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“EJ!” Chandra calls as I slip on the second emerald earring. “Your ride’s here.”
“Coming!” I shout back, shrugging into a light jacket. Then, I grab the coordinating clutch from my dresser.
My mother was kind enough to have them both delivered for today’s brunch, still making sure I dress the part even though I’m clearly an adult. At least she takes the guesswork out of what she expects. I will give her that. I found the package with the new items on my bed when I arrived home from Foster’s place earlier this morning.
I exit my room and make my way to where Chandra is standing at the door with the formally dressed driver peeking across the threshold.
“That’s really pretty,” Chandra comments. “Your mom certainly does have good taste.”
“Thanks,” I say, stepping into the hallway. “I’m sure she just hired a personal shopper. I’ll see you later.”
“Later.”
We wave good-bye and then the driver and I descend the steps to the car waiting at the curb. He opens the door, and I slide into the black interior. I greet my mother sitting on the far side of the vehicle, examining her nails.
“Good morning, Evelyn,” she says conversationally, exuding properness and esteem. “You look very pretty today. I like your hair down like that.”
“Thank you. You look nice as well,” I compliment her.
The driver turns over the ignition and proceeds to pull away from my apartment building, taking us to our brunch destination with my father’s potential clients. Seeing how the company is family-based, it was stressed to me that a family front would go a long way in sealing the deal. This isn’t the first time I’ve helped my parents’ business like this and likely won’t be the last. Even though we might be divided on some of our views, we are still a unit, and I would never turn my back on that.
“I assume you got the email with the information about the client?” my mother asks, tucking a loose strand of hair back into place. “Your father’s assistant was supposed to forward it to you.”
“Yes,” I confirm, recalling it landing into my inbox earlier. “She sent it to me this morning, but I haven’t had a chance to look it over.” I cringe, knowing she won’t be pleased with my lack of knowledge. I try to brush over it by saying, “I was hoping you could brief me before we got there.”
“I wish you had at least perused it,” she scolds.
Just keep the conversation flowing.“Daddy already told me it’s a family company, and they like to work with family businesses. I wasn’t really sure the rest mattered too much.”
“You should know better, Evelyn.” She glares at me. “Of course it matters. This is a huge client, and your father has personally been working to get this account for months. You know he doesn’t usually scout and cater like this for prospective clients, but this one needed some special hand-holding.”
“Yes. You’re right.” I set my eyes on the seat in front of me. “Could you please inform me, so I don’t embarrass myself or anyone else?”
“Fine,” she huffs, straightening in her seat as the driver turns onto the highway to take us downtown. “Blake Laboratories is a multibillion dollar family-run company that specializes in drug manufacturing. Deidre and Foster Blake started the business a little over fifty years ago, and it’s now run by their son, Clayton, and his wife, Susan. Their main office is here, but they also run two other labs—one in Georgia and the other in Texas, headed by two other family members.”
Blake Laboratories?
Blake Laboratories…
Blake.
“Evelyn?” my mother prods. “Are you listening?”
I gulp. “Yes, sorry. Go on. I’m just taking it all in.”
“Maybe you should have gotten a good night’s sleep, and then your attention span would have been better.”
“You’re right,” I agree, not wanting to argue. “Tell me, what else do I need to know?”
“This is the first time the company is in need of assistance with grand-scale advertising and marketing. It’s not like drug manufacturers really need advertising, but they’re launching themselves into the health and wellness market. The company is planning to release a revolutionary skincare line over the next year—combining scientific research with natural products. Your father is working on a proposal that will effectively promote the line as the perfect combination of Mother Nature and man-made beauty. It’s going to do very, very well and even better with our company’s help. This morning, your father met with Clayton and Susan along with their son, Foster.”
“Foster?” I question, quickly making the connection.
“Yes…” she drawls like I possess a low-mental capacity. “Do I need to repeat myself?”
“No. I thought you said that was the grandfather’s name,” I state, trying to cover my growing anxiety attack.
“It was. He’s passed away, but it’s the grandson’s name as well.” She pops open her purse, pulling out a compact to freshen her makeup. “Clayton and Susan are the owners now. Anyhow, they all met this morning to go over the proposal, and now, it’s our turn to cozy them up a little more and hopefully seal the deal. Their other son, Harold, will be joining us, too. He’s still in high school. Just be nice to him.”
