Page 39 of Off the Grid

“Well, we may want him here, but he’s going to have to earn his place, just like I have to.”

com

CHAPTER TEN

Camilla

As exciting as it is starting new somewhere, it’s also downright exhausting. The names to remember. The cubicles to map out so you go to the right one. The current marketing plan to review to understand the overall picture of where Moretti is and determine places that it needs to go.

My dad was right. Their marketing is in the dinosaur age. There is so much room for improvement but when something is as aged as this, resistance to change is going to be real. I have a feeling that resistance is going to come from most, not just a few prickly employees. Let the uphill battle begin.

The only way I can think to navigate this—and it’s something I pondered while packing—is to use the team drivers to modernize the brand.

They’re young. They’re handsome—well, Andrew and Maxim are. I don’t know about this Riggs guy. Let’s hope I have something to work with when it comes to him.

It’s an obvious plan—something that is technically already being done. But I plan to tweak that with the Camilla Moretti flourish and innovation.

“So we’ll need to get new shots of the drivers. I even have permission to freshen up the company logo before we slap it on everything we visibly can. We need to look at this through the eyes of people even younger than us. We want the early twentysomethings and teenagers who share posts and then reshare to make things go viral. They’re going to be who carry the sport on to the next generation.”

“I agree. I think this list we’ve compiled is comprehensive and leaves enough room for interpretation but not enough that we can’t act on it.” She taps her pen on the desk. “We’re off to a strong start.”

“And it’s only going to get stronger.” I nod to Elise, a pleasant surprise to say the least. She’s young, knowledgeable, and more than receptive to my ideas. Frustration was her go-to word about Moretti’s marketing so at least we’re on the same page. “You’ve had some great input. Thanks for that.”

“I’m excited about this. This plan blows everything out of the water that we’ve done since I’ve been here. It’s fresh and hip and doesn’t appeal to old men in their mid- to late fifties like everything else we’ve done has.”

“True.” I chuckle and scoot my chair back. “I’m going to go grab a drink,” I say.

“I’ll be here.” She raises her hand over her cubicle wall as a joke.

“Want anything?”

“No. I’m good. I think a fourteenth cup of coffee might be pushing the lining of my stomach too far.”

I laugh. “Yeah. Probably. When I get back, I want to go over both Andrew and this new driver, Spencer. Do a deep dive on their socials, on them in general, and see how we can target this new campaign around them specifically.”

“You don’t waste time, do you?”

I stop and smile at her. “I’ve got a lot to do and a short window to do it in to prove everyone wrong—that I’m not here due to nepotism. Besides, with Maxim’s name in the media right now, it’s a good time to capitalize on it. I know that’s borderline poor taste, but that’s the nature of the beast.”

“Agreed. All around.”

“You sure you don’t want anything?”

“Nah. I’m good.”

I take the long way to the break room, letting the nostalgia of being back here take hold.

I thought it would be weird. That just the proximity to this world would have me clamming up and freaking out. But neither have happened thus far and that gives me hope that it will continue to be that way.

Being at a race, in the paddock or garage, however? That’s a whole different ball game. And something I’ll deal with when the time comes.

The break room for the floor is empty when I enter it—which is a miracle in and of itself considering how many employees are in the building at any given time. I welcome the moment of silence.

With its bright sets of tables and chairs, a few couches, a gaming system in the corner, not to mention a wall lined with baskets and shelves that house every snack imaginable for the staff, the space is welcoming.

And holds so many memories.

As a little girl, this used to be my favorite reason to come to work with my dad. Endless snacks and sweets to a kid are like Disneyland.