Until I realised my time was up.
I clutched my laptop under my arm and returned to the PR office, where Britney was already stationed with her team around her.
‘OK, Ella, take a seat,’ she ushered me.
I crossed the room and sat down, setting my laptop on the table.
‘We’ve been researching and brainstorming and we have our top three names. First off is “The Audit”,’ Britney said, indicating to a young dark-haired woman to take over.
‘So, yeah, I personally loved this one. It sounds official, easy to remember, and it’s funny, right? It’s also exactly what the app will be about, essentially,’ she said, and the people around her nodded in unison.
‘I like it.’ I smiled. ‘I’ve also got a suggestion .?.?.’
‘And we have Rate Club. I believe Texas suggested that one.’ Britney gestured towards another vivacious young woman.
‘Yes!’ Texas swooped in. ‘Tag line – thinkFight Club, but with opinions. We thought the word “club” would be a cute way to connect it to the original name, make it feel like an inclusive space or a secret organisation.’
I nodded, wondering when or how to introduce my idea.
‘And finally, we have The Ex-Files. But I’m not sure about that one, given that our primary purpose is for people to date, not attack their ex-boyfriends.’ Britney turned to me. ‘Well?’
‘I like them all. Thanks, guys,’ I said. ‘Really snappy and of the moment.’
‘I recommend a focus group this afternoon,’ Britney carried on.
‘Sorry, I wasn’t finished, Britney. I’d like to add another suggestion to the mix, if you don’t mind?’ I opened up my laptop and clicked on the image that Zola had created in a matter of minutes, based on the brief I’d given her. ‘I was thinking .?.?. I mean, you guys love an American flag over here, you’re so proud of your culture and your country, and that’s really just so inspiring. So, what if we leaned into that a little bit more? I was playing around with a design idea and was thinking of this.’ I turned my laptop around to the group. On the screen was a giant American flag, but in place of the fifty stars were fifty shiny purple aubergines. ‘Stars and Swipes!’
A few giggles filled the room, but Britney gasped in horror.
‘Our flag,’ she muttered.
‘It’s bold.’ Texas laughed, then tilted her head. ‘I like it. It’s giving Gen Z.’
‘You have insulted the Founding Fathers!’ Britney shook her head.
OK, calm down, Hamilton, I thought.
‘No. It’s memorable, Britney,’ I said, trying to be diplomatic. ‘And there’s a long tradition of playful reimagining around this image; just think of Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.’ I felt a little smug, I admit, at my easy pop-art references. ‘Look, the American flag represents unity between the states, right? One way we could spin this is for unity between women. Think about it!’
Britney opened her mouth to say something, but a knock at the door cut her short. Fee entered, looking as bright and bubbly as ever.
‘Sorry, I missed the morning meeting, everyone. How y’all getting on?’
‘Well .?.?. Ella has devised a new name for the app,’ Britney replied, her tone dripping with disdain, ‘and she was just showing us a mock-up logo, which, quite frankly, is outrageous!’
I glanced at the girls who’d seemed to like my idea for backup, but they lowered their heads, clearly too afraid to speak out.
‘Outrageous! I love it already. Let’s hear it, girl?’ Fee beamed, dispelling the negativity Britney had conjured with her put-down.
‘Stars and Swipes.’ I shrugged, turning the laptop of cute rows of shiny aubergines around.
Fee covered her face, threw her head back and clapped her hands. ‘Oh my God, I love it! Don’t you, guys?’
The other girls eventually laughed, and I watched their shoulders drop as Fee’s laughter and enthusiasm instantly made the atmosphere in the room feel so much lighter.
‘Great work, Ella. What a start!’ She winked at me. ‘Should we let these guys try out some taglines and sketch out a fun way to release this to the media while we catch up?’
I glanced at the group, who seemed to bite their lips in amusement, knowing how Britney would react when we left.
