Kim is on the other side of the state.” And her best friend was against this project. She didn’t like the sound of Max Blair, either, and she predicted that all of this would turn into a mess.
Jason’s eyes widened with concern as he watched her set up her computer, notepads and a collection of highlighters on the bar. “Wait, what is all this?”
“I always carry these things in my bag. You never know when an idea is going to strike,” she explained as she placed a file folder on the bar. “Let’s put together a strategy for the week.”
“No, no, no.” He started waving his hands. “None of this is necessary. You don’t plan a bad reputation.”
“Of course you do. That is, you do if you want to control the message you’re sending out. Which I do.” Claire opened up the folder and pulled out a checklist she had created for her reinvention. She was going to treat this just like a social media campaign for one of her clients.
The idea of reinventing herself was both intriguing and overwhelming. She wanted to be noticed for her work. Yet in order to do that, she had to put herself out there. Physically and sexually. Have people look at her. Talk about her. So it was critical that she present herself in a controlled environment where no one could see her weaknesses.
“You don’t need sticky notes and...” He pointed at one of the papers in the file folder. “Is that a calendar?”
She closed her messenger bag and carefully considered her next words. “I know it seems like a lot of work—”
“It is a lot of work for something that’s not going to last after next week.”
“How much effort do you think I’m going to put in for your party next weekend?” she asked as she set her hands on her hips. “And that’s an event which only lasts one night.”
“That’s different,” he argued. “You are dealing with more people when you’re putting together a party. This is just one guy we’re talking about.”
“And this guy is an expert on creating an image. He knows all the tricks in the business.” Claire hadn’t really considered that until just now. She let out a shaky breath. “He’s going to look for any chinks in my armor. This reinvention has to be solid. Perfect.”
“Then you need to rethink this.”
“No, I need to be prepared.” That had always helped her in the past. “I promise, Jason, I’m not expecting you to fill out the spreadsheets and—”
“Spreadsheets?” He said the word in horror. “Okay, time-out.”
She glanced at her impromptu workstation. Everything seemed to be in order. “What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “I can’t work like this. I won’t. It will drive me crazy.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll do most of it.”
“I’m serious, Claire.” He rested his hand against her arm. “If you want my help to create a temporary and fake reputation, then we’re doing it my way.”
“Your way,” Claire repeated dully. She didn’t like relinquishing control or conforming to someone else’s work system. “And that means...?”
“We wing it.”
She winced and pulled away from him. That was the worst plan. “Jason, how long have you known me?”
“I’m not sure.” He was obviously puzzled by her question. “How long have you and Kim been friends?”
“Since the first day I moved into town. I guess that would make it since kindergarten. And in all that time have you ever seen me wing it? Improvise? Go with the flow?”
Jason gave a shrug. “I haven’t noticed.”
She gritted her teeth. Of course he wouldn’t notice her. She was on the sidelines of his life while he frequently starred in her dreams. “Then let me enlighten you. I don’t improvise because that never works.”
He propped his elbow on the bar counter. “You haven’t improvised with me.”
“And there’s a reason for that. It would be like our brainstorming sessions. Your mind goes off in a direction I don’t anticipate.”
Jason rested his head against his hand. “You’re the kind of person who follows a recipe exactly, aren’t you? You don’t make substitutions or change things up.”
“And you’re the kind of person who wouldn’t read the recipe all the way through before you start.” She suddenly remembered all those times she’d seen him in the kitchen at the Strong house preparing a snack for himself and his friends. “No, scratch that. You’re the kind of person who won’t even look at a recipe and just make it up as you go along.”
“You should try it. Who knows what you could create?”
She’d create a disaster. Claire was envious that Jason could do something on the spur of the moment and be successful. Her brain didn’t work that way, but she wouldn’t tell him that. This was not the moment to advertise her shortcomings.
“Put away the organizer, Claire,” he quietly ordered.
She hesitated. Her methods were like a security blanket for her. As long as she followed her procedure she wouldn’t forget something or go over her deadline. “We don’t have a lot of time.”
“We don’t need a lot of time,” he decided. “There’s nothing to beta test, or whatever you call it. In fact, that would only waste the time you have left. You have seven days. You just have to act.”
“I don’t know...” Jason was making sense but she didn’t like what he was saying.
“You basically want to create a fake profile but in the real world. It’s temporary but it has to look as if you’ve been wild for a while.”
She reviewed his words in her head. “Yes.”
“You don’t need a battle plan for that. You just need a partner in crime. I’m that guy. I will make you a wild party girl by next Friday.”
Claire wasn’t sure how she felt about Jason being part of her strategy. She’d asked for his help, not for him to be her partner. He was smart and intuitive but he didn’t pay attention to detail. That was why she was the support for clients like him. She worked behind the scenes and gave others the spotlight. She anticipated every problem and did the grunt work so her client could shine. That wasn’t Jason’s strength.
“But you have to be careful with this reinvention,” Jason warned. “If you don’t get the job, you will stay here and people will remember how wild and crazy you were.”
“I’ll get the job.” She didn’t make eye contact with Jason. She desperately wanted to prove that she was as good as her competition. She wanted everyone to know that she was an expert. Talented and capable. If she got this job, maybe her family would start believing it, too. And maybe she would start believing it during her darkest moments.
“Are
