Ana’s POV

    “Ana, I’m sorry. They didn’te with me, I swear. I’m leaving, but please answer my calls. I was serious about purchasing some of your designs. Please don’t punish the wholepany for my mistakes. I screwed up, but I still want to make mypany a sess. Perhaps not as big a sess as it was when you were leading it, but I want to prove to myself that I can do it. I’m not doing it to catch Sasha’s attention anymore. It was foolish of me to do that in the first ce. She only wanted some to pay for what she wanted. She never loved me. I should have realized that when I confessed my love for her, she left me because I was broke. I have the design team working on new pieces, but without you helping them, their designs are not where they need to be,” Roger admitted. He looked pretty sad before turning and walking away.

    “Don’t feel bad for him, love. He wanted to make you a mistress and take everything away from you,” Charlie quietly told me.

    He was right to remind me. I was feeling guilty, not for Roger’s sake, but for all the employees who could lose their jobs if he couldn’t turn this around.

    “You’re right, but I do feel bad for the employees who are depending on him to fix things. We can discuss it further at home. I want your opinion on what I need to do next,” I replied.

    I’m honestly not willing to bail him out. He caused this whole mess, but I agree with Charlie. If he hadn’t done what he did, and if Holden hadn’t recorded it, I would have suffered. I won’t give Roger money to bail him out or help him bring back investors. But I might sell him a few designs. Not my best, but not the worst ones either. I don’t want the guilt of people I worked with for five years having to struggle. I didn’t care about Dixon or Sasha, but I had heard that Sasha had been officially fired from thepany after the divorce wasplete.

    Charlie moved the car to a parking space and followed us into the building. “How did you know that we were out there?” I asked Gwen.

    “You’re always on time for meetings, and we have several team reports that we need to get through. Once you didn’t show up, I called the gate, and Randy told me what was going on. I can’t believe the nerve of them thinking that they can just say whatever they want to and get away with it. I know that you don’t want them to know that you own thepany yet. I wasn’t trying to throw my weight around. I was just angry at the absolute gall they have showing up here like they did. Roger seems to be cluing in now, but his sister and mother are real pieces of work,” Gwen replied as we headed to the conference room.

    Charlie slipped into his chair next to mine at the head of the table, with Gwen on the other side of me. The meeting started quickly. The design team was the first to report on the next jewelry pieces that would be going into production and on the current sales status. Then we will move on to clothing. They were followed by the essory department, which included shoes, bags, and now intimates. Marketing presented their. ideas, and we decided what would be featured in the next advertisements.

    I was surprised when one of the marketing team members mentioned the huge increase in sales of the dress

    I had worn in thest ad. Everything Emily promoted did well. She was our only model. But I never thought that I would hear the new numbers.

    “Thepany has seen an increase of ten percent in total sales for clothing this quarter. Thergest increase since thepany was started. The engagement ringmercial and the dress you wore in themercial had the biggest gains. The sales were off the charts. I think that we should promote you again in the next ads we do,” she stated when it was her turn to speak.

    “To prove that it wasn’t just a fluke, because I don’t believe it was. I believe that it was something that resonated with our clientele. The chemistry between you and your husband was off the charts for that shoot.

    Women want that in their own lives. I think that we should have the same men step in for the next advertisement. We spoke with Emily and Drew, and they were both on board. We just need to see if you and Mr. Billinsley are willing tomit to being in the nextmercial?” another member of the marketing team asked.

    I looked over at Charlie. His smile told me that he was willing to do it if I agreed. But I’m not sure. I alreadysuspect something is up from the grin on Gwen’s face. She was sitting right next to me, to my left. I needed to be cautious here beforemitting to anything.

    “What were you thinking of promoting? Jewelry again? Or something else?” I asked carefully. I needed specifics before I agreed to do themercial. I believe I already knew where this was headed.

    “Before you say no, we all agreed on what we needed to do. We wanted to promote the new line,” Gwen started to say.

    “No,” I replied sharply. That is not going to happen.

    “You didn’t even let me finish, Ana. It would be tastefully done, basically art. We would build up your positives, so there is nothing to worry about. I know how you feel about your body, but I’m telling you, this is a good idea. The increase in sales is because of you. You represent the average woman here in America. A sixteen to eighteen is the norm. I’m telling you that you look fantastic. Plus, women want to see someone who looks like them, who represents them. That way, they can see how it will look on them if they were to buy our product,” Gwen spoke quickly.

    “Not going to do it, Gwen. I just can’t get my picture taken wearing basically underwear,” I replied.

    “Lingerie, and it would let everyone know about our new line. It reminds them that they can look sexy and beautiful, no matter their size. In a world where everyone is being told what they should look like, body positivity is even more important. You know that I’ve struggled with my weight as well,” Gwen reminded me.

    “I don’t see you offering to prance around in your underwear with us,” I replied sarcastically.

    “Fine, I’ll do it, too,” Gwen replied.

    I was stunned because I know how she has struggled herself. I wasn’t trying to push her into doing it. I was pointing out that she wanted me to do what she wasn’t willing to do herself. She battled anorexia for years in college. Currently, she was a healthy size 9 or 10, depending on the clothing brand. Emily was a size 4 or 6. So she never minded doing any of the ads, as she was made for it. But the lingerie line was new. It would be a good idea to promote it and see what the promotion would do. It was brand new, like I had some of the first pieces made specifically for our honeymoon. I already had what I could wear, ready to go.

    “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to hurt you,” I replied softly.

    “I know you weren’t, Ana. I know you very well. You were just calling me on it, but you’re right. I was pushing you into something I knew you weren’tfortable with, just like thest ad. But look at how that turned out. I think that this can really push us into the stratosphere with the new line. I saw you trying on the ivory set, Ana. You looked gorgeous. I promise that it will be tasteful. I wouldn’t do anything that would reflect badly on us or thepany. Something tasteful, but sexy,” Gwen replied.

    “Do I get a vote?” Charlie asked.

    “Always,” I replied and turned to look at him.

    “I was originally going to shoot it down. I don’t want men checking out any part of my beautiful wife. But after hearing what you said, I want you to do it. I have some suggestions to apany it. Ana looked gorgeous in every one of her outfits, but I have a favorite. I think every man should want to get an outfit, or two, for their partner. I think that your clients do want to see how the outfits would look on each of you. My only request is that the area needs to be private when it’s time for each of us to be photographed. Just the photographer

    and us in the room, with whoever else is necessary. The same with you and Emily. I’m pretty sure that Mark

    would be willing to step in to help you, Gwen,” Charlie advised.

    “I think that would help, but I would like to hear your suggestions first. I have a sneaking suspicion that you and Gwen have the same line of thought. Can you give me a suggestion of what it is that you want?” I asked.

    When I saw his eyes darken, I suddenly wanted us to be alone.

    He leaned forward and whispered into my ear, “I want to pay him to get additional pictures for us. I want them hung in our room, just like our wedding pictures. I want to see my gorgeous wife in my arms, wearingthose garters, undies, thigh–highs, and shoes. With my arm across your breasts, blocking them from view.

    That’s what I want.”

    He leaned back and smirked at me as I felt my face heat up. His voice had done things to me, and suddenly I wanted to go home, right now. I missed being able to have s*x whenever I wanted to on our honeymoon. He knew what he was doing to me. I couldn’t even speak; he had me so wound up. I could see his vision, and I wanted to see if that could be an option. One that I could pay for separately, after the ad photographs wereplete.

    Even I could tell that my voice was huskier when I spoke. I could see the curious nces being directed towards us. They all wanted to know what he said, but that was personal. “Ok, I’m in, but I want this to be more of the art side of it than the sexy side of it! I just want to promote my best features.”

    Gwen was smiling at me when her phone pinged. Her smile disappeared, and her face turned red as she looked up and asked Charlie, “You asked him?”

    “Of course I did. He’s happy to help,” Charlie said casually.

    “Not so fun when you’re the one being caught off guard, is it?” I replied with augh. “Now we’re both locked in, aren’t we? Just pick your and Emily’s outfits. I have my own clothes that I can wear,” I replied.

    And just like that, I was now about to be in anothermercial. But I was looking forward to this one. I have my own ns, and Charlie won’t be needing a shirt for this one. I bit my lip and finished the meeting. It was time for us to go home.