Meesha nodded agreement. “We really did it.”
“You,” Kyle corrected, pointing two fingers at her. “The partners all knew you’d nail it but we had a little bet going on. And if you exceeded the goals we’d secretly set, we decided you’d get a reward.”
“More presents?” Meesha said, enjoying that she could tease Kyle. “Jewelry? Cruise ships? Lear jets?”
Kyle choked a little and waved her to silence. “Easy. Let me tell this my way. Youdoubledthe anticipated new membership numbers.” He cocked a finger at her. “You blew it out of the park. Congrats!”
Meesha smiled. “That’s great. I’m glad you’re all pleased. Really.”
“Drumroll please!” Kyle drummed his fingers on the desk. “And today’s big prize is….a promotion and a three-month stint in San Francisco. I will even see if I can score a charter ride on a private jet for your trip out there.”
Meesha caught her breath. “Since I have the right bag.”
“Style is about being seen in the right places,” he agreed solemnly.
“Tell me more.”
“F5F West needs this kind of juice to get back on its feet.” Kyle winced. “That expansion was my idea and I fought for it, but the pandemic means it’s sucking money like nobody’s business. Ty has given me three months to turn it around or we’re going to sell it off to the competition at a bargain price.”
“That burns,” Meesha said.
“It does,” Kyle agreed. “I can’t blame Ty because the financials are grim, but I wanted so much for that club.” He shook his fist. “Iknowthe market is there. Iknowwe can dominate there, but even three months might not be enough time to turn it around.” He raised his brows and his eyes lit. “Unless I have a marketing partner and miracle worker named Meesha Jones in my corner, making the same kind of magic happen at F5F West as you did here.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. You’d be Cassie’s equivalent. The relaunch budget is generous because I fought hard for this one last chance. You’d have to move to San Francisco, at least for the three months. If the strategy works, you could stay there for good. You won’t be alone on the team. I’ll be moving back there, too, and you’ve worked with Rachel.”
“She’s great.”
“The best.”
“Excuse me?”
Kyle grinned. “The best at what she does, which is organization. She’s like Jax out there. So, what do you say? Great team, great scenery, a great city, and a great package.” He outlined the proposed salary and benefits. “The thing is that I don’t know whether you’d even consider leaving New York.” He shrugged and waited for her answer, pretending to hold his breath.
“I’m supposed to fill in for Cassie’s mat leave here,” Meesha said, amazed that the offer that had thrilled her just hours before had already diminished in appeal.
“That won’t be until the fall. If F5F West is rocking by then, we’ll work it out.”
“You always make obstacles seem easily surmountable.”
“It’s a choice of perspective. Sometimes they actually are.”
“This one?”
He spread his hands. “Huge. Ginormous. Lesser mortals would fail, but there’s me, and with any luck, there’s you.”
Meesha liked his implication. “Are they all married out there?”
Kyle blinked. “No. Just me.”
“And is there a dance club?”
“Not yet. I always planned for one, but it hadn’t opened before the pandemic.” He wrinkled his nose. “Budget, budget, budget. It’s a lot more fun to spend money, you know.”
“I know, but you have and that club is gorgeous.”
“True. I look good there. You would, too.”