Entering the elevator, I licked my lips, replaying my impulsive behavior, and kicked myself. With Marquise holding my hand, I couldn’t shuffle to the opposite side. I knew the kiss changed us by how gently he treated us connecting. The doors opened to a bright orange and red Noise Level Shoes sign and to his mother, Anissa. Marquise strengthened his grip on my hand, tugging me toward the lobby.I can kiss that opportunity goodbye.
Anissa smirked in my direction before giving Marquise a half hug. The last time we met, I assured her Marquise and I were friends.
“Let me do all the talking. We’re not dealing with Mark today but his brother, Axel. He is a misogynistic asshole. Do not react,” she told Marquise, and I stilled at her sternness.
“Anissa, Marquise, and. . .”
“Erin, my creative director for social media and crisis management,” Anissa answered.
Marquise smiled as if he wasn’t the crisis she was referring to and management was pushing it. He controlled too much of whatever this was between us.
“Please follow me,” a young woman instructed.
We followed the assistant to the conference room with a view of the front of the campus. Anissa took the first seat. Marquise sat beside her, and I skipped a seat as I was overwhelmed by everything happening.
Marquise twisted the empty seat next to him in my direction. “Look Erin, here is an empty seat. You should sit in it,” he suggested.
“I’m okay where I am. I want to observe The Shark,” I said, and Anissa chuckled.
“You can observe from here,” he countered, patting the chair.
I gave him pleading eyes, but he ignored them, pushing his seat back. To keep the peace, I moved closer. Marquise reached underneath the table, but I swatted his hand away.
“Anissa,” a deep voice said.
A bald man with a gray beard entered the space, but he didn’t extend his hand toward Anissa. She also didn’t initiate the gesture.
“Axel,” Mrs. Shaw-Jefferies said dryly.
“Marquise, it’s good to see you. Your antics on the court have been good for sales. Several of the colors have sold out twice,” Axel said.
“And you are,” he turned toward me.
“She is my creative director and crisis management, Erin,” Anissa interrupted.
Silence coated the room before Axel spoke.
“Marquise, you and Malcolm signed a two-year deal, and it’s up as of next month. Noise Level Shoes would prefer to extend the deal with you and Malcolm of course,” Axel said.
“And that’s why we are here, Axel. I do hope we can continue our relationship. What are the terms of your best offer?” Anissa interrupted, bringing Axel’s eyes back in her direction.
A hand brushed against my leg, pulling my attention away. Marquise gripped my hand and tried to pull it on top of the table. I pinched his hand, and he chuckled.
“I propose we keep things the same but extend them for an additional two years. Things are going smoothly, no need to disrupt the flow,” he said.
Anissa peered over at Marquise before turning her head back to Axel.
“Things have changed. Marquise and Malcolm will each be pursuing five percent ownership in their brand with the company, including some creative control of their shoe branding,” she said.
Axel sat up in his seat and chuckled.
“Have you lost your mind, Anissa?” he asked.
“Me losing my mind would’ve been asking for twenty five percent. But I’m being generous. Malcolm and Marquise’s shoes out pace any other shoes you produce. Not including the apparel and driving traffic to this company. My clients alone make up more than half of the roster. Since the twinsareyour brand, we want some ownership.”
“Anissa!”
“Let me stop you before you begin. Anything that’s not agreeing to the proposed deal, consider it null and void. After your stock plummets, we’ll negotiate fifty percentcompanyownership instead of the brand. You know me, Axel, I will empty your client list faster than the oil change on your overpriced car collection,” she interrupted, bringing the room to an uncomfortable silence.
