Tease (Dark Odyssey Club Fantasies 3)

Jia

I’m focusing and trying my best to concentrate.

Today’s meeting is one I’ve been looking forward to for weeks. SkinCeuticals messaged two weeks ago to arrange it, and while I should have been bouncing off the walls with delight, all I can think of is Paul.

We’re on day twenty, which means I have ten days left of this test of sorts.

I’m not thinking of the time in that way, I’m thinking of the fantasies we’ve been enjoying at The Dark Odyssey and each other’s homes. Now that I’m in the real world, it’s difficult to concentrate.

I’ve been at the SkinCeuticals office downtown for the last hour, and Janet, their representative, has been going over some important things with me that I need to pay close attention to. I keep zoning out though.

She nods with excitement and smiles. I missed what she said.

“What do you think? I’m such a fan of French lavender. I think it would carry a nice touch to the brand, or we could go for rose. Or both?” She chuckles and adjusts her thick-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose.

I have no idea what she said. I hope she wasn’t talking about the face creams because I don’t want those to carry a heavy scent.

I straighten up willing myself to pay attention and look at the slide she’s showing on the overhead projector.

“Is this for the body cream?” I ask.

“Either. We can tone it down for the facial range so that it’s not too overbearing. Lavender can be great, but sometimes it can be overbearing. Same with rose, depending on the rose.”

“I would love that for the body creams and body products, but I think I want the natural scents of the ingredients we use for the face creams to come through as opposed to adding a fragrance. Most people like their skin care products unperfumed and don’t really pay attention to the natural scents.”

She nods in agreement with that. “Yes. I think I prefer that. We can work with that, for sure.” She jots down what I said in her notes.

Today’s meeting is about discussing the ingredients I’d like to use for the products. My unique selling point was creating natural organic products that would be great for the skin and so fresh it would be like picking them from the earth. Grams taught me so much on how to blend and preserve things naturally without using preservatives. That’s what got me here.

“There’s a lot to talk about in terms of what you’ll be doing with the final product. You mentioned a spa in your proposal. Is that still the plan?” Janet asks, lifting her head.

“Yes,” I say, and I’m not thinking of Montrose Place.

I’m thinking of the concept of the spa whether it’s there or not. God knows I truly want it to be at Montrose Place, but I’m being objective. I’ve been thinking lately that I can’t just take the spa. It doesn’t feel right.

If Paul didn’t want the place, we wouldn’t be in this position, so if he gives it to me, I want us to decide what we want to do with it together.

Until then, my plans for the spa’s location are on hold.

“A spa would be amazing, Jia. I would love to see that happen. Have you thought of an online store too?”

I smile. “I absolutely have. I’m into advertising and marketing. I’m going to build a website and sell the products there first once I have everything ironed out with you. I think that would be cool. Then I’ll take it to the spa once I’m opened.”

“Excellent,” she beams.

They were very happy with me. I guess an arrangement like this is fantastic for them. They get to put their name to a product that works and get extra attention on my part. It’s great, but I obviously benefit heaps more than they do. I knew I wouldn’t have gotten this far so quickly if I’d done it by myself. This is better.

“I’m truly excited about this, and I can’t wait to get started,” I say.

“Me too. I think we’re in for a very profitable business relationship. The developers are very impressed.”

“Thanks, that makes me happy. My grandmother taught me everything I know,” I beam.

“I’m sure she’s proud.”

I think she is. At least this is fulfilling part of my promise to her. It’s strange when your life takes you in different directions but then leads you right back to where you should be. That’s what happened to me. I went to college for one, did amazingly well at it, and now I’m going to be able to utilize those skills and expertise for my own brand, my own business.

We wrap up and I manage to keep my concentration.