Owning Violet (The Fowler Sisters #1)(97)

I ignore the bitchy voice still lingering inside my head.

“I really doubt that,” I tell him, earning a chuckle. “Seriously, Violet has been a joy to work with. She’s very smart.”

“I know.” Forrest beams with pride.

“Her cosmetics line will bring in tremendous business to Fleur. It’ll appeal to the younger set and attract an entire new customer base,” I say.

“That’s the plan.”

“You know …” I lean forward and brace my elbows on my knees, cupping my hands together. While I have his attention, I’m going to take a chance. The worst he could say is no. “I have this idea … but I probably shouldn’t bother you with it.”

“You absolutely should bother me with it,” Forrest encourages. “I love an idea man. Not enough of them here if you ask me. Just a bunch of sheep, always nodding in agreement with whatever’s said.”

Interesting. I’ll have to remember this for future use. “All right. Here’s what I was thinking.” I’ve had this idea since I started working for Fleur, but I’d never had the balls to mention it to anyone. Now that Forrest Fowler is my captive audience …

“Perfume.”

Forrest tilts his head, not looking impressed. “We have a few of those already, son. That’s nothing new.”

“I know, you’re right. But it’s been a while since Fleur has introduced a new scent. And I was thinking it would be smart on Fleur’s behalf to roll out three,” I explain.

“Three?” He frowns. “All at once, or every six months …”

“All at once. Each one of the scents will be distinctly different yet somehow still cohesive. They’ll go together, complement each other. We would sell all three as a set—and separately—and they would be aimed at the woman on the go. The girl in her early twenties who’s graduated college and is just starting out on her career, savoring her independence and attempting new things.”

“Interesting. Go on.” Forrest nods.

“And we would call the perfumes …” I go for the dramatic pause because holy hell, I have nothing to lose. “Lily. Rose. And Violet.”

The room is silent. I swear he can hear my thunderous heartbeat. I put it all on the line and if he says no, I’ll be all right. At least I made a suggestion, which is a lot more than I can say for the rest of the chumps that work at Fleur.

Forrest grins slowly and he keeps nodding his head. “I like it. I like it a lot. Hell, why did I never think of it? We have a Dahlia scent, Fleur’s very first perfume. Why wouldn’t I think of my own daughters?”

Relief floods through me and I almost slump in my chair. But I keep my shit together and act like this is a normal experience. “I’m glad you like it,” I say tentatively.

“Brilliant is what it is. I want you to write me up a more detailed proposal and then email it to me. CC my assistant Joy, too.”

“Thank you, sir.” Excitement builds within me. This little meeting is turning out better than I thought. He actually listened to me. And even better, he likes my idea, which he should because it’s a hell of an idea. One I never shared with anyone, not even Pilar.

That bitch would steal it from me and take all the credit. I knew this, and that’s why I chose to remain silent. We do nothing but keep secrets from each other. That’s all we’ve ever done throughout our entire, strange relationship.

No wonder I have no idea how to love a woman. I’m so f*cked up, I trust no one. Don’t want to get too close. Don’t want to reveal my vulnerabilities, my fears, my weaknesses. The only person I’ve gotten close to doing that with is …

Violet. And I hardly know her.

“I have a call to make.” He stands and rounds his desk, holding out his hand toward mine. I stand and shake it, giving it an extra pump, which makes him smile. “I’m impressed, son. Keep this up and you’ll go far at Fleur.”

“That’s my plan, sir.” I release his hand and take a step back, needing the space. Needing to make sure this is real and I’m not dreaming.

“Stop calling me ‘sir.’” He grins as he falls into step beside me and escorts me out of his office. “It’s Forrest.”

“Thank you, Forrest,” I say with utter sincerity as he pauses in front of his assistant’s desk. She’s typing away on her keyboard, not paying attention to us in the slightest. “I’ll do my best to prove to you this idea is worth it.”

“Oh, I’m not worried about that. I have a feeling you’ll come through and impress the hell out of me.” He claps me on the back with his palm, nearly sending me staggering forward. “I have all the faith in the world in you, son. All of it.”

Chapter Twenty-nine

Violet

The delivery comes near the end of the day, after I give up pretending I can concentrate and actually get any work done. The argument with Ryder threw me.

What else is new? He’s constantly throwing me. I feel like I’ve been on a roller-coaster ride these last few days, torn between my work here in New York and the opportunity London could offer me. Torn between Ryder wanting to keep our relationship secret and announcing it to everyone, including Zachary.

Especially Zachary.

I’m cleaning off my desk and preparing to go home when someone from reception walks into my office carrying a beautiful, heavy silver flowerpot filled with delicate purple and yellow flowers.