal perspective," P'Cherry said, "perhaps."
She pointed at the numbers.
"From a marketing perspective, it's fantastic."
Orm couldn't argue with that.
She hated that she couldn't argue with it.
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Khun Dew continued.
"The audience already has an emotional association with Aurelia's campaign. The photograph created curiosity, and that curiosity has redirected people back toward the campaign."
She paused.
"We don't want to manufacture a new story from nothing."
Orm frowned.
"Then what do you want?"
Khun Dew looked directly at them.
"We want to let the story continue."
Ling's expression hardened.
"How?"
Khun Dew said it plainly.
"We want you to pretend to be together."
Silence.
Orm stared at her.
Ling didn't move.
P'Cherry looked down at her tablet, apparently deciding that this was a good time to study it very carefully.
Orm finally spoke.
"I'm sorry."
Khun Dew looked at her.
"I think I heard you incorrectly."
"You didn't."
"You want us to pretend to date?"
"Yes."
Orm turned toward Ling. Ling was already looking at her. For once, they were in complete agreement.
"No!"
They said it unison.
P'Cherry immediately covered her mouth.
Orm pointed at her.
"Don't laugh."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm trying not to."
Ling looked at P'Cherry.
"Please."
P'Cherry straightened.
"Sorry."
Khun Dew remained remarkably calm.
"I expected resistance."
Orm crossed her arms.
"That's not resistance. That's common sense."
P'Cherry whispered,
"She has a point."
Khun Dew gave her a look.
P'Cherry immediately became professional again.
"Sorry."
Ling leaned back.
"This isn't appropriate."
Khun Dew nodded.
"Under normal circumstances, I would agree."
"Then?"
"These aren't normal circumstances."
She tapped the photograph.
"The campaign is already successful. We aren't trying to rescue it. We're trying to make use of an opportunity none of us planned."
Orm looked at the photograph. The moment was ridiculous. She had lost her balance and Ling just happened to caught her in time and a photographer had captured it. And now three companies were discussing it like a billion-dollar strategic asset.
She almost laughed.
"This is insane."
P'Cherry nodded.
"Marketing usually is."
Orm looked at her.
"You're very calm about this."
"I've worked in marketing for years."
"Does that explain everything?"
"No."
P'Cherry smiled.
"But it helps."
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Khun Dew brought up another document.
"If you agree, the arrangement will only last for a limited period of a few weeks."
Orm looked up.
"Only weeks?"
"Yes."
"Not months?"
"No."
"Not indefinitely?"
Khun Dew smiled.
"Definitely not."
Orm released a breath.
That mattered.
A few weeks felt manageable.
Months would have been another story.
The arrangement would involve selected campaign appearances, interviews, photographs, digital content and several promotional events. P'Cherry would coordinate the schedules. Khun Dew would manage the client side.
Ling would remain the Executive Director and continue her existing responsibilities. While Orm would remain the campaign's creator and continue handling the creative work. Nobody was asking her to stop being a professional. They were asking her to add another role temporarily.
Pretend girlfriend.
Orm almost laughed at the absurdity of the phrase.
"Who came up with this?"
Khun Dew raised her hand.
Orm stared at her.
"Right."
P'Cherry smiled.
"She's very honest."
"I noticed."
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Then Khun Dew became serious.
"There is one thing you both need to understand."
Orm looked at her.
"The opportunity is valuable, but so is the risk."
She turned toward Orm.
"Especially for you."
Orm's posture stiffened.
Khun Dew didn't soften the truth.
"You're new to the company."
Orm nodded.
"You've already contributed to one successful campaign. That's a strong beginning, but you're still establishing your reputation here."
Orm looked down.
She knew. She had known since her first day. She had walked into the company knowing she had to prove herself. And she had worked harder because of it.
Khun Dew continued.
"If this goes well, people will notice your creative ability and your ability to handle a high-pressure campaign situation."
Orm listened.
"But if it goes badly, you will also be visible."
That was the part that scared her. Ling already had a reputation. She was the Executive Director. People knew her. Trusted her. Respected her. Orm didn't have that protection.
She had a budding career.
A new position.
A name she was still trying to establish.
One bad decision could become the story people told about her. The creator who got famous because she was rumoured to be dating the Executive Director. That wasn't what she wanted. She wanted her career. Not someone else's narrative about her.
Khun Dew seemed to understand.
"I'm not asking you to say yes because you're new."
Orm looked up.
"I'm telling you that you should understand what you're agreeing to."
Orm nodded.
"Thank you."
P'Cherry leaned forward.
"And if you agree, I'll be there."
Orm looked at her.
"My job is to coordinate the campaign and protect the practical side of it. If something makes you uncomfortable, tell me."
Orm smiled.
"Thank you."
P'Cherry shrugged.
"Besides, I don't want paperwork."
Orm laughed.
"What?"
"If you two start fighting during a photoshoot, I have to write reports."
Ling looked at her.
"We won't."
P'Cherry nodded.
"Excellent."
Orm said, "We probably will."
P'Cherry smiled.
"Then I'll prepare extra forms."
Even Ling laughed quietly. The tension broke. For a moment, the idea didn't seem quite so terrifying. Still ridiculous. But manageable.
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Ling finally picked up the proposal.
"If we agree, there need to be boundaries."
Khun Dew nodded.
"Absolutely."
"No private information."
"Agreed."
"No family."
"Agreed."
"No questions about our actual personal relationships."
"Agreed."
Ling continued.
"And nothing physical without mutual agreement."
P'Cherry nodded.
"That's already part of the plan."
Orm looked at her.
"Really?"
"Of course."
P'Cherry smiled.
"I manage talent. I'm not trying to create lawsuits."
Orm laughed.
"Good."
Ling looked toward Orm.
"We should establish everything before we begin."
Orm nodded.
"For once, I agree."
Ling raised an eyebrow.
"For once?"
Orm sighed.
"Don't start."
P'Cherry looked between them.
Then she smiled.
"I think the clients might actually be onto something."
Orm groaned.
"Please don't encourage them."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm observing."
"You're smiling."
"I smile naturally."
Ling looked at her.
"You don't."
P'Cherry gasped.
"See? This is why I like you."
Orm stared at Ling. Ling seemed to realise what she had said. P'Cherry's smile widened.
"I'll leave you two to work out whatever that was."
She stood.
Khun Dew shook her head.
"P'Cherry."
"I'm going."
She gathered her things.
"Tomorrow morning?"
Khun Dew nodded.
"Tomorrow morning."
Orm looked at her.
"We have until tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"That's not much time."
"The opportunity is moving quickly."
Orm nodded.
She understood.
Khun Dew and P'Cherry left.
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The room became quiet. Orm looked at Ling. While Ling looked at the proposal. For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally, Ling said, "You don't have to do this."
Orm looked up. "I know."
"I won't think less of you if you say no."
"I know."
Ling closed the folder.