advertisements. It boosted our clientele overnight.
“I remember. What happens if you cancel now?”
“That’s just the point. The conference is a week away and I’m
locked in. Angela is counting on me, and I’ve already paid for the
hotel. It’s like five hundred bucks a night.”
“Must you always travel deluxe?” I asked, calculating what
we’d already spent.
“Yes, I must,” Kalen said unapologetically. “I work my ass
off, and when I have to leave home, I expect to be pampered.”
“So what exactly are you asking me to do?” I hoped she
wasn’t going to confirm my worst fear.
“I told Angela that you’d stand in for me. Are you there?”
Kalen asked when I didn’t respond.
“I’m gonna have to start wearing diapers along with your
baby because lately every time you open your mouth, I want to
shit in my pants.”
“You’re such a big tit sometimes, Shannon. You can do this.”
114
Pitifully Ugly
“Why can’t Blitz do it?”
“Because she’s got like twenty studs in her face, and she’s not
exactly the public speaking type.”
“And I am? Kalen, I’ve never given a speech in my life!”
“I’ll coach you, everything’s already written. You can bring a
couple of my Valiums if that’ll help. I can’t take them anymore.”
“Call it off. Tell Angela that we’ll have to catch her on the
next round. I don’t care if we lose money on the hotel.”
“Now listen to me,” Kalen said, sounding a lot like our
mother. A tone she would no doubt use on my future niece or
nephew. “You’ve been telling me lately how you’re doing things
on your own, and this time you have to take the reins for me.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“No, there’s no time to think about it. We have to prep you
for the presentation and buy some suitable clothes for you to
wear. Look, you can bring Marvin. He can chat up everybody at
the booth. All you have to do is give the speech. Surely, you can
handle that.”
My brain started screaming. I’m packing my shit and
hightailing it out of here. She’s going down.
“You can do this,” Kalen said, softening her tone. “I’ve always
done things like this because I knew you hated it, not because I
thought you were incapable. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it
was important. Angela is counting on us, and you have to at least
acknowledge that she’s done us a huge favor already.”
“I want the Valium.”
“Deal. Now drop whatever you’re doing and come pick me
up. We have a lot of shopping to do.”
11
Robin Alexander
Chapter 18
When in doubt—fake it.
The week went by like a blur. We shopped like madwomen,
and I had a new wardrobe consisting of three suits, three pairs
of slacks, and a few blouses. One of my suitcases alone was
filled with nothing but shoes. I might’ve been scared shitless, but
I looked like a million bucks. I hoped—and I think Kalen did,
too—that the finely tailored clothes would give me the appearance
of someone who had her crap together.
Hailey had not returned home, nor did she answer any of my
messages or calls. And being in Atlanta knowing that’s where she
lived and worked before she came to New Orleans made it worse.
I was constantly reminded of her.
Kalen had the room upgraded to a suite. Though she swore it
was only a nominal difference, I doubted it. Marvin and I had our
own rooms and a spacious area to lounge in when we weren’t at
the conference. I watched as he moved around the room touching
everything like a child.
“Look at this bar.” Marvin opened the glass doors to the
cabinet filled with liquor and crystal glasses. “This is a swank
place.”
I browsed through the itinerary as he poured a couple of club
sodas. “There’s a social at four. Do I have to go to that?” I asked
as he handed me a glass.
Marvin took a seat across from me on the sofa. He sat with
his forearms resting on his thighs and stared down at his drink.
11
Pitifully Ugly
“I have to be honest with you, Shannon. Kalen told me not to say
anything, but I think you need to know that she gave me very strict
instructions to make sure you were present for all events. You’re
the face of the company right now, and you have to mingle.”
She’d given me the same speech, but it still rankled me that
she’d given Marvin orders to enforce it.
“I know you’re shy,” Marvin continued. “So I was thinking
that I’d do most of the talking and kind of open things up for you
to step in when you’re comfortable.”
“Okay, but you have to promise not to leave my side because
the minute I find myself alone, I’m outta there.”
Marvin seemed relieved that I wasn’t bucking the idea. “Deal,
but be patient if I have to go to the bathroom.”
We ordered a late lunch and went over the itinerary. Drinks
that day, exhibition hall Saturday and half the day Sunday, and the
presentation would be given Sunday night before the conference
wrapped. Monday morning, I’d be on my way home, and that
couldn’t come soon enough.
“I know you’re dreading the exhibition hall as much as the
presentation, so I’ll try to make it easy on you,” Marvin said.
“Kalen said Angela doesn’t expect you to be in the booth the
whole time. Spend a couple of hours in the morning extolling the
virtues of their products, then you’re free for a few hours before
you come back in the afternoon.”
“I don’t know anything about their products except that we
use them and we get great discounts.”
“But I do,” Marvin said with a smile. “You’ll defer to me and
I’ll sing their praises.”
“I don’t know what we’re paying you for this yet, but did Kalen
offer you a bonus at least?” I asked, grateful for his company.
“Y’all paid for my new clothes,” Marvin said with a beaming
smile, “and I get a bonus when I get back.”
“Speaking of clothing, how should I dress for this social thing
we’re going to?”
“Let’s see what you’ve got.”
He followed me to my room and went through my closet,
humming as he pulled out a pair of navy blue slacks, matching
11
Robin Alexander
pumps, and an azure blouse that buttoned up only so far. I liked
the color and cut but was a bit timid about showing the cleavage
that the shirt would reveal. Marvin held it up and looked over at me.
“Did you bring a chemise?”
“No, Kalen said that these shirts,” I pointed at the row of
them, “are made like this for a reason. I’m not happy about it.”
Marvin put a hand on his hip as he looked closely at the blouse.
“It’s gonna look awkward if you try to pin it. You’re gonna have to
keep your shoulders back. No slouching like you’re doing now.”
I sat up a little straighter and began to feel anxious.
Marvin glanced at me and smiled sympathetically. “I’m
going to make you a Bloody Mary while you shower. You can sip