I stood, stone-faced, thinking of when I had been younger and how many times I’d wished he’d said he was proud of me, proud of what I’d done in school or how I’d made it to varsity football when I was only a sophomore. I’d never once heard that from my parents’ mouths. I’d been a good kid—gotten good grades, excelled in sports—but just once, I’d wished I had been acknowledged for my hard work.
My father knocked on the table twice. “And despite the talks about canceling the company party this year, it will still be on.”
All of the muscles in my back tightened. We’d discussed this. We couldn’t afford a big holiday party at the Ritz again. Didn’t he understand that this company was not doing well? That every single dollar counted?
“But Grace and I will host it at our home this year.”
When his eyes made it my way, I relaxed, just a tad.
“It won’t be a grand event, as it has been in the past, but we’ll be all together to celebrate our accomplishments. Since it will be at our house, you can bring your families.”
He motioned to me at the far end of the room, beckoning me forward, and I pushed myself off the wall. Automatically, my eyes met Charlie’s, and I swallowed. Her face lost its color, and she openly gaped.
Great. Just great.
My mother pointed at me. “Connor, why don’t you tell them about the things coming down the pipeline?”
I inhaled deeply and smiled. “Well, I wasn’t exactly prepared to talk about our pipeline, but since you put me on the spot …”
The crowd laughed, and my eyes made it back Charlie’s way. She averted her gaze and dropped her stare to her hands in her lap.
Come on, green emeralds. Look up.
“In regard to the new products that we plan to launch, we’re in the early stages, but in addition, we’ll be focusing on branding this year and introducing a new and improved logo along with a new slogan and feel for Colby Chocolates and Candies.”
My eyes flickered toward her, but she was notably focusing on her fingers. Maybe even picking at her nails.
“I’ve been diligently working with our marketing group to come up with this. We’ll have to finalize plans within the next month to get things printed and advertising set.” For the life of me, I wanted to meet her eyes, see the speckle of deep green in them, green as a newly manicured lawn. “We’re going to start off by rebranding our infamous Colby’s Chocolate Bar. Start off with the packaging and then advertising, eventually rolling it out across all the other lines, across the whole company.”
Still, no reaction from Charlie.
But my father spoke up, “What’s wrong with Colby’s current packaging?”
I hadn’t informed him yet of my plans. I’d only told him that there were new products in the pipeline, not a brand-new rehaul of everything.
“It’s outdated. The packaging specifically. One might think that it’s a little conceited to brand our name on the chocolate bar rather than the name of the actual product.”
The room laughed again, but my father was not at all amused.
“That’s how it has been branded since the inception of this company,” he said.
“I feel like it should be branded to the essence of family, but you can do it without using the family name in big, fat letters,” I repeated Charlie’s words from the first time we’d met. “Brand to connect with future generations.”
Now, her gaze lifted from the hands on her lap to the table, as though something interesting were written on the mahogany.
Frustration hit me in the gut, not being able to see her eyes, read her reaction.
“Charlie.” I cleared my throat, realizing I’d called her name out loud. “Charlotte is a new employee at Colby’s. She works as a computer tech at corporate.” I smiled and motioned for her to stand.
Her face was beet red, so red that it seemed as though her cheeks would explode. She sucked in her bottom lip, and for a moment, I was mesmerized at her bottom lip being fuller than the top.
I swallowed. Hard. “Tell me what you think about our current branding.”
I had no idea why I had called her out. That was reckless of me really. But I wanted her to voice her honesty, and more than that, I wanted to see her face.
“I-I think … I mean … there’s always room for improvement in everything, right?” She smiled, all teeth, and wrung her fingers in front of her, her face turning all shades of red, her eyes teetering between me and my father’s.
“I totally agree.”
When I crossed my arms over my chest, her jaw clenched, and a tiny bit of me felt a little guilty for putting her on the spot.
“So, if you were leading this relaunch, what would some of your suggestions be?”
The smile slipped from her face, and if looks could kill, I’d be dead on the ground.
“I don’t have expertise in that area.”
“But you know what you like, and above all, you are a consumer, so let’s just entertain this idea, shall we?”
I was pushing this way too far. At this point, Alyssa and Casey were shooting daggers my way.
When Charlie sat silent, I prompted her to continue, “We’ll start by what you like about the current packaging and what you think needs improvement.”
“It reminds me of my childhood.”
“That’s the thing though, how old are you? Twenty-one, twenty-two?”
“Twenty-five.”
Hmm. Interesting. She looked younger. I would have never pegged her being only four years younger than me.
Judging by the look on her face, I couldn’t push her further. I’d ask her to join in this rebranding initiatives at a later time, when we were alone, but not now.
I walked the room, making it around the table, speaking to the employees, “This type of branding will only appeal to those like Charlotte and myself, in their late twenties or our parents or grandparents. It won’t speak to the children currently. And who is buying chocolate or asking their parents to buy chocolate?” I walked right behind Casey, Charlie, and Alyssa. Everyone was staring at me, except for Charlie, who had her sights on something very interesting on the table as she planted her butt back on the chair. “Children.” I tapped her chair twice. “Right, Charlotte?”
She turned and shot me the meanest of looks, and I bit my lip to suppress laughter.
She cleared her throat, her voice firmer this time. “Not sure what the current children like or want, but yes, I can see your point.”
“Connor.” My father’s voice was stern, firm, and not one bit amused. Not surprising. “We’ll have to discuss this at a later time.” My father broke the staring contest I had been having with Charlie and dismissed the group. “We’ll be sending the company party details by the end of the day. Thank you all.”
Charlie was the first to stand. She moved past me and out the door, not waiting for Alyssa or Casey, who stood to follow her.
“Nice job in getting the new girl to turn fifty shades of red,” Alyssa commented.
Casey shoved a finger into my chest. “What’s the matter with you, Connor? I know it was just a question, but why did you have to put her on the spot? Sometimes …” She threw me one dissatisfied look. “Sometimes, you just don’t think, and you’re supposed to be the more sensible brother.” Then, she stormed off, followed by Alyssa, to go after Charlie.