He’s silent for a few moments. “What fun is being a CEO who’s required to travel half the time if you don’t get to explore while you’re at it?”
“I have plenty of fun on work trips,” I say. “I order room service, I do my CEO classes online, I visit the hotel workout room—”
“Okay, well—” Will grimaces. “When you and I go onourwork trip together, we’renoteating hotel food and getting our exercise in a workout room.”
I drop my hand away from my chin and stand up straight as his words digest. “Sorry?”
“We’ll be eating something local,” he elaborates, shooting me an exasperated look through his lashes.
“No, whatwork tripare you and I going on together?”
“That’s what I wanted to meet about,” he says. “We need to book our flights.”
“Forwhat?”
He holds up his index finger: “Peru.” Middle finger: “Spain.” Ring finger: “India.”
Suddenly, the packet Will handed me the last time he was here crystallizes sharp in my mind. Those are the locations of his supplier recommendations to replace the ones that aren’t up to B Corp standards.
“Right,” I murmur.
Since then, I’ve researched each supplier on his list and agreed they’re worth pursuing. But with the first store opening so soon, contacting the suppliers got pushed to the end of my to-do list.
Something like panic must be gathering on my face because Will jumps to say, in a placating tone, “It’s okay. I already set up the meetings with the help of your VP of supply chain. We’re going in two and a half weeks, if that works for you.”
When I look at him, his expression is soft.
“Thank you so much for getting a head start on this,” I say, my tone genuine.
“Of course.”
“But you don’t need to come with me.”
“Absolutely, I do,” he says.
“I can take the VP.”
“He’s going on paternity leave,” Will reminds me. “That was the whole point of me coordinating the visits with him ahead of time.”
“I go on work trips by myself all the time,” I remind Will.
“Not to three different continents over a two-week period.”
We stare at each other, at a standoff. “Is Ellis even willing to let you go for two whole weeks?” I ask.
Will shrugs. “I can work on my other clients’ assignments remotely.” He settles against the desk again, waiting me out.
The idea of traveling to three different continents with Will shoots stars up my spine, and not in a way that feels healthy or professional. I imagine us across a dinner table from each other. Saying good night from neighboring hotel room doors. Forming inside jokes, sharing once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The whole thing seems like we might be brushing up against a boundary we wouldn’t be able to uncross. It blinksBAD IDEAlike a tacky glowing Vegas sign.
But at the same time, I objectively know it would be good to have Will there. He’s studied the B Corp standards back to front, andthat’swhat we’ll be evaluating.
“What did Zoe say? When you gave her my message?” I ask.
Will’s expression warms. “She said she felt the exact same way. But she wanted to tell you herself, in person. She doesn’t want me botching it, I guess.” He rolls his eyes.
My chest tightens, nervous and hopeful.
I break my gaze from his. “Okay, let’s go to my office and book the flights.”
