Pennly had responded to yesterday’s email.Rather than canceling his build contract with Steele, an option I’d given, he said he was open to considering another investor who didn’t have conditions regarding working with Steele.
Although he was trying to play it cool, I knew he was more than interested when he attached a copy of the investor agreement and listed his availability to meet with the investor tonight at Nexus to discuss the project.
I sent the agreement to Konni so he could coordinate with Felix, then prepped for the marketing meeting.
Konni insisted on following me, claiming I was in charge and he was just an observer.But I knew better.The only thing he was thinking about observing on the way to the meeting room was my ass.If he wasn’t careful, someone would see what he was doing, and he’d get a visit from Gail in HR.
As I’d guessed, the designs they had didn’t compare to the one I’d pitched three weeks ago.If they had something better, they would have initiated the meeting.When I showed my updated proposal, three people tried everything to find problems with the changes.
Was I going over budget?
What market research did I do?
How did the additional elements align with the client’s “Old Town” request and the defined scope of work?
The last question left so much room for interpretation and debate that, after fifteen minutes, I’d had enough trying to reason with them.
“Rather than waste more time debating something none of us can answer with certainty, let’s pull in the people who can make a final decision.”I turned to Konni.“You’re familiar with the client.Would they be amiable?—”
“Of course, he’s going to side with you,” a manager said.
“—to a pitch session for correcting the problems Ms.Stonestock identified in the original plan she approved?”
The silence was heavy for a beat.
“I believe the client would be willing to sit through a pitch session.I assume you have no issue with the client deciding for themselves, do you?”Konni asked the man dryly.
The man flushed.“No.”
“Good.The marketing team can send three people—the designer of the best proposal, their lead, and one additional person familiar with the design.”He stood and buttoned his suit jacket as his gaze swept over everyone.“And to be clear, this isn't marketing against Ms.Elmantas.The original design fell short of our standard of excellence.When something falls short, we fix it.Send your list of attendees to my secretariat by noon.”
They waited until we walked out to quietly debate which plan to use.
By lunch, I had the meeting scheduled for Friday.
With the two biggest projects on Konni’s priority list at a temporary standstill, I spent the remainder of the day reviewing the other lists.As Konni had said, most of them reflected what he’d already sent me.A few also included outlier projects.
One list was so obviously fake, I was insulted on Konni’s behalf and vented to him on the way home.He listened without interrupting until I reached the end of my tirade, then asked if I would mind if he stopped for ice cream.
“Drokonnen Luka Steele, if that’s your attempt to annoy me today, you chose wrong.I will rock your world for some rocky road right now.”
Thankfully, he graciously postponed the world-rocking until after family dinner, since we’d skipped it the day before.
“Is there any chance I can have Sophia for two extra hours tomorrow?”Kaya asked Konni.
“You want five hours with her?Why?”
Mom used her napkin to cover her laughter.I used my wine glass.
“Three are going toward paving the way for her to come out as your mate.Two more will ensure she’s in a really good mood to do the paving.Don’t you want your mate to be happy, Konni?”
I was confused for a second until I remembered her promise to take me to Zellon for a custom piece before the fashion show.
Turning to Konni with a sad pout, I said, “Zellon with your mom before a big fashion show is very future daughter-in-law territory.Don't you want me anymore?”
He swore softly under his breath and looked at his mom.“You can pick her up from the office at two.”
My chair screeched across the floor, and I was in his arms, listening to the fading sounds of our moms’ combined laughter as he strode away with me.
