The sounds of people packing it up for the day filter through my office. Brielle doesn’t respond, so I put my phone down and get back to my email. I can hear her laugh getting closer. I am not going to look up though. I have no reason to try to catch a glimpse of her as she leaves for the day. The blood pumping through my body feels heavy and thick; the muscles in my forearms flex, like if they could reach out without my permission, they would seek her.
Her voice is louder now as she says good night to Louisa.
I look up.
Brielle is stopped directly in front of my doorway. She types something out on her phone and then pockets it, never looking my way.
My phone chimes.
Brielle: I don’t describe it at all, because it never happened. But if I did recall something like that, I would describe it as phenomenal. Too bad I don’t remember it.
She ends the text with the winky-face emoji.
I put my phone down with a renewed sense of pride. Something about that validation feels dangerously good.
Before I leave for the night, I take a walk through the office like usual. A couple of people from the design team are still here finishing up. They have the wall-mounted screen on, displaying the tentative campaign for one of our liquor distributor clients.
“I think it’s almost there,” Trent says.
“Are you sure Satan’s going to like that hook? I feel like we should have something more classic,” Danielle says.
“We can present two options, but I think he’ll like the youthful energy of this. It’s trendy and targets the young-adult demographic. He’d be stupid not to go with it,” Trent adds.
“It’s good,” I say. Both heads snap to me. Danielle’s eyes swirl with panic. Trent looks over at her and then back to me. “You’re right. It’s a strong hook. I like it. The ad creative is appealing, but make it brighter. This will be their summer campaign, and what you have here gives off spring vibes.”
“Okay, yeah. Sure. We can do that.”
“Good work,” I tell them.
“Um, thanks, Mr. Edgerton.” Trent says, Danielle beside him with her jaw hanging open.
“Listen. We just signed a new account, Cardinal West Outdoors. I know Leon and Pam Vitale personally, and I’m going to expect nothing but the best for their account management.”
“Of course. I’d be happy to take them on,” Danielle says quickly. She hasn’t been with CreativEdge for very long, and she still feels likeshe has something to prove, although everything I’ve seen from her has been excellent.
“Good,” I say with a nod before I add, “I want you to bring Brielle Collins in on this, too.”
Danielle looks at Trent with confusion.
“Isn’t Brielle an accountant?” Trent asks, caution lacing his voice.
“She is, and she’ll be an asset to your design team as well.” I hitch my brow, challenging one of them to question my decision-making. “Is that going to be a problem?”
“No, sir,” Trent says quickly. Danielle nods her agreement.
“Good. Pack it up for the night. Pick this back up tomorrow, and get that palette updated.”
“Yes, sir,” the pair say in unison.
I leave them in the office and make my way to my car. I pull out of the parking garage and turn left, my hand on the Bluetooth controls of my car.
Phenomenal.
That’s what she said.
It doesn’t matter, because she’s my employee, and on top of that, she’s the one who said it was a bad idea. She doesn’t want to go there, and I respect that.
Still, we have another trip coming up next weekend, and since we haven’t even spoken in a week until I messaged her today, we need to get a plan in place.
