Page 17 of Gray Hair Don't Care
“But everyone gets older. Doesn’t it make sense that we would celebrate that rather than devoting so much energy to hiding it?” Echo countered.
He doodled a few circles on the corner of the paper before him. “Maybe. Or maybe we let someone else blaze that trail with a more well-known commodity. Some of the bigger brands are in a much better position to do it.”
Echo blew out a frustrated sigh. “I feel really strongly about this. Lela is gorgeous, her hair is rad, and I love Lela B. So, we’re doing this. If it fails, we pivot. But I don’t think it will.”
Donovan smiled, but Lela knew for a fact that it was forced. “Okay, then. You’re the boss.”
“Great. We’ll get the production team on it. First step is to get the photographer booked and we’ll go from there.”
Lela could hardly believe she’d made an argument for doing the thing she didn’t want to do—the photo shoot. But she had to stick up for herself. And Echo’s idea, for that matter.
“I’ll call him right after this meeting,” Donovan said.
Echo smiled and reached over to touch Lela’s shoulder. “The only other thing we need to go over is moving your office. That’ll happen later today, if that’s okay with you. Our office manager will pull it all together. Then you can be up and running tomorrow morning.”
“Where are you putting her?” Donovan asked.
“In that empty office right next to you.”
Fantastic. Just what I don’t need.“Great.”
Chapter Ten
Donovan felta little beat down after his meeting with Lela and Echo, but what could he do? He was committed to forging a stronger bond with his daughter, and also determined to help her reach a greater level of success. The comment about Lela’s gray hair was completely valid as far as he was concerned. He knew his stuff. Gray meant old, and old was not a beauty ideal anyone was willing to put down cold hard cash to achieve. It wasn’t his fault. He did not make the rules.
Even so, he felt a twinge of guilt over Lela being on the receiving end of his comments. It wasn’t about her. It was all about the bottom line.
When their meeting broke up, Echo hopped on a call, which left Lela and Donovan walking out into the hall together. Lela immediately beelined her way toward reception, but Donovan felt like they had to clear the air. “Lela, wait.”
She came to a halt, but didn’t turn around. “What?”
He took several strides to catch up with her. “We should talk. In private.”
“I don’t want this to be weird, Donovan. You do your job, I’ll do mine, and we can simply try to stay out of each other’s way.”
That was a valid approach. It still didn’t sit well with him. “Five minutes. I’ll show you where your new office is going to be.”
She managed an exasperated smile. “Okay. Fine.”
“Come on. We’re going this way.” Donovan led them in the opposite direction down the hall, pointing out the various offices occupied by Echo Echo staff. When he was close to the end, he walked into what was about to become Lela’s new work abode. “Here you go.”
She froze in the doorway. “Is this a joke?”
“No. Is something wrong? Not nice enough?”
Lela proceeded in slow motion, like she didn’t trust what he was saying. “Do you have any idea what my current JTI office looks like?” She peered out through one of the towering windows, which had the same halfway decent view Donovan’s office did. The JTI building was one of the tallest in this part of town, so you could see a few stretches of the city.
“No clue.”
“I’m down on twenty-two, in what is essentially a janitor’s closet with a window. I have a lovely view of the building across the street. In the afternoon, I can watch a man take off his socks and rub his bare feet on his desk.”
Donovan winced. “Sounds gross.”
“It’s disgusting.”
“Well, I’m glad this is a step up for you.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets and leaned against the wall near the window. “I’m sorry about what I said in there. I have to protect Echo and her interests.”
“I get it. I still think you’re a jerk, but I get it.”
