Page 22 of Tempt Me
I shrugged. “Lots to do today.”
“You made a dent in the news vans.” She chuckled. “Not literally, like I’d have done. I meant some of them left.”
I closed the door, fearing her response to what I had to say next. “I promised them a press conference tomorrow.”
“They went away because you said you’d talk to them?” She squinted one eye at me.
“Come sit down.” I walked toward the seating area, lowered myself onto the loveseat, and set the mug on the low coffee table. “That’s for you.”
Her eyes brightened. “Coffee?”
“It’s after five. It’s herbal tea.”
She curled her lip. “I may be older than you, but I’m not some grandma who drinks herbal fucking tea.”
“Wow, okay. Then don’t drink it.” Maybe she was hangry. I should’ve brought some cookies too. “Come sit.” I patted the cushion beside me.
Jamila chose the chair instead and peered at the golden-brown tea. “Smells like grass.”
I chuckled. “You drink matcha. That stuff looks like grass.”
“Matcha is what the cool kids drink. Chamomile—or whatever that is—is not.”
“It is chamomile. Try a sip. It’s relaxing.”
She pushed it away. “No, thanks. So, what did you want to talk about?”
Next time, I’d bring her a cup of decaf. I already knew she drank her coffee black, like her mood.
“The press conference tomorrow. You’ll say a few words and then answer some questions. I drafted a speech for you.” I held out a tablet with the speech pulled up.
She took it from me and scanned the document. “I’m not apologizing to that douchebag.” I hadn’t thought she would, but it was worth a try.
Slowly, I nodded. “We can revise that. Would you be willing to apologize to the shareholders and employees who were negatively impacted by your actions?”
Her lips thinned as she considered it. “Can I use a word like ‘regret’ instead of ‘apologize’?”
I winced. “‘Regret’ sounds insincere. ‘Apologize’ or ‘sorry’ are more direct, and that’s on brand for you. We need to convey the message that you understand what you did was wrong and that it won’t happen again.”
Her shoulders crept lower, away from her ears. “I can do that.”
Relief flooded through me as she read the document more slowly this time. When she finished, she looked up. “It’s not bad. You even managed to make it sound like something I’d say.”
“Thanks.” I looked down at my lap to hide my blush.
“Need me to memorize it?”
“Just be familiar enough with it that you can look up from it to make eye contact. I’ll email you a copy.” I took the tablet back, deleted the apology to the reporter, and sent off the document.
“Talk for two minutes and answer a few questions? No problem.” As she leaned back in the chair, the lines under her eyes told me how exhausted she was.
I wished I could let her go home, but we weren’t done yet.
“We need to practice the questions and answers.”
“Practice? You don’t trust me?”
“Everyone performs better after practice.”
