Evergreen Media Collective is one of the biggest booming brands in the social media industry. They work with top-tier influencers, coordinate massive campaigns, partner with actual celebrities. They're the company that turned a beauty vlogger into a household name. The ones who orchestrated that viral holiday campaign last year that everyone was talking about.
And they're calling me.
Me. Reverie Bell. The girl who lives in an attic apartment and sometimes cries over book budgets.
"Oh my god," I breathe, then immediately cringe.Professional, Reverie. Be professional."I mean—I'm so sorry for probably sounding incredibly unserious. I was genuinely reading until dawn and?—"
Charlotte laughs, warm and reassuring.
"Not at all! That's actually what we love about you. You're real. You're not trying to put on some front, and that authenticity is exactly what turns us off about so many other influencers. Trust me, if you'd answered the phone with a fake, over-the-top cheerful voice, I would have been concerned."
I'm real. They like that I'm real. I'm not getting rejected for being too much or too enthusiastic or too... me.
My heart is hammering now, but in a good way. In anoh my god, is this actually happeningway.
"That's—thank you," I manage. "That means a lot."
"You're welcome." I can hear the smile in Charlotte's voice. "Now, let me tell you a bit about why I'm calling. Evergreen Media Collective was founded on the principle that influencer marketing should be genuine, impactful, and community-focused. We don't just want to sell products—we want to tellstories. Create connections. Build something meaningful that lasts beyond a single viral moment."
I'm nodding even though she can't see me, completely absorbed. This is everything I believe in. Everything I've been trying to do with my content, even on my small scale.
"Our core values are authenticity, community engagement, and sustainable growth," Charlotte continues. "We've been watching your TikTok lives for the past few months, Reverie. The way you talk about books, the way you interact with your followers, the genuine enthusiasm you bring to everything you do—it's exactly what we look for in potential partners."
They've been watching me for months. MONTHS. They didn't just stumble across me yesterday—they've been paying attention.
I'm gripping the phone so tight my knuckles are white.
"I—that's incredible. I don't even know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything yet," Charlotte says kindly. "Just listen. We have a proposal for you."
A proposal. They have a proposal. For me. Oh my god, I'm going to pass out.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The air in my apartment is cool—I definitely left the balcony door cracked last night—carrying the scent of pine from outside and that metallic promise of snow that's been hanging in the air for days. It's grounding. Real.
This is real. This is happening.
"Okay," I say, my voice steadier now. "I'm listening."
"Perfect." I can hear papers rustling on Charlotte's end. "We're launching a new campaign for the holiday season. It's focused on small-town charm, authentic experiences, and celebrating local businesses during what's typically their busiest and most important time of year. We want to showcase what makes small communities special during the holidays—thetraditions, the connections, the magic that you can't find in big cities."
Oh. Oh, that's perfect. That's literally everything I love about Oakridge Hollow.
"We believe you'd be perfect as the ambassador for this campaign," Charlotte continues. "We'd have you participate in various Christmas and holiday activities around Oakridge Hollow—visiting local businesses, attending events, showing your followers what makes your town special. The ice skating rink, the Christmas markets, the local shops, holiday baking, tree lighting ceremonies—whatever captures that authentic holiday spirit."
I'm literally living my dream.This is my dream. Getting paid to love my town and share it with people.
"It would be incredible for the town's economic growth," Charlotte adds. "Bringing attention to small businesses during their peak season, potentially attracting tourists and new customers. And obviously, it would be huge for your exposure. This kind of campaign typically leads to significant follower growth, which opens doors for more brand deals, more partnerships, more opportunities."
More opportunities. More brand deals. The chance to do this full-time instead of juggling three part-time jobs and constantly worrying about money.
I'm silent, but only because my brain is running a thousand miles per hour, imagining all of it. The content I could create. The joy I could share. The way this could change everything.
Charlotte must sense my excitement because she continues, her voice warm.
"And we're prepared to offer you an advance payment for your participation. Twenty-five thousand dollars."
I choke.
