Page 15 of Arranged To Be Mine

I took another drink, letting that little zinger fester for a second. “But before you decide, you should know what people are saying about you out there.”

She went still, hands tightening on that cup in her hand that I hoped didn’t get launched at me.

“They’re calling you the Queen of Ice. They’re saying love is being canceled under your watch. Engagement rings are for couples who don’t really mean it.” I watched her face. Nothing moved, but something tightened slightly around her eyes. “The narrative is that you’re cold, unromantic, and you’re trying to sell people the most meaningful purchase of their lives. The question everyone’s asking is, how do you buy an everlasting symbol of love from someone who doesn’t believe in it? Someone so cold.”

Silence.

Outside the window, a couple walked by holding hands and arguing about something, but they held hands while they did it.

I almost felt bad for her. I had come out swinging. That was what I did. I was an attorney and I knew how to land punches to get my message across.

I set down my cup. “Being branded the ice queen isn’t just a bad look. It’s a real business risk. Customers need to feel good about who they’re buying from. Right now they don’t.”

“I don’t need you to tell me about my customers.”

“Sure about that?”

She narrowed her eyes, and if there was ever someone who could freeze someone with a look, it was her. But I didn’t back down. I sipped my coffee and waited.

“Why does my father think you’re someone who could improve the situation?”

I laughed. “Hell if I know. I guess he recognizes talent.”

“You’re arrogant.”

“So are you.” I spread my hands. “Do you want my help or not?”

She looked at me for a long moment. Assessing. Running whatever internal calculations she ran before she agreed to anything. The teen girls were giggling and taking selfies behind her. Life happened all around her but she was locked in an internal war of her own making.

“Fine,” she said. “What’s your idea?”

“You need to live more publicly. Get out there and let people see you’re a human being. Not just the one press conference, not just a statement about a teleprompter. Actually get out in the world, being seen, being warm. Being a normal person that eats, breathes, and God forbid, smiles.”

She shifted in her seat and sat up impossibly straighter. That stick must run straight up her spine. “I knew being the head of the company would be difficult. That was never in question. But I didn’t expect this kind of immediate scrutiny.” Her jaw tightened. “We’ve already released a statement explaining that I misread the teleprompter. Isn’t that enough?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because everyone already assumed you misspoke. That’s obvious. A statement confirming the obvious doesn’t change anything.” I set my coffee down and leaned forward. “The teleprompter thing is a blip. What’s killing you is the narrative that’s building underneath it. You’re cold. You’re unromantic. You’re trying to sell engagement rings that are symbols of eternal love and commitment while looking like you’ve never experienced a genuine emotion in your life.”

Her eyes flashed dangerously. Good. At least she felt something.

“Being branded the ice queen puts you in real danger,” I continued. “Customers don’t want to buy their forever ring from someone who looks like she’d rather be anywhere else. You look like someone that only cares about that bottom line. Selling expensive rings to get richer. It’s not sexy. Investors don’t want to back a CEO who can’t connect with people. So we need to get you out there. Let people see the real you. Warm up your reputation before it freezes over completely.”

She quietly processed what I said. I could practically see the gears turning behind those icy blue eyes.

“And how exactly do you propose we do that?”

“Come with me to a charity event. Next week.”

Her eyebrows arched. “A charity event.”

“Not as my date,” I clarified quickly. “As my plus-one. There’s a difference.”

“Is there?”

“Absolutely.” I smiled. “It’s a gala my mother is hosting. She runs a charity that raises money to feed hungry kids. Good cause, good people, good press. You show up, you smile, you let people see you care about something other than profit margins.”