“You’re sneaky.”
Dad clears his throat. “This campaign. The one that quadrupled sales. You came up with the entire concept?”
“With my team, yes.” Samantha nods. “I lead strategy for our firm’s tech clients.”
I’m re-evaluating everything I thought I knew about her. She isn’t Logan’s decorative girlfriend. She’s a woman who understands how to manipulate public perception and craft narratives that people don’t even realize they’re buying into.
Exactly the kind of person who could have an ulterior motive for dating my idiot brother.
“I want to show you something,” I say, standing abruptly.
She looks up, surprised. “Now?”
“Now.” I gesture toward the door. “My office. There’s a project I’m working on. I’d like your opinion.”
It’s not entirely a lie. I do have a project. But mostly, I want to get her alone, away from Dad and Kai. Somewhere I can ask the questions that have been building since she walked into this dining room and revealed she’s not who I thought she was.
She hesitates, glancing at her half-eaten breakfast.
“Bring the coffee,” I tell her.
That decides it. She grabs her mug and stands. “Lead the way.”
My office is on the second floor, tucked into the corner with windows overlooking the mountains. I unlock the door and gesture for her to enter first.
She walks in slowly, taking in the space.
“This is beautiful,” she says, moving toward the window. “The view alone…”
“It’s why I chose this room.” I close the door behind us and cross to my desk. “The project I mentioned. We’re acquiring a wellness tech company. They’ve developed an app that uses AI to provide personalized mental health support. Therapy without the therapist.”
I pull up the marketing materials they sent over.
“They want to position it as affordable healthcare,” I continue. “But I think they’re missing the real story.”
Samantha sets down her coffee and leans over the desk, studying the materials. Her brow furrows in concentration. “They’re positioning it wrong,” she says after a moment. “This should be about accessibility, not affordability.”
“Explain.”
“People don’t want cheap therapy. They want therapy that doesn’t require them to take time off work, or find childcare, or sit in a waiting room feeling judged.” She taps the screen. “This app gives them support at two in the morning when they’re having a panic attack. In their car during lunch break. Anywhere, anytime, without the barriers that keep people from getting help.”
“You’re right,” I say slowly. “It’s not about price point.”
“Exactly.” She straightens. “The campaign should focus on moments. Real situations where traditional therapy isn’t an option. Show the app being there when nothing else can be.”
She’s brilliant. Genuinely, legitimately brilliant.
I find myself staring at her, watching the way her mind works through problems. The way she lights up when she talks about strategy and human behavior.
“What?” She catches me looking.
“Nothing.” I shake my head. “Just thinking about how to implement this. You’re right about the positioning.”
“I usually am.” She grins, then glances at her watch. “I should probably let you get back to work. I’ve taken up enough of your morning.”
“You haven’t.” The words come out before I can stop them. “This was helpful. Really.”
“Anytime.” She picks up her coffee mug and heads toward the door. “Thanks for showing me the project. And for breakfast.”
