Page 38 of Wicked & Wildflower

My responsibility will be to help create marketing plans for local businesses, as well as the initiative itself, and assist Scarlett with event promotion and advertising.

It’s not entirely different from what I did working for my father, though, instead of a company led by a corrupt criminal, I’m doing something to actually benefit where I'm living. I wouldn’t say I’m passionate about marketing, but I’m fairly decent at it. I majored in graphic design in college, so marketing felt like a natural path to that.

In reality, I’m not entirely sure what I’m passionate about. I love baking, but it has never been anything more than a hobby and a stress reliever.

As I enter my office, I remember for the first time in two weeks my monstera. Fully expecting a dead plant in the corner of the room, I instead find it thriving, long, swiss cheese looking leaves pointed toward the morning sun filtering through the window.

“Everett watered it for you while you took that extra week off,” Leo says from behind me, as if he heard my smile.

“Oh,” is my response as my eyes flicker throughout the room, my mind reeling from the man’s thoughtfulness that I’m still not used to. I take in the desk to the right of the door and the filing cabinet next to it. Across from it on the other side of the office is a small meeting table that fits four chairs. Directly in front of me is a window that spans the length of the room, my plant in the corner beneath it.

And on my desk, there’s a vase of bright red flowers. Dahlias. My breath catches as I step up to it, running my fingers through the soft petals. A sweet, light, floral scent filters up to me as I pluck the card that’s pinned to one of the stems, assuming it’s from my sister.

Leo laughs to himself as a surprised gasp escapes me when I unfold the slip of paper and read the note attached.

Good luck on your first day. I know you’ll do great, Wildflower.

P.S. don’t forget our lunch date. I’ll see you at noon.

-Boyfriend

“Now that Honeysuckle is well underway, we need to focus on what comes next. We still have two vacant suites here on the strip. Do you have any proposals that have caught your eye?” Scarlett asks.

Leo, leaning back in his chair and bouncing a small basketball off the door, glances over at her. “Only person who applied in the last six months was Bill Turner. He proposed moving the barber shop to the boardwalk, but I didn’t feel it was the best location for it. The boardwalk should be more focused on tourism. Locals love Bill, but not everyone decides they need a haircut while they’re on vacation.”

“Yeah,” Scarlett breathes. “True.”

“Haven’t had anyone else apply.”

Scarlett raises her brown eyes to me, long braids falling into her face. She brushes them behind her shoulder as she smiles, and I wonder if how overwhelmed I am is written all over me.

“Let’s set up a meeting next week to talk through a campaign for advertising the two open business suites here and see if we can get at least a handful of proposals submitted by the end of the year.”

“Yeah. Of course.” I jot it down on the legal pad sitting in front of me. I have a lot of notes written across it, but I have a feelingwhen I go back to look later, I’ll have no idea what any of them mean.

I have three meetings set for next week with small business owners to help them create marketing plans and set up their social media accounts.

“You’re doing great,” Scarlett says reassuringly.

“Thank you.” I attempt to smile back at her.

It’s weird working for an initiative that’s so small. Nobody has held my position before, so there isn’t really anyone around to show me the ropes. I’m being given the freedom to make it my own, and I know that Leo trusts me completely to do the right thing. It’s the kind of freedom I’ve always wanted, but I’m not sure what to make of it now that I have it.

“After lunch, you and I can meet with Jeremiah and go over some of the contracts. Every business is handled individually based on their needs, so we’ll make sure you’re familiar with everyone before you begin meeting them,” Scarlett says.

I nod, adding that to my notes. “What time?” I ask. “I have a…” I shake my head as Leo eyes me knowingly. “I have somewhere I have to go at noon, but–”

Scarlett scrolls through the tablet in her hand. “How about two? Jeremiah has an opening then. I’ll put it on your calendar.”

“Sweet.” Leo sits up and claps his hands together. “Are we good then? I’ve got a hot blonde I need to see about a thing.”

He’s definitely talking about fucking my sister right now.

I roll my eyes and scoff. Scarlett chuckles to herself as she leaves.

Leo winks at me as he strolls out of my office and shuts the door behind him.

About fifteen minutes later, I hear a bellowing laugh from the main workspace. “No, I'm at the shop all day today. I’m just taking a break to have lunch with a pretty girl.”

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