Follow Me Always (Follow Me 3)

Turns out it’s a simple, dark dusty-rose, which will look good on almost any complexion. Nicely done, Susanne.

“Thanks,” I tell the driver when he drops me off at the building in Manhattan. Shit, I add to myself. I forgot to hit the ATM for tip money.

I’m on edge as I walk into the building.

Addison is here. I can feel her. She’s going to be in the office, like she always is. And she’ll give me some snide comment about nipple clamps or a butt plug.

Ha! The joke’s on her.

Braden and I are over, and there’s nothing new she can taunt me with.

Except the breakup itself, of course.

I breathe in deeply. Exhale. Get with it, Skye. Eugenie believes in you. Now you need to believe in yourself.

I check in with security, head to the elevators, and press the up button. I brush my hands over my arms, trying to ease the chills that erupt on my flesh.

She’s going to be in my face when the elevator opens.

The bell rings and the doors open, and I know she’ll be there. I just know—

The inside of the elevator is empty as I walk in and exhale slowly in relief.

Chills erupt again as I ascend.

The doors open—

No Addie.

Okay. Two down. A hundred bucks says she’s talking to Lisa at reception again.

But as I glance through the clear glass doors, I see no sign of her.

Still the chills. She’s probably in the back with Eugenie.

I approach the reception desk. “Hi, Lisa.”

Lisa’s eyes glow with recognition. “Ms. Manning, nice to see you again.”

“Please, call me Skye.”

“Of course. Do you have an appointment with Eugenie today?”

“I do.” I look up at the clock above Lisa’s desk. “In five minutes.”

“Great. I’ll let her know you’re here. Can I get you anything? Coffee?”

God, no, I might barf. “I’m fine. Thanks.” I take a seat on one of the chairs in the reception area, and then I dart my gaze toward every corner, waiting for Addie to emerge.

Instead, Eugenie appears, looking sleek and professional as always in a light green suit, her short gray hair styled to perfection. I rise.

“Skye!” She takes my hand in a firm grip. “So great to see you! Come on back.”

She leads me to the same conference room where Shaylie, Brian, and Louisa wait. They all smile when I walk in.

“Hi,” I say, trying not to sound nervous.

“This won’t take long,” Eugenie says. “Shaylie has put together a PowerPoint on our social media marketing plan for the new Power of Pink Susie Girl nail polish. Brian will take you through the numbers. But what we’re really here for is to decide on the actual color.”

I smile. “I appreciate you allowing me to have input on the shade.”

“Absolutely. You came up with the name, and you have a keen understanding of color. We definitely want your opinion.”

Shaylie and Brian make their presentations, and as Eugenie promised, they’re quick and entertaining.

Louisa, the intern, speaks up, her voice commanding but slightly wavering. “I’ve put together some samples of colors that are different from what Susie Girl is currently offering. I hope you like them.”

“I’m sure they’re all lovely,” I say.

Louisa distributes color swatches to all of us. “I thought about putting these into a PowerPoint, but you just don’t get the vibrancy of the colors that way.”

“I totally agree.” I flip through the ten swatches. “They’re all beautiful.”

“I agree,” Eugenie says. “Skye, which one do you like best?”

“It’s still hard to say without seeing how the polish looks on an actual nail. It might change a little. Color can be funny.”

Shaylie nods. “You’re so right. I’ve bought nail color and lip color in the past that looks amazing in the package, but when I get home it looks terrible on me.”

I nod. “There are certain shades, though, that flatter almost everyone.”

“Definitely,” Eugenie says. She flips through the swatches, throwing three into the center of the table. “For me, it’s these three.”

Her choices are on point. “You have an excellent eye for color.”

She smiles. “Coming from you, that’s a compliment. Thank you.”

I throw one more into the pile. “I’d add this one. It’s a little more neutral but still quite vibrant.”

“Shaylie?” Eugenie asks.

“I’d throw in this one.” She tosses a neon pink into the mix.

It’s a beautiful color, but it won’t work on all skin tones. I don’t say anything, though. It’s not really my place.

“Brian?” Eugenie asks.

Brian’s cheeks flush. “I’m just a numbers guy.”

We all laugh.

“Louisa,” Eugenie says, “you put these together, but do you have any favorites that we haven’t put into the pile?”

Louisa chooses one more, a soft, pale pink. “This one is lighter than the others, but it’s such a beautiful hue.”

I nod. It is beautiful, but it’s way too light to be called The Power of Pink. Again, though, I don’t feel it’s my place to say this.