Suzanne Beecher

Dear Reader,

Take time on this Memorial Day to remember...

...and take some time to gather with family and friends.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@firstlookbookclub.com

P. S. This week we're giving away 10 copies of the book Double Happiness: A Novel by Heather Eng. Click here to enter for your chance to win. 

CHAPTER THREE

Hey, queen," Ayanna called, stopping by Mei's desk. "Ready for your big moment?"

Mei looked up from her presentation and smoothed the white blazer she wore over a silky cami in Livin's bright yellow. "You know it."

"I can't wait." Ayanna started down the hallway. "You're going to crush it, as usual."

Mei turned back to the slide deck with her three-year brand vision. She had revised it countless times, and now it was perfect.

Her phone buzzed. Mei clicked on a new text from Joey.

Go get 'em, babe!

He'd attached a gif of an animated spatula saying, "You're 'flipping' awesome!"

Mei laughed. Spirits high, she gave her slides a final read.

Ten minutes later, she stood at the head of the executive boardroom. Oversized prints of Livin's marquee buildings hung on the wall: a stately Haussmann with wrought iron balconies on the Champs-Élysées, a beachfront Miami art deco. The leadership team and senior stakeholders sat around the conference table. Raucous male chatter filled the air, though a hush fell when Julian Fredericks, Livin's CEO, strode in.

Tall and imposing with flowing golden locks, piercing green eyes, and a neat goatee, Julian resembled a gracefully aging pop star more than the head of New York's highest-valued private company. He took a seat and acknowledged Mei with a dip of his head.

Diana shot Mei a confident smile. Ayanna gave her a steely nod that said: 'You. Got. This.'

Mei clasped her shaking hands, then lifted her chin and addressed the room. "As you all know, in three years, Livin will be in more than one hundred cities on every continent. This brand strategy will ensure we continue our unprecedented growth while letting the world know about us in a big way."

For the next hour, Mei outlined the global brand campaigns they'd run, plus targeted campaigns for Livin's key offerings: 'Livin the Life' (beautifully furnished rentals, from big-city apart-ments to rustic-chic homes in stunning rural settings), 'Livin Like a Boss' (hip business travel accommodations), and 'Livin It Up' (stylish apartments full of amenities, like gourmet meal plans and luxe fitness centers). Mei highlighted projected year-over-year growth and detailed how the company would break into new markets and expand in existing ones.

"By upleveling our brand, localizing our campaigns, making our storytelling and imagery more inclusive, and streamlining processes with AI-driven solutions, we'll transform Livin into the world's hottest brand—with the revenue to match."

She faced Julian expectantly. The CEO was sitting with his hands folded against his lips. Mei's heart thudded as she awaited his reaction.

Finally, Julian lowered his hands. "What more can I say? We're on a mission to revolutionize the way people live, work, and play. Right now, Livin impacts millions of people every day. In two years, it'll be billions. This brand strategy is exactly what we need as we're transforming the world. That, and your leadership." Ju-lian flashed her his rock-star grin, the one that had made him an overnight media darling and pop culture phenom.

Mei grinned back. "I'm thrilled to be on this journey with you."

When she returned to her desk, Mei opened her laptop to a slew of Slack messages.

You killed it!

That presentation was fire!!!

Word on the street is that you slayed. Get it, girl!

* * *

Mei closed her eyes and smiled. She needed to get back to work, but this moment was worth savoring.

"My presentation went so well!" Mei spooned papaya salad onto her plate, then passed the dish to Joey. She'd picked up dinner from her favorite Thai place to celebrate. "The head of finance asked tough questions but was fine with my answers. James, our new chief marketing officer, was there, too. He signed off on my strategy over email, but he's never seen me present. I bet I wowed him." She bit into a spring roll with gusto. "I still can't believe Julian praised 'my' leadership! This makes me want to keep rising through the ranks. There are so few women or people of color at the top."

Joey clinked his water glass against hers. "I'm so proud of you. There's no doubt in my mind that you'll be running Livin soon."

Mei laughed. "I don't know if I want to 'run' Livin. But VP of marketing would be nice."

"You'll get there, babe. I know it."

"Me too." She filled her plate with pad see ew. "I still can't be- lieve this is our life. Who would've thought two kids from Queens would go and make something of themselves?"

(continued on Tuesday)

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