Thanks, Jenelle. And thanks for talking me through it. I feel better about the decision to move forward.
Glad I could help!
Guilt washes over me as I see him call me Jenelle. I’m going to have to tell him my real name and explain why I didn’t use it. When I signed up for this app, I really didn’t think I’d find someone who I genuinely had feelings for. I put my middle name so I could hide my identity more. Now I feel like I’ve lied to him in some kind of way. I just hope that doesn’t make him feel like I’ve lied about other things too …
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Zoe
I get to work early to prepare everything so it is in line for our presentation today and I don’t have any mishaps, like I did the last time I presented to a client.
I have everything set up on our conference table when David walks in to work. I glance at my watch, realizing he’s barely making it with only ten minutes to spare before Samantha should be here.
He walks straight to me. “Sorry I’m late. We need to talk.”
Christina exits her office, and all I hear is, “Samantha, so glad you could make it.”
I look up and see them give a polite embrace, then turn our way.
“No time. You’d better have your shit together,” I say out of the corner of my mouth, then smile as they head toward us.
“Samantha, it’s great to finally meet you. I’m Zoe.” I hold out my hand to her, and we shake.
“And I’m David. We spoke on the phone.”
She shakes his hand, and then we all move to sit around the table.
“David, did you get my email on Saturday?” Samantha asks.
He nods. “I did. Thank you for getting back to me.”
She gets comfortable in her seat, radiating wealth and accomplishment as she crosses her legs and sits up straight. “I apologize I did not respond you sooner. It’s been quite the week.”
“Yes.” Christina speaks up. “Samantha’s ranch had a fire break out on their property, and it seems like it was all hands on deck to make sure everything was okay. Nothing was lost, correct?”
“No, thank God. It was hit or miss for a few days, but we were able to move all of the livestock and save the buildings we have on our land,” Samantha replies.
She turns to David. “Saturday was the first time I even opened my laptop since the fire broke out. I do hope my late response didn’t cause any issues.”
I look his way, not sure what they’re even talking about.
He gives a curt nod. “No problem at all.”
I open my eyes wide at him, trying to figure out what is going on, but he just goes into his spiel like the well-rehearsed kiss-ass that he is.
I sit and listen to him go on and on about numbers, analytics, and trends. I tune him out as I go over my own presentation in my head one more time. Once he stops talking, everyone turns to me, so I stand to take off the covers from the presentation boards I already have set up around the room.
“I’ve worked up these drawings to represent you growing up on the ranch,” I begin as I show her the drawing of the little girl hugging the cow.
I go over the concept, discussing why the colors were chosen and how each display will be designed to reflect the values of thecompany and what we want customers to feel when they see it for the first time.
Once I’m finished, I take in a deep breath and smile in her direction, proud of what I just presented, only to have the wind swiftly stolen from my sails and instantly feel like I’m sinking to the ground.
Samantha sits, speechless, as she looks to David in question. “Um,” she says.
Christina is quick to interrupt in an effort to fix what is obviously a problem, though I have no idea why. “It’s okay if this isn’t what you had in mind. We can?—”
“I got this,” David cuts her off as he opens his briefcase and takes out presentation folders, handing one to Samantha and then Christina.
