"You're reallyminenow," I say, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
She chuckles, a sound of pure contentment that warms me from the inside. "I've always been yours, Cole. You just didn't know it yet."
She's right. All this time, I've been fighting what was inevitable. Meredith's been mine since the moment I first laid eyes on her. And I've been hers just as long.
I pull her closer, letting this truth settle over me like a benediction.
And together, we breathe. I whisper, “In for four, hold for seven...” She stops me, suddenly slapping my cheeks with her palms, and kisses me. Deeply. Passionately.
5
MEREDITH
One Week Later
Ilean forward in my chair, fingers tapping my notepad. "The demographic data doesn't support this direction. Our core customers in the 25-35 bracket aren't responding to traditional luxury marketing anymore."
Twelve pairs of eyes turn to me. Some curious, some skeptical, a few downright hostile. Cole is behind me as always, silent and watchful.
"Our research indicates that sustainability messaging resonates strongly with millennial and Gen Z luxury consumers," Marcus, our head of brand development, says. "They want ethical sourcing, transparent supply chains?—"
"But the numbers don't support a complete pivot. Look at the third quarter projections."
I gesture toward the screen. "Our customers want sustainable products, yes, but they're not willing to sacrifice quality or aesthetic. The serpentine jewelry line maintained platinum-level sales while incorporating ethical sourcing. The knotted handbag collection, which led with sustainability messaging over luxury positioning, underperformed by twenty-eight percent."
Eric Patterson clears his throat, the sound heavy with condescension. "Miss Ashton, with all due respect, we've built this company's reputation on traditional luxury values. This trend-chasing will dilute our brand equity."
There it is. The dismissal I've been expecting since I took my seat at the head of the table.
"It's not trend-chasing, Eric," I say, keeping my voice level. "It's responding to market evolution. Our customers want both—luxury craftsmanship and ethical production. They don't see these as mutually exclusive anymore."
Patterson's mouth tightens. "We've been positioning our brands this way for decades. I don't think?—"
"Actually, Meredith has a point," Sandra Park cuts in, her dark eyes sharp. "The data supports exactly what she's saying. My team's research shows that consumers under forty specifically seek out brands with ethical practices. Doesn't matter if it's a simple bar of soap or baby lotion."
Joyce Martinez nods. "The numbers speak for themselves. We maintain price point and prestige in our jewelry line, but we also emphasize ethical sourcing."
"Meredith represents exactly who we're trying to sell to," Karen Abernathy adds, tapping her pen and lifting a brow at Patterson. "We should be paying attention and not dismiss her so easily."
I feel a flush of gratitude for these women. They've been here longer than I have, fought battles I'm only beginning to understand.
"Thank you," I say. "I'm not suggesting we abandon our luxury positioning. I'm saying we enhance it by also being more transparent about craftsmanship and materials. Our customers are sophisticated enough to want both."
Marcus looks relieved. "That's exactly what I was trying to suggest. Not a pivot away from luxury, but an evolution of how we present it."
I notice several board members nodding now. Even some of the old men seem to be considering my perspective. I straighten slightly in my chair, feeling more confident.
"Let's move to the expansion plans for Ashton Square, Tokyo," I say.
The meeting continues this way for another hour. Each time I speak up, Patterson or one of the other male members pushes back. Each time, Sandra, or Joyce, or one of the younger executives supports my position. By the third time it happens, I'm no longer waiting for validation before expressing my opinion.
Reading the quarterly earnings report, I point out that the Ashton Collective's beauty division is outperforming projections by fourteen percent.
"We should increase investment in that sector," I say. "Particularly in the Asian markets where our growth is strongest."
Patterson opens his mouth to object, but I continue before he can speak.
"I visited our Tokyo and Seoul locations personally with my father last year. The customer response to our skincare line was overwhelming. We need to capitalize on that momentum."
