Deeply Personal

Chapter 28

Jessica

The next day Jessica struggled to contain the smile that constantly tugged at her lips. She walked with a spring in her step as she made her way to work, barely even noticing the cold weather biting her skin. Good fortune: She managed to receive an extension on her bills with C&C by paying ten percent of the bill, and then promising to forward the balance in another thirty days. And then more good news: a few payments had come in, including Mrs. Worthmore’s, so she was still able to function. Yes, her business was a tight-rope walk, but she still felt like she walking on air.

Now, looking at an iPad, she studied the latest design on the McGraff account from one of her best designers—Lynn Rogers—who sat facing her. Lynn was a short woman with long auburn hair. She was highly creative, and a real asset to the company. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, she lived for interior design.

The kitchen was functional and creative with quartz counters in white accents and a large dining and sitting room that flowed together as one uniform living space. Jessica was impressed. Lynn had balanced stark contemporary minimalism with classic homey warmth in a way that was positively striking. Jessica toggled the mouse on her computer, paging through the slides on Lynn’s presentation.

There was a wooden Jean Prouvé dining table, with sparse, even lines, providing a crisp Danish look. A glass-and-steel table divided two glacier-grey Aliso sofas in the sitting area that overlooked the skyline. The Possini Euro White Flower Pendant was impressive hanging from the high ceiling. She’d tied it all together with Chinese art that included a limestone stele fragment, a standing Buddha, and a jade Cong, as well as an assortment of flat jade bi disks.

“It’s marvelous, Lynn,” Jessica said, taking it all in. “I love it all.”

“Thanks.” Lynn gathered her hair and slung it to one side the way she always did. “Of course, I had my doubts about the Chinese art. I was wondering if it formed the right kind of symmetry, you know?”

“It’s the perfect counterpoint. Well done. I’m very excited about—”

Helen walked in, her eyes wide and cheeks flushed. “Jess. It’s Jacob Martin from the Buchanan Project. Line one,” she said.

Lynn and Helen quickly left her office, throwing her a good luck thumbs up. Jessica was so afraid to hear what he’d say, lines of sweat broke out on her forehead.

Think composure.

She sat up straight on her throne, adjusted her crown, said a quick prayer to Athena. She answered with her most professional voice. “Jessica Chandler,” she said. “How can I help you?”

“Jessica, this is Jacob Martin. Mr. Buchanan asked me to call you. Mr. Buchanan’s been very busy lately but he’s finally had a chance to re-look at your entire presentation. To be honest, this doesn’t happen often, trust me.” He cleared his throat. “But Mr. Buchanan said he definitely likes what he saw.”

She pressed her free hand to the smooth wood of her desk, trying to steady herself.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Martin?”

“In fact, we’ve all decided that we liked the colors, the schemes, the patterns you chose—the entire space. It’s both warm and functional and stylish. We feel it goes well with the approach we’re looking for. Both Bryan Buchanan and his father gave you excellent recommendations.”

“I’m so pleased to hear that. That’s great news.” Jessica let out a breath after realizing she had been holding it in.

Jessica clenched her hand in a silent celebratory fist pump. Fantastic!

“But there is a problem.”

Oh, Lord, here we go.

“Seeing your designs has made us realize we want to make the bar area smaller, something that wouldn’t exceed one-thousand square feet. What you have now is too expansive. We’re wondering if you would be able to accommodate this detail in your bid? If so, we’d be happy to look at a revised approach.”

“Absolutely!” Jessica said quickly, relief flooding all over her. “Can you give me a few days?”

“Of course. We’d also like you to include the number of staff you’ll have available. It’s something we ask on every job.”

Jessica frowned. He was right, unfortunately. She knew that finding enough subcontractors, installers, and designers could be a problem for her—a major problem. She’d have to find new people quickly if she won the bid. She’d try temp agencies, LinkedIn, whatever it took. But she’d find them somehow.

“Not a problem,” she said with confidence.

“Great. Then we’ll be talking again soon.”

“Thank you so much for calling.”

As soon as she’d ended the call, Jessica called out, “Helen! Get in here!”

Helen rushed into Jessica’s office, her face contorted in expectation. “What’d he say?”

Jessica could hardly get out the words. “All . . . all we need to do is revise our barstools and bar, Helen. They-they like the rest of it. This is crazy! They just want us to reduce our square footage in the bar area. That’s it. Can you believe it? We’re practically in! Call a meeting with everyone. We need to get working on this immediately.”

Rising from her throne, Queen Jessica headed to their impromptu meeting room. Big dreams rolled around in her mind, dollar signs painting pictures in the vision-scape of her eyes. She was going to conquer the interior design world. She just knew it.