“Yes,” I whispered. “We can have more people.”
—
The leadership announcement was made Tuesday.
Adrian would remain chairman.
Operations would transition over three months to a new managing director.
My promotion was announced separately two weeks later after a formal board vote.
Executive Creative Director.
When I told Mia, she asked whether that meant I was now allowed to boss Adrian around.
“Absolutely not.”
“Then what’s the point?”
Priya nearly fell off my sofa laughing.
The new structure meant I reported to the managing director, not Adrian.
It also meant the question he had asked me that Saturday night could no longer hide behind professional complications.
He waited.
Three weeks.
No pressure.
No private invitations.
No suggestive remarks.
Nothing.
Finally, on a rainy Thursday evening, I walked into his office.
He looked up.
“Julia.”
“Are you busy?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
“But I can stop.”
That was new.
I stepped inside.
