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thirty-nine

DANIEL

Two days later, I opened the door to Ben’s jewelry store. Even though he knew I was coming, he looked surprised to see me. The warmth in his eyes made me feel like a love-struck teenager instead of a seasoned CEO.

“Close your eyes,” I said with a smile.

He leaned against the sales counter, a mix of curiosity and apprehension on his face.

“I promise not to drop a hairy black spider on you,” I teased, trying to ease his nerves.

Ben chuckled and reluctantly closed his eyes. “This better be good.”

“It won't take long,” I assured him as I pulled a Macy’s bag from behind my back. “You can open your eyes now.”

Ben’s gaze dropped to the counter and his eyes widened when he saw the bag. “What's this?”

“I saw it yesterday and thought of you,” I said, pushing the bag closer to him.

He picked it up and squeezed it, feeling the softness inside. “I can’t imagine you shopping in a department store,” he remarked, eyebrows raised.

“Why not?” I asked, genuinely curious.

He pointed to my suit. “Most of the time you wear custom-made suits and designer shoes. Hunting through racks of clothes doesn’t fit your corporate image.”

I laughed. “My image is evolving. I now own at least two pairs of jeans and four T-shirts.”

“Did you or your brother buy them?” Ben’s skeptical smile made me grin.

“Owen might have had something to do with them. What do you think of your surprise?”

Ben pulled a black T-shirt out of the bag and grinned. Across the front, in big, sparkly writing, were the words “Waltzing Queen.”

“Thanks, although I couldn’t have mastered the steps without your help,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

“We’re a good team,” I replied, feeling a warmth spread through me.

I handed him an envelope next. “I’ve got something else for you. I hope it meets your expectations.”

Daniel frowned as he opened the envelope and pulled out the sheets of paper. His eyes widened again when he turned to the last page of the contract. “It’s too much.”

“Two years isn’t that long,” I assured him. “We want to build brand loyalty, and that takes time.”

Ben shook his head. “I’m not talking about the length of the contract. It’s the money. It’s far too much for what you want me to do.”

I leaned against the counter, meeting his gaze. “Do you know why a lot of people fail in business?”

“They have too much debt?”

“Yes, but there’s another reason. They undervalue what they do. Perception is everything in business. If you give products away for next to nothing, you’d better have a good reason.”

“But this is ridiculous,” Ben insisted, looking at the contract again. “Does that mean your company’s prepared to pay more?”

“If that’s what you want, you can negotiate the contract price.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. I still think it’s too high, but I appreciate the offer.” Ben kept reading, then paused. “I’d need to come to Manhattan for the award ceremony?”

I nodded. “We’ll market your jewelry as a B.J. Davis collection, but we need people to recognize you.”

“Why?”

“Because your face, as much as anything else, will sell the collections you create.”

He hesitated, but kept reading. “Are you sure you only want me to design three collections?”

“It’s all about quality, not quantity. I want my customers waiting in anticipation for your next collection.”

“I hope I don’t disappoint anyone.”

“You couldn’t do that if you tried.”

Ben sighed. After looking around the room for five minutes, he found a pen and turned to the last page of the contract.

“You should ask a lawyer to read the document before you sign it,” I said quickly, wanting him to feel secure.

“I don’t need a lawyer. I trust you.” And with a flourish, he added his signature to the bottom of the contract.

For better or worse, I was now his boss.