Page 35 of Cakewalk
“I’m Griffin. You might’ve heard of my company, Reed Enterprises. Soon to be rebranded as Griffin Enterprises.”
Madison stilled. “And Jade’s with you because…?”
I answered, “I work for him. I’m helping him with the integration, and with addressing various concerns. Basically PR work.”
Madison nodded slowly. “You might be surprised to hear I welcome the new development. At this point, what do we have to lose?”
That seemed to be the theme of the day.
I continued, “I really believe in Griffin and what he’s planning for the development. His detractors have it all wrong; his dad’s not involved at all, and Griffin plans on this being a mutually beneficial enterprise for everyone.”
“I get it,” Madison said. “I’m not one of the old curmudgeons who’s afraid of change. Just as long as you don’t leave us high and dry.” Madison leveled the last sentence at Griffin, like a threat, and I knew all too well that she never bluffed when it came to that sort of thing.
Griffin held up his hands in surrender. “Of course not. I know the history with the paper mill. This is a different kind of enterprise, anyway. More diversified. It won’t rely on one business, but many, working together to attract people from all over.”
Madison finished up with the perfumes. “Good. So are you two…” She paused. “Seeing each other?”
Griffin and I exchanged looks. It seemed neither of us wanted to answer that one.
Madison laughed. “Okay, I guess that answers that.”
“No,” I said, a bit too defensively. “We just work together.”
“Strictly professional,” Griffin added, though he had a cheeky expression that said otherwise.
“Good Lord,” Madison said, rolling her eyes as she moved around behind the counter. “Well, whatever. If you two are up to something, then my congratulations to you, Jade. I never thought you’d get over that last guy, and this Mr. Reed seems like a catch.”
For some reason, it was a relief to have her approval, even though Griffin and I were definitely, most certainly not seeing each other.
Griffin did a little drum beat on the checkout counter. “Well, then. I was just dropping by to introduce myself and to get to know you better. Will I be seeing you at the town hall meeting?”
“Nah, not my kind of scene. I’d feel like an intruder, anyway. What’s a young kid whose entire business relies on the internet got to contribute to local town affairs?”
I set the blouse I’d been holding on the counter and took out my wallet. “A lot, Madison. Come by. They’d be interested in your perspective on things. And besides, Griffin could use a few allies there.”
Madison looked down at the blouse, then back at me. “Nice choice. Complements your eye color.”
“Thanks. So, mind giving us some reinforcements?”
Madison rang me up. “I guess not, but…” She glanced at Griffin. “What’s a successful guy like you got to worry about? You must have a good track record if you’re running some big enterprise.”
I cringed. “Maybe look his name up sometime.”
Madison forgot all about ringing me up, whipping her phone out instead. “Oh, I gotta see what this is about. You know I love scandalous shit.”
I said under my breath, slyly pointing with my thumb behind me, “You’re really gonna do that right now, with him right here?”
“Considering you two are dating, hell yeah.”
“We aren’t—”
“Sure,” Madison mumbled absently as she thumbed through her phone. Her eyes slowly widened, and she turned her back to us as she kept reading. Finally, she spun around. “Prison?”
“Yeah—”
“Oh my God, you’re dating afelon? Your entire family must be having a collective heart attack.” She looked over my shoulder and waved at Griffin, who was trying to make a quiet escape. “I’m not judging, by the way. I mean, I’m sure you had a good reason or whatever. But I’m just digging the drama. It’s boring here in Calhoon, you know, so this is going to be a lot of fun.”
Madison finally took my credit card and finished the transaction. “Don’t worry, Jade. I’m not missing that town hall meeting for adamnthing.”
