A Man With A Lot Of Money Often Doesn't Know How To Make Money
Day 204 of The Andie Chronicles
Today’s Monday meeting was tough.
Douglas continued about the December tenth date like it was Christmas, though not as glorious or anything worth celebrating.
It should be something that I was excited about: the theoretical launch of my business. But this wasn’t my business. This was Douglas’ version of it. This was what he wanted, what he saw for me and saw for our brand.
My unisex clothing line was no longer; instead, it was replaced by stereotypical designs other brands were churning out. He even suggested I go shopping, look in the clothing stores, and conduct my first-hand study of what was in fashion.
I wanted to point out what he already knew. I went to fashion school. I knew what was hot and what wasn’t. And because he wore expensive suits and mingled with so-called fashionistas, it didn’t make him an expert.
And as a very successful businessman, I suspected he knew this already, too. Yet, he assumed power with me in the office and my friends. The role of the big guy. The know-it-all we were meant to respect.
Except I don’t know that anyone was quite believing that he was the big guy. Not any more. Especially as he turned this meeting into a fear-mongering exercise.
GG was visibly stressed; I noted her sweat under the fluorescent boardroom lights. It wasn’t like the place was all that warm, either. But as he kept talking about the dates, she continued to shoot him down, questioning when he would start injecting more money into the launch.
It wasn’t long before James interjected, explaining how the creative direction wouldn’t be ready for the launch date. Without a path, marketing wouldn’t have anything to market.
As their pleas grew louder, Sophia began her fight over the warehouse, noting the struggle to convince any of the potential options to take us on so quickly. And without such concrete numbers and ideas.
I listened to her, the concerns about international shipping and all the other necessities of launching a new brand we didn’t have sorted.
The summary of my friend’s predicaments left me with one obvious conclusion: if we went live on the tenth of December, our customers, if we had any, would rubbish our entire efforts.
And I didn’t want to put my name on it. But it wouldn’t matter; indeed, it would be Douglas’s name. Though given half a chance, he would throw us under the bus. And I couldn’t have that. Not with Highway, not with my baby.
Douglas didn’t have any answers. He refused to comment. The man with all the solutions suddenly came up short.
I left the meeting more determined than ever. I knew what I had to do, repeating this again and again. But how? How was I going to pull it off?
As much as the answer stares me in the face, I wouldn’t ask Cooper for the money.
Watching my ex control and dictate friends' futures was enough to know I wouldn’t mix business and pleasure again.
Sure, I would battle the temptation to ask him for money, a loan, anything. Resisting would be a daily struggle.
Yet, I promised myself never to make that mistake again. And I took solace in the knowledge Cooper would never indulge my mistake either.
In many ways, we were perfect for each other.
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.
Or the day after that.
Or the day after that, too.
Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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A little lost on what’s happening at 1 Lovelock Drive?
Well, you see, Andie’s break-up started back in February and so much has happened since then. These stories will help you catch right up! xx
standing toward the gym's back