I addtenaciousto her list of appealing attributes.
“I should’ve known.”
She shrugs. “You really should have.”
“You can bet your sweet ass I won’t make that mistake twice.” I wink at her. “From now on, I’ll just assume you’re fighting dirty.”
“Like I was the only one.” She rolls her eyes. “Speaking of which, since we both lasted the entire two weeks, who wins the bet?”
“We both do.”
I’ve been thinking about this for days. The bet doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. It never did. It was shortsighted to think that way when we were negotiating.
That’s why you’re never supposed to negotiate from a place of desperation.
Chalk it up to a lesson learned.
“How is that possible?” Lucy wrinkles her brow. “We can’t both win when our goals are at odds.”
I’d thought the same thing at first, but once I explain, she’ll see this solution for what it is—the best of both worlds.
“The last two weeks have been rather enlightening.” I chuckle, suddenly anxious. It’s been years since I’ve gotten nervous before a sales pitch, but today is different. My gut rolls like the ocean below, crashing against the wooden supports of the pier. “As a result, I’ve decided not to pursue any of the celebrity endorsements the ad agency recommended for Triada.”
She frowns. “What does that have to do with our bet?”
“Everything.” I didn’t want to mention it until I’d firmed up the details and gotten buy-in from my brothers, which only came after they saw the pics from Buck Wild last night. Because even though Lucy wasn’t filming when I got thrown from the bull, someone else was, and they tagged her account, sealing my nomination for the internet’s jackass hall of fame. “Triada would like to offer you an endorsement deal.”
Her brows shoot up, and she points to herself, leaving powdered sugar on the front of her shirt. “Me?”
“Well, technically, the offer is for So Savvy Traveler.”
She flops back against the bench like a deflated balloon. “I don’t want a handout, Miles.”
Not the reaction I was expecting.
“Good, because I wasn’t offering you one.” I hold up a hand to cut off any further talk of handouts, because that’s not what this is. It’s a business proposition. A damn good one. “And before you ask, no, I didn’t just come up with this idea today. I’ve run it through all the proper channels. Even Hillary agrees So Savvy Traveler would be a great fit for our new campaign objectives.”
Her face is unreadable, and her usually expressive eyes are shuttered. “Why?”
Damn. The skepticism runs deep with this one.
“Your newfound status as an influencer and So Savvy Traveler branding will help Triada reach its Millennial/Gen Z target market. You’re young, hip, and on the go, which means you need money at your fingertips. It’ll be a seamless pairing of brands.”
I have no idea if I’m winning her over or digging myself deeper, but she nods slowly, as if considering.
“Besides, you’re far more relatable than some rich Hollywood starlet.”
“Maybe, but…”
“No buts.” I take her hand in mine and squeeze it gently. “It’s the perfect arrangement, Luce. You and I can continue working together, and you can split your time between the Triada campus, helping in the executive suite, and your travels, which will be funded by Triada. It’s the best of both worlds.” I pause, searching her face for any hint of her thoughts. “For both of us.”
Lucy’s dark eyes light up, and the smile that spreads over her face is pure brilliance, bright and warm like the California sun.
It’s about damn time, Hart.
Finally. I finally got it right.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when we started this journey. I only knew that I wanted—no, needed—Lucy back. There’s no way I could have sorted my professional life without her, but somewhere along the way, I’ve come to care about her personally. And in getting to know her, I’ve gotten to know myself better, too. I’m not the same self-absorbed asshole, content to ignore the details or leave them to someone else. I’ve learned to pay attention.
