I shake my head. “No, I sent an email to your supplier yesterday asking if we could set up a contract where we not only use their product for every project we do, but we also become an official supplier. I explained that we have some major projects in the works and want to make sure we have a solid product base to turn to.”
“Seriously?”
I nod. “And I know it’s a small percentage, but I said if we land this big client we’ve been talking to, we would like to start talks about our own product line.”
“Stop,” Kelsey says, grabbing my hand. “Our own line?”
I grin from ear to ear. “Yup. Mind you, it’s a pipe dream, but I wanted them to know that we were going places and they’re our first option when it comes to partnering up.”
Kelsey waves her hand in front of her face. “I’m sweating. I’m legit sweating.” She faces me. “Lottie, this is huge. Holy crap, where did this all come from?”
“Well, when you feel like a failure, it’s a nice, swift kick in the ass to get moving, and that’s what I did. I got moving.”
“Wow, Lottie. I’m really impressed.” Whispering, she asks, “Have they written back?”
I chuckle. “Not yet, but I did send it late last night and it’s only ten in the morning.”
“True.” She sighs. “Wow, wow, wow, I’m really impressed. Impressed and grateful. Thank you for working hard on all of this.”
“I’m invested just as much as you are in this business. I’ve seen you bring it to where it is today, but I know there’s so much more potential, and when I have my head out of my ass, I know I can really help build it.”
With a chuckle, she asks, “How were things when you got back to his place?”
I shut the laptop and lean back in my chair. “I’m not sure you’re ready for this story.”
She crosses her legs and rubs her hands together. “Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever been more ready.”
And this is what I love about Kelsey. We can have a fight, resolve it, and then just like that, we’re back to our normal selves. We don’t harp on disagreements; we don’t drag them out. We apologize and we move on. Another reason why I think, in the long run, we’ll be great business partners, because we’ll be able to read each other well. But that doesn’t mean I’m not incredibly thankful for the second chance.
“So, when I got home, I was obviously in a really sour mood. I got straight to work and buried myself in the computer. Before I knew it, it was getting late and I needed to take a second to relax, so I drew a bath.”
“Oh, I’m sure he has a really nice bathtub.”
“Really nice. Jets and everything. And bath bombs. I dropped a lavender one in the water to calm me. It was really nice.”
“But . . .”
I smirk. “But he texted that dinner was ready just as I was starting to release tension.”
“And let me guess, he expects you at dinner.”
“The show must go on,” I say. “Because I was lazy, I dried off quickly and then just threw on a robe, making sure it was properly cinched at the waist.”
Her brow raises in suspicion. “Just a robe, nothing under it?”
I shake my head.
“Girl, were you asking for trouble?”
“I was just trying not to have a moment in front of him after everything that happened. I didn’t put much thought into what I was dressed in, and believe me, I was more covered up than the night before. The robe was a step up.”
“Okay, so you show up to dinner in a robe. Was he aware nothing was on underneath?”
“It’s as if he has X-ray vision. I swear he sees everything. Anyway, we started getting into it again, because that’s what we seem to do.”
“Naturally, both of you like to be correct, both of you like to be in control. Sparks will fly when personalities clash.”
“Boy did they clash.” I think back to last night and it feels like a black hole in my head. “I can’t really tell you what we were fighting about. I know I was quiet and he didn’t seem to like that, so he provoked me. I told him I didn’t trust him, I think.” I tap my chin and then shake my head. “All I know is that I couldn’t sit at the table with him any longer, so I got up and went back to my room.”
“Oooo, I bet he didn’t like that.”
“He didn’t, and he made it known.”
“Did he send you a nasty text?”