Page 143 of Love's Most Wanted
“I agree. I want to be sure my formula remains the same though. I don’t want to get with a big distributor and have my glosses be watery or less pigmented,” I stated.
I remembered in the article I read on Camarih Terranova and how she said it was important to let the distributors know and have in the contract that you wouldn’t allow them to water down your products just to make more but spend less.
“Of course not. We want you as is.” Erma simpered, opening a folder to show me a contract. “We will pay all of the upfront fees to get everything in production and on the shelves. In return, we will take thirty-five percent of the profits, and you will receive the rest.”
Sliding the paper close to me, I scanned through it, knowing I wasn’t planning to sign anything right here and right now. Unique had already secured me a contract lawyer, and she was just waiting for me to get out of this meeting and to look it over.
“That sounds good to me. And I will have full authority over the design and packaging, correct? I want whatever design is created to look similar to my brand.”
“Absolutely. It’s all in the current contract, but anything you want added or removed, let us know and we can amend it.”
I nodded, remaining relaxed, even though I wanted to jump up and down.
“Can I ask why you’re so eager?” I had to keep it real. She was too agreeable, and I was starting to feel like there was a catch.
Erma laughed before sitting back in her seat and saying, “Money, of course. That’s it and that’s all. We know your product is going to fly off the shelves, and our whole point in choosing to work with you is to make money. If I can make myself wealthy and you extremely rich, what’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing at all.” I chuckled, appreciating her for keeping it real.
The meeting lasted about half an hour longer with me letting Erma and her mute ass assistant know that once my lawyer read it over, they would be hearing from me with either a signed contract or requests for an amendment.
As I walked out, bypassing Aurora who looked like she didn’t know whether she wanted to speak to me or spit on me, I felt a sense of calmness but also sadness.
I would miss being a makeup artist, but I’d always wanted to eventually have my own makeup company.
I was seeing that the whole situation with AJ and Zosia was somewhat a blessing in disguise because it pushed me to do something I’d been afraid to do sooner than I’d planned. I also knew that I wouldn’t have made it this far without the support of my husband and even his side of the family.
As I pulled out into the street, thinking about Unique and how I couldn’t wait to get back home to see him, my phone rang.
Looking at the screen, I saw it was my aunt Bell, so I answered. I knew she wasn’t asking for money because Unique had taken over that department. And no matter how much I tried to interfere with how much he gave or did for her, he ignored me.
Now, I didn’t even know what he gave her or did for her, so I couldn’t complain like I wanted. And it wasn’t that I didn’t want my aunt Bell to get help—I did because of all she had done for me—I just didn’t want my husband thinking he was being used.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hi, baby. Are you busy?” she asked.
“Not at the moment. Just left a meeting.”
“Oh, okay. A meeting for what?” She sounded anxious, like she had something to tell me but didn’t want to be rude by not asking about said meeting.
“I’ll tell you next time I see you. Is everything cool?” I frowned, entering the freeway.
“Well, Deacon, Sharon’s son, is having a little problem, and I was thinking Unique could talk to him.”
“Talk to him about what?”
“I don’t know, Kabrina. But they share a father, and since Deacon is struggling with his father’s… transgressions, I was thinking maybe Unique could help his brother out.”
“Brother is a stretch, Aunt Bell.”
“How? He’s his brother.”
“You know what I mean.” I shook my head.
“I do. But can you just ask him? The boy looks like his life is over, and I think talking to someone like Unique who knows exactly what he’s going through but turned out just fine will help.”
I hated that she was making sense.
