May

May woke up early the next morning to give herself a little extra time to prepare for the events ahead. After talking things over with Erik the day before, the two of them came to an agreement on most of the issues that had been raised regarding his father’s company. However, there was one article of business May had yet to mention: a complete image makeover for the current acting CEO, Mr. Erik Clayton himself.

Why was this matter so imperative? The answer was quite simple: investors. A publicly traded business needed people to invest in their stock and their product, and for that to happen, the person in charge of the business needed to show their investors that they would be responsible with the money being invested.

And while Erik did look handsome in a pair of blue jeans and a leather jacket, his long hair and skater boy wardrobe didn’t exactly scream ‘professional.’ So, May had booked an appointment with a rather expensive salon for 4 PM this afternoon. She had until then to convince him to go.

At around 6:30 AM, May left the apartment, giving herself plenty of time to swing by her favorite coffee shop. She bought a peppermint latte for herself and a hot black roast blend for Erik. She made it to work right on time and entered into his office just a few minutes before seven o’clock. To her surprise, he was already sitting at his desk, waiting for her.

“Good morning, May,” he greeted.

“Good morning, Erik.”

“I see you didn’t forget my coffee. I hope it’s still hot,” he added with a playful smirk.

May placed the cup on his desk with a phony smile. “I asked them to make sure it was scalding.”

“I thought they usually charged extra for that option?”

“What? No. They don’t actually offer that.”

Erik laughed a little. “I know, I was only kidding.”

Oh.

He took a big gulp of his coffee, after which he let out a sigh of satisfaction.

“This is pretty good. Where did you get it?” he asked.

“The café down the street. I go there almost every morning.”

Erik looked impressed. “Every morning, you say?”

“Almost every morning,” she corrected.

May noticed a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes.

“In that case, would you mind grabbing me a drink whenever you stop by there?”

“Excuse me?”

“I work better with a hot cup of coffee in my system. So, whenever you buy yourself a cup, just grab one for me too.”

“Why don’t you grab yourself a drink on the way here?”

Erik shrugged. “I’ll forget.”

“So, instead of trying to remember the coffee on your own, you just want me to pick it up?”

“I mean, if it’s not too much trouble. It’s just easier if you’re already going to stop in there, right?”

May had to take a moment to inhale deeply before answering. “I tell you what, Erik, I’ll do it. But only on one condition.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll pay you back,” he said.

“No, that’s not what I’m after.”

Erik flashed her a playful grin. “Okay, but just a heads up, I don’t date my employees.”

May rolled her eyes. “Oh, get over yourself already.”

He exploded with loud laughter, making her frown. “Lord! You really don’t hold back.”

“Erik, I’m being serious, so please listen to me.”

He nodded and tried to contain the rest of his giggles. “I’m sorry, go ahead.”

May cleared her throat. “Well, as you know, the two of us are going to have to work really hard to turn this company and its reputation around for the better, and we only have a limited amount of time to do it.”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“With that in mind then, I have arranged for us to visit a salon this afternoon.”

His brow furrowed. “A salon?”

She nodded. “If we want people to take you seriously as the acting CEO, then you’re going to have to start looking the part.”

Erik ran one hand through his long, curly locks. “So, you mean-”

“You need a haircut, a clean shave, and a suit to wear to the office.”

“What’s wrong with my hair?”

“Have you looked in a mirror lately?” May asked. “No offense, but you look like a teenager trying to live it up on spring break.”

Erik didn’t respond, though she could sense some hesitance in his gaze.

“Look, just come with me to the salon and talk to the specialist. I’m sure we can find a decent middle ground between what image you want, and the image we as a company need right now.”

“Did my father put you up to this?”

“What?”

His eyes hardened. “Is my father the one who told you that I had to change my look?”

May was confused. “No one had to tell me anything, Erik. It’s just common sense.”

Erik shook his head. “Even if that’s true, it doesn’t change the fact that this is exactly what my father wants. He’s never approved of the way I look. Making me the CEO and sending you here is just another way for him to control me!”

“Your father has nothing to do with you wanting to fix this company, Erik. You’re here by choice, remember?”

She watched as Erik stood up from his seat. “If only it were actually that simple, May. But you don’t know my father, or the lengths he’s been willing to go to just to have his claws in my life over the years. You might sit here and think that trying to encourage me to work hard was your idea, or that deciding to stay was my idea, but the reality is that my father always gets what he wants.”

“Then prove him wrong,” she shot back. “Show him that you’re capable of being your own person and running this business on your own terms. An image makeover doesn’t mean you have to become what your father wants. You just have to appeal to the public and show them that you’re not just some party animal.”

“Party animal?” he scoffed, pacing back and forth now. “You know, just because I go to the club doesn’t mean I’m a wild drunkard with no self-control. Trust me, the tabloids love to exaggerate the details whenever they snap a picture of me.”

“But it doesn’t matter what the truth is, it matters what people think the truth is. And right now, the public’s opinion of you isn’t very good.”

“So, what, I should just change everything about myself for the sake of my father’s company?” he asked. “I graduated from the college of his choice, having earned the degree he picked out, and even dated his ideal daughter-in-law for nearly two years, but I draw the line when it comes to changing my personal appearance.”

May was just about fed up with this infuriating debate. “Are you trying to tell me that your hair, your clothes, and your nightlife, are the only things that define you as a person?”

Erik paused his steps to look at her. “Of course not.”

“Then why are you so upset? Even an actor has to change their appearance or their eating habits to land the right roles, but that doesn’t change who they are as a person, nor does it mean their commitment has to be permanent.”

He nodded, his demeanor much calmer now. “Fine, I’ll come with you to the salon. BUT, I’m not changing a single thing unless I feel like it’s necessary.”

May supposed this was as good as it was going to get. “The appointment is at four. I’ll drive.”