Page 115 of Off Limits Mogul

That’s what happened to me when I was trying to make a name for myself as a rapper. The record label fabricated a tough-kid persona that had nothing to do with who I was. I went along with it because I would’ve killed for fame. My dad had his reservations, but I wasn’t willing to listen. In the end, Dad was right. The false tale contributed to my demise when it blew up in my face that it was fake.

“Unless you’re in the music business, you’re oblivious to all the trickery,” Arianne says. “It was such a privilege Keira was willing to open up to us.”

“She only had praise for you and Phoebe.”

“That’s great to hear. Phoebe suggested we do another all-girl weekend soon.”

“I’m sure she’ll love it,” I say. “She liked hanging out with you two.”

“I’m so pleased,” Arianne says.

“The perspective of another weekend of shopping and pampering with Keira got you so excited it woke you up beforethe roosters, and you had to call me into an urgent meeting?” I redirect the conversation.

I take another sip of coffee, but grimace because it’s no longer hot. I push the mug away.

“Funny. It’s like my conversation with Phoebe sparked something in my brain,” she says. “I woke up startled when it hit me.”

“When what hit you?”

“We’re heading in the wrong direction with the marketing angle for SCORE Yours,” she says.

“Why would you say that?” She opens her mouth to answer, but I keep talking. “And if that’s how you feel, why am I involved? I take care of production. Beckett is your point person for marketing and advertising initiatives.”

Beckett pats my shoulder. “Hold tight, buddy. She’s getting to it.”

“Fair enough,” I say. “Let’s hear it.”

“I understand where you’re coming from, but this is far more than marketing,” she says. “This decision could be the spark that takes SCORE Yours from an amazing idea to a phenomenon.”

My eyes shift to Beckett.

He nods.

I respond in kind. “You have my full attention.”

“This is about the heart and soul of the product,” Arianne says. “The image that will sell the consumer on the value proposition.”

I draw my eyebrows together.

“I thought we all agreed on the slogan for SCORE Yours yup” I say. “Unique like you,is spot on.”

“It is,” Beckett says. “Nothing’s changed on that front. Arianne is talking about the face of the brand.”

“I thought you had settled on someone, and the agency wasgoing to send her the contract this week,” I say. “Don’t you have photoshoots lined up?”

“The model we selected is the wrong person,” Arianne says. “Lucky for us, we have time to get it right.”

What is she talking about?“The woman is beautiful.”

“Yeah, but she’s just another model––a pretty face to look at, but not necessarily someone our audience will connect with.”

“And you found that rare unicorn?”

“We did,” Arianne says. “This past weekend.”

“That was a hell of a shopping trip,” I say.

“Let me explain,” Arianne says, “Phoebe being Phoebe was the first to take note of Keira’s striking tattoo. And my best friend had a thousand questions. When Keira told us why she felt so compelled to permanently ink her body, it broke my heart and brought tears to my eye. I wasn’t aware of the details surrounding her best friend’s and group mate’s horrific deaths, or how the record company tried to mold her into a gimmick, or how they figured she’d be willing to keep singing with her other group mate as a duet.”