“Congrats,” Phoenix said. Coupled with a suit that looked like it cost more than Orchid’s weekly pay, the exchange chilled her estimation of this agency guru. Another privileged education snob who probably knew nothing of loss, she judged.
“Joan said you’d share some case studies with us,” Princeton enunciated. “We’ve just seen some amazing work from one of the big four agencies. With some real data science behind the results.”
Phoenix paused, as if this Princeton pest were an unwelcome insect buzzing in an otherwise perfect moment. He straightened to his full six feet, his presence filling the room. Leadership isn’t universal. Its presence is ephemeral. Orchid’s assessment shifted. She wanted to capture this mental image of Phoenix demonstrating his earned power, in contrast to her coworker whose mouth was agape.
“Analytics are table stakes,” Phoenix said. “Joan wanted me to share some work where purpose is at the center.” He tapped one finger to wake his laptop. The screen on the front wall lit up. It showed an understated logo on a clean white background. The design aesthetic was pleasing. “My business partner, Dex, and I formed counterAgency four years ago. I’m not going to apologize for being a young company. We have experience across industries, and being young means we bring a fresh perspective,” he said.
“What about the name?” Orchid asked. “What does counterAgency mean? I like that it sounds underground and vaguely dangerous.”
Phoenix grinned, apparently amused by her candor. “It is. The ‘counter’ part definitely means counter cultural. Don’t worry, we’re not overthrowing governments or anything. We just think a little differently.”
“About the creative concept? Or the media placement?”
“All of it. Let me show you some case studies.”
Phoenix clicked to a page showcasing military logos.
“We’re proud of the work we do to raise money for combat-wounded veterans. These soldiers train until they’re in top-notch shape, yet when they’re injured, that can be a long way to fall. We help them find their footing through tough times. It’s the work I’m proudest of.”
Phoenix moved to a page with a collage of print ads. The black and white pictures were beautifully shot. They contained images of fit men and women proudly exhibiting missing limbs or gapped teeth, with drops of sweat visible from the intensity of physical exertion. The contrast of the high-resolution grays with the injured bodies elevated the ads to art.
“It’s really impressive what people can achieve, just through sheer grit and determination,” he said. “My partner Dex and I feel especially close to this message. This is part of our pro bono work.”
One image differed from the rest. A soldier lay in a hospital bed, the truncated ends of his limbs weeping ochre liquid through black stitches.
Orchid stared at the scarred skin and twisted muscle. Without wanting to, she pictured the trauma that must have caused those wounds. The possibilities unspooled memories from when she was a little girl. Locked wheels skidding over ice. The explosion of metal.My fault. My secret.
Orchid cupped her hand over her forehead, hoping it looked as if she were deep in thought. Her skin felt clammy. She pressed her other hand into her lap to stifle a tremor.
Phoenix seemed to notice Orchid’s reaction; his voice faltered. He skimmed ahead several pages, until the presentation stopped on a page of familiar logos. “Enough about the military. Maybe you want to hear about our work on a beauty brand?”
Orchid nodded weakly. When would she be able to get through a presentation without recalling her parents’ accident? It had been fifteen years. When was she going to be a normal human being? She felt angry with herself.
“This is a well-known example of our unique branding approach.” Phoenix said, passion in his voice.
Orchid couldn’t listen. She focused on breathing. Inhale, exhale. A little deeper, a little slower. She told herself she was going to be okay. She raised her head, hoping she looked better than she felt.
“I remember when those ads launched,” Violet said, commenting on Phoenix’s final slides.
“What questions do you have?” he asked, turning to the group. He avoided looking directly at Orchid.
“No questions, we have another meeting,” Princeton said, getting up.
“Thank you. That was amazing,” Violet added. and they traipsed out, leaving Orchid and Phoenix alone in the conference room. Phoenix slipped his MacBook into a slim black case.
Orchid stood and sipped her cooling coffee.
His cobalt eyes found hers. His proximity sent an electrical charge between them. “Ni hao, Kai Lan,” he said, as if uttering the secret code between them.
She nearly spewed the liquid in her mouth. “And to think I was about to thank you for not blowing my cover,” she said, stilling her desire to smack his arm.
“Joan would’ve never believed me anyway,” his mouth widened.
“I can barely believe it myself,” she said.
“From dancing queen to beauty maven,” he mused aloud.
“How about you? From door guard to CEO. Tell me you’re not a spy, hired to follow me.”
