Ruby Red 3 - A Romance for All Time (Complete)

Chapter 26

After carefully applying her favourite ruby red lipstick, Ali ran her fingers through her hair.

"You can do this," she said to her reflection. Her voice echoed off the marble tiles of the restaurant bathroom. "You were born to do this."

The face looking back at her agreed.

When the hostess led her to her table, Helen was already seated, martini in hand.

"I was early," the other woman explained after a quick hello and hug. "I didn't know if you'd want one."

"I'm always up for a martini."

A finely manicured finger popped into the air, signalling the waitress. After ordering a drink for her lunch companion, Helen asked after Ali's mother.

"She has her good and bad days." In truth, since the reading of the will, Lynne was doing remarkably well. The constant crying had stopped, only now and again presenting itself, mostly when others referred to her late husband. It was almost as if she cried on cue when required as part of playing the newly widowed.

"So ... you wanted to talk to me?" This was one of the reasons Ali liked Helen. The woman didn't waste any time.

"Yes. It's about Stinson Studios."

This was Ali's third pitch this week, but it wasn't getting any easier. Helen's husband was a studio executive who oversaw the production of a number of reality TV shows. Including two specializing in home renovations. If she could get the companies hand-crafted furniture featured on one of these shows, it might be the boost Stinson Studios needed to increase sales. Plus, it would demonstrate her ability to negotiate deals benefiting the company.

In the past, Ali had worked with Helen as part of the board for the Liberty for All charity.  The two women had worked well together and Ali admired the other woman's ability to navigate the various personalities on the team.  Although they had not spent much time together, Ali felt Helen was one of her acquaintances she could approach to pitch a business deal. 

It was all part of the plan she had laid out for Sam.

Everyone knew Helen's husband didn't make a move without first discussing it with his wife. They were a team. A blueprint Ali wanted to emulate with her relationship with Sam. Unlike her first marriage, Ali was determined to be a part of Sam's life outside of the bedroom and vice versa. Despite telling Sam she wanted to earn the position of CEO on her own, she didn't want to cut him out. They would do this together, Sam by her side, making decisions with her. Partners.

Plus, if Sam knew and understood Stinson Studios, how it worked and what it needed, then he might be more interested in moving back to California. It was a topic they had both been avoiding talking about. Ali suspected Sam; sweet, sweet Sam was giving her space after the death of her father before bringing up the subject.

But Ali could feel time running out. Sam had been staying here with her for two weeks now. Trying to manage the Foundation and Leif's campaign via conference calls and a three-hour delay. It meant he was often up when it was still dark in California to make New York 8 am meetings. His usual routine of going for a run before work was interrupted. Spending the afternoons swimming in the pool while Ali was drumming up partnerships to save her company helped, but Ali knew Sam was isolated here. He missed his friends and family.

Ali missed his family too. Evelyn and Christopher had become an integral part of her life. Sam's cousin Charlie was at their apartment half the time, treating it like his second home when not at university. At first, she thought him spoilt and arrogant but soon learned there was much more to Charlie. You simply had to take the time to look for it. Too bad he rarely let any of his "girlfriends" hang around long enough to discover this.

And then there were their friends. Emily and her fiancé had made the trip out for the funeral, but that was a special circumstance. She'd miss Emily popping in for dinners on her trips to New York.

Surely, they'd make new friends here. Jonathon was already important to both of them. And Brenda and Sam were starting to get along. Maybe it wouldn't have to be forever. Just a few years until the company was back on its feet.

Ali pushed these thoughts of misty, future prospects away, concentrating on the deal she was trying to seal today.

"So, what would you offer in return for product placement?"

Ali set her hands on the table and gave her prepared answer. "First off, all the furniture would be free of course. Each piece, being hand-made is therefore unique. After the show is over, we can auction off the pieces used and donate the profits to charity, thus creating a tax write-off for your company. We'd start a line under the show's brand and any sales from there can also generate a profit back into the show, say at 5%. Then, if things work out down the road we could branch out into specials, such as a "How it's made" episode. Of course, we would cover the costs of those programs basically giving you free programming."

Taking a sip of her martini, Ali studied Helen's face for clues as to what she was thinking.

The crow's feet around the other woman's dark eyes crinkled when she smiled. "I can see the possibilities."

"Great." Ali made herself sit still, rather than jump for joy which was what she wanted to do. "I suggest we start with a site visit so you can see the furniture we are currently working on, maybe pick out a few pieces or talk about creating something new."

"Not so fast," Helen raised a hand. "I like the concept. And I do love your family's work. My grandmother has a piece she bought in the '50s and it's remarkable to this day. But," Ali's heart sank at the three-letter word, "I'm afraid high-end furniture, expensive items like that are just not in fashion these days. People want cheap and cheerful. Antiques off the side of the road refurbished, Ikea done up, that kind of thing."

Ali had heard this story before. Her items were out of most people's price range, too old fashioned, too grandmotherly. She hated to admit it, but maybe there was something to Jack's plan to diversify. Bring the brand down to a lower price point so more people would be attracted to the items. The thought that Jack could be right made her squirm. The fact she might have something to learn from Jack turned her stomach.

Hiding her disappointment behind the mask she had perfected over years of living in California, Ali thanked Helen for her honesty and proceeded to pretend to have a lovely lunch with the woman.

But inside, her heart was breaking. The reality TV idea was the last of her brilliant plans to save the company. What was she going to do now?

Hey there. D. L. Croisette here. Popping in to say a big thank your for reading the story of Sam and Ali.

I miss talking to you all as a group in the forums so I had an idea. I've started a Discord channel - Ruby Red Romances Collection. It's a spot where you and I and all of us can talk about the stories and characters.

I've added a few games and questions to start the discussion. You can even help me write the story. Like should Ali keep pursing this dream of running her family's company or should she give up, go back to New York with Sam and let Jack have the company?

I hope to see you over there. I've posted the link to the group in the comment here ---->