Page 32 of The Sebastian Guarantee
“The way to build up something like Go Girl is to start by offering a select number of customers a one-time fee giving them lifetime access to the service. As you grow, you’ll phase that out and offer new customers a subscription plan. That’ll ensure a consistent revenue flow while giving your first and presumably most loyal customers an incentive to stay and grow with you.”
She sighed a weary little sound. “Add that to the list of things I need to figure out.”
He watched her closely. “Are you having trouble with your business?”
She downed the water, left the glass on her desk, then padded toward her bedroom. “Let’s talk and lie down at the same time. This day and the many, many martinis I consumed are catching up with me.”
He followed and watched as she removed her glasses, then flopped onto her bed. The ghost of a grin tipped the corners of her mouth as she reached beneath her pillow and removed a pair of fuzzy socks. Twisting her body, she attempted to remain prostrate while struggling to put on her wooly foot coverings.
“You’ll throw your back out moving like that. Let me help,” he chided, taking the socks. He slipped one on. “What’s going on with Foot Tap Studio?” he asked, turning his attention to her other foot.
She closed her eyes. “I have to nail down my sales pitch and figure out how to become . . . different.”
“Why do you need to be different?” he asked, taking off his backpack and setting it on the floor.
“I’ve got to make a radical change.” Phoebe pushed up on her elbow and glanced at a small calendar on her bedside table. “And I only have a handful of hours. I leave for LETIS tomorrow afternoon.”
LETIS! In all the hubbub, he’d neglected to share his news.
He settled in next to her. “I got invited to LETIS.”
She shot up and pounced on top of him like she was a cat and he was a plate of tuna noodle casserole. “You’re going to LETIS to find an investor, too?” she trilled, then wobbled, losing her balance.
“Easy,” he said, helping her lie back down. He rested his head on the pillow and rolled to his side to be eye to eye with her. “I’m going, but I got some good news today. I’m pretty sure I’ve already got an investment company lined up.”
At first, she didn’t reply, but he could see the wheels turning in her head. “Sebby,” she breathed, “I’m so happy for you and me. You’re the man every woman wants.”
Where was she going with this? He tried to read her. “Every woman?”
“Your socials are filled with women who adore you. You have them wrapped around your finger.”
“What?” He was not expecting that.
Color rose to her cheeks. “I’m sure Oscar told you about what happened with Jeremy. He heard it all.”
“Yeah, he told me.”
“So you know that Jeremy will be at LETIS.”
Sebastian tapped his chin theatrically. “Want me to mess him up? I am the son of a boxing champion. Or I could follow your lead, go the condiment route, and rig a bucket of ketchup to fall on his head—or maybe sriracha. That would burn.” He expected her to laugh, but she didn’t.
She hardened her features. “I want Jeremy Drewler to rue the day he met me. I’m done falling for jerks and wearing my heart on my sleeve. You can help me change that. It’s like the universe meant for us to attend LETIS.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Turn me into a . . .” A devilish grin spread across her face. “A man-eater.”
A man-eater? Was she kidding?
“You’ve been drinking. You’re talking rubbish.” He tried to roll onto his other side.
She stopped him and scooted in closer. Pain welled in her eyes. “Yes, I downed a bunch of dirty martinis, but this is the problem I’ve been trying to solve all evening. Behind the keyboard, I’m a barracuda. In real life, when it comes to men, I’m a mess. I don’t want the Jeremy Drewlers of this world to keep getting the best of me only to cast me aside. Please, Sebby, I need your expertise.”
“You want me to transform you into a better version of yourself?” he asked softly.
That grin that only appeared for him bloomed on her lips. “Think of it as Phoebe 2.0. Take me from computer nerd to show-stopping vixen,” she said, then glanced away and chewed her bottom lip.
“Are you having second thoughts?”
