Page 46 of Sincerely Not Yours

His dad’s head veered back like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. “A mistake with the numbers? That’s not like you.”

Harris shook his head. “No, I made a mistake byonlyfocusing on the numbers.” Harris paused, gathering his thoughts. His father’s sharp eyes bored into him, waiting for an explanation. “I’ve been working closely with Gigi, and I don’t think you understand how incredibly talented she is, and how much passion she has for the brand. She has endless ideas and a deep understanding of the market, but she’s been operating with minimal resources. You’ve been running SheTime too lean, expecting her to do too much on her own.”

His dad frowned, obviously not liking Harris’s answer. “So, you’re saying the lack of success is because of my underinvestment, not the product or market demand?”

“Yes. Exactly,” Harris replied, steeling himself under his dad’s scrutiny and powering on. “The products are amazing. Customers who use them love them. But we haven’t given Gigi the tools she needs to grow the business. She needs a team under her, people who can help with social media, public relations, content creation, events. She needs a bigger marketing budget to reach a wider audience.”

His dad shook his head, looking disgusted, which was not the reaction Harris was hoping for. “Are you serious?”

Harris nodded confidently, knowing he needed to go deeper, go back to what he believed in. “You asked what could have changed in a few weeks’ time.” He paused, amazed that one person could flip his opinion completely in such a short time. “Well, I’ve seen firsthand what Gigi can do with limited resources, and I’m confident she could grow that business tenfold with a proper team and funding. SheTime has thepotential to not only survive but thrive and become a significant supplement to our larger business.”

His dad stilled, as though the “tenfold” comment had finally grabbed hold of his cynicism and shook it. He cocked a brow. “Tenfold?”

“Yes,” Harris confirmed.

His dad thrummed his fingers on his desk. “I’m listening.”

“You’ve undervalued Gigi. Her instincts are excellent. She’s incredibly creative and delivers results under pressure, with little to no resources. She’s the one that has built SheTime from the ground up.” Harris pointed to his proposal, a thrill shooting through him as he finally captured his dad’s attention. “I was wrong to think that dissolving SheTime was the solution. We need to invest in it, support her, and give her the resources to succeed.”

His dad’s eyes narrowed, but Harris could tell he was considering the proposal. “You’re betting a lot on one person, Harris. What makes you so confident she’s worth it?”

Harris paused for a breath, picturing the passion in Gigi’s eyes, the determination in every expression, her endless optimism. “Because she reminded me that success isn’t just about numbers. It’s about people. And I believe in her. I think if we give her the chance, she’ll exceed our expectations. She’s the one that needs to lead SheTime, not me.”

The silence that followed fell hard on Harris’s shoulders. His dad stared at him, dissecting his words, piece by piece. When he finally spoke, his tone was curt and simmering in doubt. “You’ve got everything laid out in here?” He tapped his pointer finger against the folder.

Harris gave a nod. “I do. Every detail.”

His dad pursed his lips, looking sour. “I’ll review your revised proposal, but I think you’re speaking out of turn. Investing heavily in a niche business is a significant risk. I wasn’t onboard when Dean originally started SheTime, but I let him do his thing.” He paused, festering in annoyance. “If I agree to this, there will be expectations.”

Harris clenched his jaw, biting his tongue as his father referred to women’s skin care as niche. It was a massive market. Yet, he knew that disagreeing with his father now would only agitate him further, make him double down on his opinions.

“Read the proposal,” Harris replied. “I believe it’s a risk worth taking.”

Two days had dragged on like an eternity. Harris hadn’t seen Gigi since the night they lost and found Rudy, and the void was palpable. She’d been busy setting up the last Gift Guide event, while Harris had been consumed in board meetings with his dad and Dean, along with having video calls with his GambleOnLove team. A few exchanged emails, snarky signatures, and evening phone conversations did little to quench his longing for her.

Gigi really was like a drug. His mind eased and his spirit soared in her presence. His heart might burst if he had too much of her, yet he craved more. The need was beyond his control.

Navigating the bustling crowd on State Street, Harris scanned the sidewalk ahead, looking for Gigi. He smiled wide when he spotted her, standing near the entrance to Macy’s, waving at him, looking as bright and shiny as the golden trumpets and sparkling garland that trimmed the historic building. His pulse quickened as he neared. A satiny skirt peeked out below her long peacoat. Her dark, velvety hair was down, curling into soft waves. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and Harris yearned to wrap his arms around her, lift her off her feet, and kiss her as if no one else was around.

Reluctantly, he steeled his arms, resisting the urge.

“You look beautiful,” Harris greeted her, reminding himself they were at a work event.

“Thanks.” She practically twinkled. “You’re looking extra dapper yourself.” She tipped her head and a lock of hair fell across her cheek and neck. He dug his fingers into his palms, fighting the powerful urge to brush her hair back, to tuck it behind her ear.

“I can’t wait to show you the window!” Gigi bounced on her toes, breaking up the battle Harris was having with himself.

“I can’t wait to see it,” he replied, anticipation building in his chest.

Tonight was long awaited, the largest and last of all the Gift Guide events. It was the grand finale. Besides the brunch, which would start shortly, each sponsoring business had decorated one of the famous Macy’s window displays. Gigi had been planning and preparing her creation all year. She’d told him about the display but hadn’t revealed the details of the design, keeping it a secret and a surprise for today.

“Close your eyes,” Gigi said, taking hold of his arm. Harris buzzed with her touch. “Then I’ll take you to our window.”

“Close my eyes?” He quirked an inquisitive eyebrow.

“Yes,” she insisted, smiling.

“Close my eyes and walk down an icy sidewalk packed with a million people?”

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